TACOMA – The Mountaineers have led Whatcom County in total interceptions the past two seasons, and they opened up the 2021 season with four more, returning two for touchdowns, as Mount Baker defeated Life Christian 43-8 at George Nordi Field on Friday night.
Senior safety Alex Magallano intercepted an early second quarter pass and sprinted 78 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown, and senior cornerback Caleb Horsmon picked off an overthrow in the third quarter, and raced 30 yards for a touchdown.
Senior linebacker Davin Beason and senior safety Jesse Sande also had interceptions in the contest.
The defensive playmakers didn’t end there. Sophomore defensive end Alex Maloley registered a safety for the Mountaineers when he sacked the quarterback in the end zone in the first quarter to make the score 9-0. Junior running back Marcques George scored from seven yards out on Baker’s opening drive. He also scored two more touchdowns, and finished 81 yards on 10 carries.
Sande, who led the Mountaineers in rushing last season, had a game-high 160 yards rushing on 13 carries, including a touchdown, and senior quarterback Brent Anderson completed 5-of-7 passes for 63 yards in his first varsity start.
With the win, Mount Baker has now won five of its last six season openers.
The Mountaineers (1-0) will continue their road trip on Saturday when they travel to face 4A Wenatchee at 6:00.
Mount Baker 43 Life Christian 8 MB 9 22 12 0 - 43 LCA 0 0 8 0 - 8 MB – George 7 run (Robles kick) MB – Safety, A. Maloley sacked quarterback in the end zone MB – Magallano 78 interception return (Robles kick) MB – Sande 3 run (Sande run) MB – George 2 run (Robles kick) MB – George 13 run (kick failed) MB – Horsmon 30 interception return (run failed) LCA – 16 yard touchdown pass (pass good) MB LCA 31-264 Rushing Att-Yards 21-29 5-7-1 Comp-Att-Int 10-26-4 63 Passing yards 203 Individual Leaders RUSHING – MB: Sande 13-160, George 10-81, Horsmon 1-12, West 1-11, Beason 3-4, Johnny 1-2, D. Moa 1-2, Anderson 1-(-8). LCA: N/A. PASSING – MB: Anderson 5-7-1-63. LCA: N/A. RECEIVING – MB: Horsmon 2-43, Pettigrew 1-12, A. Maloley 1-7, Sande 1-1. LCA: N/A.
