DEMING – The Mountaineers got into the win column on Friday night in a 42-14 drubbing of Wenatchee at Bob Tisdale Field.
After an even first quarter, Mount Baker exploded for four touchdowns in the second quarter, which was led off by a 5-yard touchdown run by senior Marcques George.
Moments later, junior cornerback Landen Hanstead stepped in front of a pass, intercepted it, and ran 44 yards untouched for a touchdown. It marked the fifth season in a row that the Mounties had a pick-six during the season.
Hanstead scored his second touchdown of the game on the following drive with a tremendous catch in the front corner of the end zone. From 11 yards out, senior quarterback Landon Smith lasered the ball to where only Hanstead could make the reception.
Senior running back Wilhem Maloley rounded out the scoring in the first half with a 12-yard touchdown rumble moments before halftime. The touchdown was made possible by the combination of Jesse Harward’s down block at the line of scrimmage and Ethan Larson’s kick out block on the edge.
Both Maloley and George scored touchdowns again in the second half, before giving way to the youngsters. George led the Mountaineers on the ground with 175 yards on 15 carries.
The Baker defense allowed just 2.8 yards per play, before subbing out all the starters in the final quarter. Larson was the main catalyst on defense, with 4.5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. Junior defensive end Alex Maloley added two tackles for loss.
The Panthers were able to score two touchdowns late in the contest.
Mount Baker (1-1) will travel to Toppenish (1-1) on Friday to take on the Wildcats at 6:00 in a rematch from last season’s first round of the 1A state playoffs.
Mount Baker 42 Wenatchee 14 WEN 0 0 0 14 - 14 MB 0 28 7 7 - 42 MB - George 5 run (Staton kick) MB - Hanstead 44 interception return (Staton kick) MB - Hanstead 11 pass from La. Smith (Staton kick) MB - W. Maloley 12 run (Staton kick) MB - W. Maloley 5 run (Staton kick) MB - George 14 run (Staton kick) WEN - 12 yard touchdown run (kick good) WEN - 30 yard touchdown pass (kick good) WEN MB 29-139 Rush Att-Yards 43-358 10-17-1 Comp-Att-Int 6-11-0 77 Passing Yards 63 Individual Leaders RUSHING - WEN: N/A. MB: George 15-175, West 6-87, W. Maloley 9-71, Bruland 2-10, Hanstead 1-8, Staton 1-8, Lu. Smith 2-0, La. Smith 7-(-1). PASSING - WEN: N/A. MB: La. Smith 6-11-0-63. RECEIVING - WEN: N/A. MB: Hanstead 3-29, D. Moa 2-23, Rosse 1-11.
