ONALASKA – The Pioneers scored three first quarter touchdowns before finishing the contest with a 42-16 win over Onalaka on Friday night.
On the first play from scrimmage, Nooksack Valley senior defensive lineman Lance VanBerkum hit an Onalaska ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage, which forced him to fumble and was then recovered by senior linebacker Colton Lentz.
The Pioneers scored six plays later when junior Evan Brown threw a dart to senior Cole Bauman on an out-pattern in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown.
On the following Logger drive, a big hit between the tackles by senior linebacker Colby Martin jarred the ball loose, and it was recovered by senior Tristan Kamphouse. Nooksack Valley took advantage again, this time it was four plays later on a double-pass play which saw senior wide receiver Cory Olney catch a lateral and then throw a 47-yard strike to junior Cole Coppinger for a touchdown.
Onalaska was finally able to cross midfield, but a low snap to the quarterback caused another fumble, and it was recovered by VanBerkum. The Pioneers proceeded to drive down the field and score a touchdown on a 2-yard sweep by Olney and it was 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Nooksack Valley scored again before halftime when senior cornerback Evan Bravo intercepted a pass by his own sideline. It was the final pass Onalaska would throw in the game. After a strong drive down the field that ate up a huge chunk of the second quarter, Lentz bulled his way into the end zone from four yards out, and the Pioneers were up 27-0 at the half.
The Loggers came out inspired in the second half, and forced Nooksack Valley to punt on its first possession. Onalaska then drove down the field with a strong running attack, and punctuated the drive by scoring a touchdown.
The Pioneers answered right back, as Lentz scored his second touchdown of the game to put Nooksack Valley up 35-8. Lentz finished with a team-high 73 yards on 14 carries, and in the process he passed his father on the school’s all-time rushing list, and is now in second place behind Dave Longoria.
On the ensuing kickoff it was another hard hit by Martin that forced a fumble, which was recovered by Max Lautenbach. A few plays later, Brown found junior receiver Jaxon Hester down the right sideline for a 32-yard touchdown.
The Loggers scored their second, and final, touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Martin led the defense with 13.5 tackles and two forced fumbles, and junior linebacker Andrew Dugger chipped in with 8.5 tackles.
The Pioneers (1-0) will travel to Renton (0-1) on Saturday to take on the Red Hawks at 5:00.
Nooksack Valley 42 Onalaska 16 NV 21 6 15 0 - 42 ONA 0 0 8 8 - 16 NV - Co. Bauman 3 pass from Brown (T. Martin kick) NV - Coppinger 47 pass from Olney (kick failed) NV - Olney 2 run (Coppinger pass from Brown) NV - Lentz 4 run (kick failed) ONA - 2 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) NV - Lentz 1 run (Olney pass from Brown) NV - Hester 32 pass from Brown (T. Martin kick) ONA - 1 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) NV ONA 33-148 Rush Att-Yards 51-270 17-28-0 Comp-Att-Int 0-2-1 227 Passing Yards 0 Individual Leaders RUSHING - NV: Lentz 14-73, C. Martin 6-40, Heutink 2-16, Huante 2-12, Tijerna 1-8, Olney 2-2, Dugger 1-2, Cr. Bauman 1-1, Berends 1-0, Brown 1-(-1), Almojera-McKendry 2-(-5). ONA: N/A. PASSING - NV: Brown 15-25-0-180, Olney 1-1-0-47, Cr. Bauman 1-1-0-0, Berends 0-1-0-0. ONA: N/A. RECEIVING - NV: Coppinger 6-93, Co. Bauman 4-65, Olney 4-25, Hester 3-44. ONA: N/A.
