DEMING – Down 16-6 in the fourth quarter, Nooksack Valley came on strong at the end to come back and beat Mount Baker 19-16 at Bob Tisdale Field on Thursday night.
The Pioneers started off hot, and drove down the field with relative after Evan Neitling returned the opening kickoff 64 yards. Senior quarterback Austin O’Bryan was 3-for-3 on the drive, completing passes to Neitling, Ryan Veening and Scout Whittern. Whittern’s reception was an 8-yard touchdown that ended the drive. Toby Jefferson blocked the extra point.
Mount Baker would then take control, but wasn’t able to run away with it. Junior Jason Lee scored all 10 Mountie point in the second quarter. He scored on a 17-yard touchdown run around right end. He also kicked the extra point, and was successful on a 21-yard field goal just before half time.
The Mountaineers maintained their momentum in the third quarter, with powerful running drives. Senior fullback Sam Barrett scored from 10 yards out, and that made it a 16-6 game.
Nooksack Valley never wavered, and would stay on the attack as it found success running the ball on outside pitches to running back Cole Eldridge. O’Bryan would pick up key first downs on keepers, sometimes on fourth down plays. O’Bryan then found senior wide receiver Ty Rawls streaking across the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.
On Baker’s ensuing drive it was Pioneer junior defensive end Easton Zylstra that disrupted a double-handoff play on third down which forced the Mountaineers to punt. O’Bryan then flipped the field on a 48-yard scamper around left end, and the Pioneers were in business. He would then score on a 13-yard touchdown run with 3:50 left in the game. Aiden Conner’s conversion kick gave Nooksack Valley the 19-16 lead.
Mount Baker put together a strong drive but it was stopped at the Pioneer 23-yard line when the interior of the Nooksack Valley line was able to stuff the run on 4th down.
The Pioneers would have to punt four plays later, giving the Mounties one last chance with 59 seconds to play, but Rawls, who decided to turn out for football for the first time since junior high school, intercepted a Kaleb Bass pass on the sideline which gave the win to Nooksack Valley.
Nooksack Valley (4-5) ended its regular season on a high note, and is looking to schedule a week 10 crossover game. Mount Baker (5-4) will travel to Granite Falls (2-7) to take on the Tigers this Tuesday night. The winner will face Cedar Park Christian (7-1) on Saturday night.
Nooksack Valley 19
Mount Baker 16
NV 6 0 0 13 – 19
MB 0 10 6 0 – 16
NV – Whittern 8 pass from O’Bryan (kick blocked)
MB – Lee 17 run (Lee kick)
MB – Lee 21 FG
MB – Barrett 10 run (kick failed)
NV – Rawls 4 pass from O’Bryan (kick failed)
NV – O’Bryan 13 run (Conner kick)
NV MB
34-148 Rushing Att-Yards 42-255
17-29-1 Comp-Att-Int 4-11-1
172 Passing yards 68
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – NV: O’Bryan 20-107, Eldridge 12-46, Neitling 2-(-5). MB: Lee 16-112, Barrett 15-99, Bass 7-33, Rodriguez 2-8, Malone 1-3, Harkness 1-0.
PASSING – NV: O’Bryan 17-29-1-172. MB: Bass 4-11-1-68.
RECEIVING – NV: Neitling 5-80, Veening 4-31, Rawls 4-24, Eldridge 2-20, Whittern 2-17. MB: M. Kentner 2-43, W. Kentner 1-19, Lee 1-6.
