NOOKSACK – Blaine was able to recover the onside kick to open the game, but it went south from there as Nooksack Valley cruised to a 42-7 victory at Sid Lambert Field on Friday night.
On the third play from scrimmage, the Borderites attempted their first pass of the evening, which was tipped into the air by senior outside linebacker Tristan Kamphouse, and snagged out of the air by junior Cole Coppinger who sprinted 63 yards for a touchdown.
Blaine was forced to punt on its next series, but an errant snap caused senior punter Logan Villareal to chase the football, and once he punted it, the ball was immediately blocked and secured by Pioneer senior Lance VanBerkum who barreled his way 19 yards into the end zone.
To make matters worse, the ensuing kickoff was fumbled by the Borderites, and Nooksack Valley was able to bring its offense onto the field for the first time in Blaine territory and already with a 13-0 lead.
Senior running back Colton Lentz carried the ball four times in the first half, with three of them ending up as touchdowns, and the Pioneers led 35-0 at the midway break. Blaine turned the ball over four times in the first half, not including the blocked punt, and proceeded to fumble away the second half kickoff.
Lentz scored once again in the third quarter on his sixth, and final, carry of the game, and finished with a game-high 146 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Blaine senior running back Jaiden Paez was able to move the chains from time to time, but numerous turnovers ended any chances that the Borderites would have early on. Paez led Blaine with 86 yards on 21 carries.
Senior quarterback Colin Davis completed three passes on the final drive of the game, and finished by scoring the lone touchdown of the game for the Borderites.
The Pioneers (5-1) will host Meridian (5-1) on Friday at 7:00, and the Borderites (4-2) will try to get back on track on Friday at 6:00 when they host Friday Harbor (2-4).
Nooksack Valley 42 Blaine 7 BLA 0 0 0 7 - 7 NV 21 14 7 0 - 42 NV - Coppinger 63 interception return (T. Martin kick) NV - VanBerkum 19 blocked punt return (kick failed) NV - Lentz 2 run (Lentz run) NV - Lentz 58 run (T. Martin kick) NV - Lentz 34 run (T. Martin kick) NV - Lentz 33 run (T. Martin kick) BLA - Davis 1 run (Villareal kick) BLA NV 37-132 Rush Att-Yards 17-162 3-12-1 Comp-Att-Int 12-21-0 56 Passing Yards 85 Individual Leaders RUSHING - BLA: Paez 21-86, Shipp 4-24, Davis 12-22. NV: Lentz 6-146, Snyders 1-10, Huante 2-8, Olney 1-1, Brown 4-(-1), Almojera-McKendry 3-(-2). PASSING - BLA: Davis 3-12-1-56. NV: Brown 6-11-0-47, Cr. Bauman 6-10-0-38. RECEIVING - BLA: Koreski 1-31, Kerwin 1-17, Villareal 1-8. NV: Co. Bauman 3-47, Lentz 2-12, Bravo 2-11, Coppinger 2-6, Olney 1-14, Leyerly 1-6, Hester 1-(-11).
