BELLINGHAM – The slashing running style of Dylan Roberts and the power running of Dawson Smith was the difference in the game as the Mariners came back to beat the Red Raiders 28-21 at Civic Stadium on Friday night. The win sends Sehome to the district playoff round, just one year after having to play a modified schedule to rebuild the program.
Muck like a week ago, it was Bellingham that had the edge early. This time, however, it did not have running backs Jack Fields or Isiah Harrington. Instead, the Red Raiders relied on the hard running of newly inserted junior fullback Isaac Ninneman. He answered with runs of 10, 6 and 39 yards, before scoring the game’s first touchdown on a 4-yard plunge.
Sehome answered right back, with a 10-yard touchdown by Roberts, who danced is way around multiple Bellingham defenders. Roberts ran for a game-high 148 yards on 30 carries.
Bellingham surprised the entire Sehome defense in the second quarter when a play-action was called, and senior running back Tim Edwards snuck through the entire defense, and junior quarterback Morgan Cavalier found him all alone for a 61-yard touchdown pass. It was Bellingham’s first pass attempt of the game.
Red Raider senior defensive back Jacob Hallock then intercepted a Jacob Kaepernick pass, and on the very next play it was Cavalier going to the skies once again. This time, he found senior running back Towner Goodman on a 65-yard touchdown pass, and Bellingham was up 21-7.
The second half belonged to the Mariners, though. With the Bellingham defense playing pass, Sehome went to the ground and pound game. Roberts and Smith picked up dozens of tough yards, methodically driving down the field. Roberts scored from a yard out, and Smith did the same from three yards away near the end of the third quarter, and tie the game at 21.
Ninneman, Goodman and Edwards all had strong running plays in the fourth quarter, but the Sehome defense wouldn’t allow another big play. Bellingham’s defense clamped up as well, forcing Kaepernick to punt. His punt went 49 yards, and was downed at the Red Raider 1-yard line. Goodman picked up a couple of long runs, but ultimately, Bellingham had to punt the ball back.
Roberts scored his third touchdown of the game with 3:23 to go, on a three yard run to left side of his line. Left tackle Logan Henry kicked out his defender and right guard Koa Ostos pulled to open up the hole for Roberts.
Bellingham had a few chances at the end of the game, but the pass rushing of sophomore outside linebacker Felipe Arreola and senior defensive end Bryce Andrews was too much to handle.
Sehome (6-3) will travel to Archibishop Murphy (4-2) to take on the Wildcats this Friday night in a district playoff game. It is still unknown if Bellingham (5-4) will play a crossover game to end the season.
Sehome 28
Bellingham 21
SE 0 7 14 7 – 28
BEL 7 14 0 0 – 21
BEL – Ninneman 4 run (Kongshaug kick)
SE – D. Roberts 10 run (Nelson kick)
BEL – Edwards 61 pass from Cavalier (Kongshaug kick)
BEL – Goodman 65 pass from Cavalier (Kongshaug kick)
SE – D. Roberts 1 run (Nelson kick)
SE – D. Smith 3 run (Nelson kick)
SE – D. Roberts 1 run (Nelson kick)
SE BEL
45-257 Rushing Att-Yards 33-163
12-21-2 Comp-Att-Int 4-11-0
92 Passing yards 145
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – SE: D. Roberts 30-148, Smith 14-96, Kaepernick 1-3. BELL: Ninneman 9-71, Goodman 10-54, Edwards 6-32, Kongshaug 2-3, Cavalier 6-3.
PASSING – SE: Kaepernick 12-21-2-92. BELL: Cavalier 4-11-0-145.
RECEIVING – SE: A. Roberts 5-25, Meggyesy 3-41, Knudtson 2-20, Travier 1-8, D. Roberts 1-(-2). BELL: Goodman 1-65, Edwards 1-61, Lee 1-15, Triplett 1-4.
