BELLINGHAM – The Mariners got off to a rough start offensively, rarely possessing the ball in the first half. Sehome totaled just 17 yards on 10 plays by halftime, but a strong second half allowed them to come back and defeat Mount Baker 15-12 at Civic Stadium on Friday night.
After trading punts back and forth in the first quarter, the Mountaineers got on the board in the second quarter when quarterback Landon Smith scrambled to his right and found the end zone 10 yards later for his varsity touchdown.
Baker quickly found itself in the red zone shortly thereafter, following a 22-yard end around run by junior speedster Landen Hanstead, and Smith scored again, this time from five yards out.
The Mariners went into the locking room at halftime down 12-0, and came out in the second half with more determination than ever.
Sehome looked good driving down the field to begin the third quarter, and freshman quarterback Nolan Wright settled into his position much better. He found sophomore wide receiver Andre Watson for an 18-yard gain which gave his team much needed momentum.
Moments later it was senior running back Carson Neff bursting through the hole for a 17-yard run before being brought down just shy of the goal line. Senior running back Tommy Funk dove into the end zone on the next play to cut the Mountie lead to five points, 12-7.
Sehome’s biggest play of the game came a few possessions later when Wright threw a tight spiral down the right sideline, which Watson came down with for a 38-yard gain. Two plays later Wright found Watson again, this time for an 11-yard touchdown. Funk flew in again for the two-point conversion, and the Mariners took the 15-12 lead with 6:30 left in the game.
The Sehome defense then forced Mount Baker into a 3rd-and-9 situation, and that was when senior outside linebacker Max Malo made one of his many big defensive plays, tackling Smith for a loss and forcing a punt. Malo finished with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
The Mounties returned the favor; however, and forced Sehome to punt it back, but a roughing the kicker penalty was called, which gave the Mariners a new set of downs. A first down run by Neff a few plays later but the game away.
Watson led all players with five receptions for 79 yards, and Funk was the rushing leader with 80 yards on 14 carries. Marcques George led Mount Baker on the ground with 59 yards on 14 carries.
Sehome’s defensive line played big in big moments with seniors Nathan Eisses (6.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss) and Habib Bello (5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery) both having superb showings.
The Mariners (1-0) will travel to Blaine (0-1) on Friday at 7:00, and the Moutnaineers (0-1) will host 4A Wenatchee (0-1) on Friday at 6:00.
Sehome 15 Mount Baker 12 MB 0 12 0 0 - 12 SE 0 0 7 8 - 15 MB - La. Smith 10 run (kick failed) MB - La. Smith 5 run (pass failed) SE - Funk 1 run (Evans kick) SE - Watson 11 pass from Wright (Funk run) MB SE 40-190 Rush Att-Yards 26-117 1-6-1 Comp-Att-Int 8-13-1 1 Passing Yards 111 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MB: George 14-59, Hanstead 4-51, La. Smith 9-29, West 7-27, W. Maloley 6-24. SE: Funk 14-80, Neff 7-40, Wright 5-(-3). PASSING - MB: La. Smith 1-6-1-1. SE: Wright 8-13-1-111. RECEIVING - MB: W. Maloley 1-1. SE: Watson 5-79, Neff 1-17, Duckworth 1-15, Malo 1-0.
