BELLINGHAM – I’m not sure what former Sehome standout defensive lineman Jordan Chalfant said to his defense before the game at Civic Stadium on Friday night, but the Sehome defensive coordinator’s players responded in a way that had everyone in Mariner-green smiling ear to ear. The defense held Blaine to just 18 yards rushing and 114 yards of total offense, as Sehome beat the Borderites 25-3.
After going winless in 2016, the Mainers played an independent schedule in 2017. Friday night was the first league win by Sehome in three years and two days.
The Mariners got their offense rolling early behind the running of senior Dylan Roberts, and he scored on a one-yard plunge in the first quarter. Once the Borderites keyed on Roberts, it was time for sophomore quarterback Jacob Kaepernick to open up the passing game, and he found senior wide receiver Jay Travier for a 4-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.
Blaine put together a nice drive just before the first half ended, and it was highlighted by a 29-yard hookup from sophomore quarterback William McKinney to senior slot receiver Alex Mercado. The Borderites tried to throw a fade pattern into the left corner of the end zone, but ultimately had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by senior Bryce Kamrath as time expired in the first half. It was Kamrath’s fourth field goal of the young season.
Blaine would receive the second half kickoff, and put together another nice drive. Down by just 10, the Borderites sent Kamrath back out to try a 32-yard field goal from the right hash, but Roberts blasted through the A-gap, and was able to block the kick, and return it deep into Blaine territory. A made field goal would have made it a one-score game. Instead, the momentum shifted into the Mariners’ favor, and that was when the defense kicked in.
Junior defensive lineman Rylie Bair was all over the Blaine backfield, and Travier and junior middle linebacker Dawson Smith each intercepted passes. Kaepernick found senior wide out Michael McClin on a corner route, for a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the physical running of Smith enabled him to also score in the fourth quarter, from four yards out.
Mariner senior wide receiver Brett Meggyesy entered the game with the most receptions in Whatcom County (19), and he caught five passes for 36 yards. He now has 57 career receptions, which puts him into 3rd place in school history.
Sehome (2-2) will host Mountlake Terrace (2-2) on Friday in what will be Homecoming night. Blaine (2-2) will host Bellingham (2-2) on Friday night.
Blaine 3
Sehome 25
BLA 0 3 0 0 – 3
SE 7 6 0 12 – 25
SE – D. Roberts 1 run (Nelson kick)
SE – Travier 4 pass from Kaepernick (pass failed)
BLA – Kamrath 26 FG
SE – McClin 23 pass from Kaepernick (pass failed)
SE – Smith 4 run (kick blocked)
BLA SE
25-18 Rushing Att-Yards 33-106
14-29-2 Comp-Att-Int 11-22-1
96 Passing yards 165
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – BLA: Westfall 9-21, Tkachov 6-10, Caridad 6-7, McKinney 4-(-20). SE: D. Roberts 19-93, Smith 7-13, Knudtson 2-7, Kaepernick 5-(-7).
PASSING – BLA: McKinney 14-29-2-96. SE: Kaepernick 11-22-1-165.
RECEIVING – BLA: Mercado 5-53, Abshere 3-21, Machula 2-10, Fritsch 2-7, Turnberg 2-5. SE: Meggyesy 5-36, McClin 2-63, Nelson 1-50, Malo 1-8, Travier 1-4, J. Arreola 1-4.
