BELLINGHAM – I’m pretty sure that Squalicum senior Leyton Smithson is 100% healed. Or at least, he played like it.
The 6-foot-2 185-pounder threw two touchdown passes, caught a touchdown pass, and ran for another as the Storm triumphed over Archbishop Murphy 26-6 on Friday night at Civic Stadium.
The Wildcats looked good early, and marched 72 yards on their opening drive on seven plays, and stamped it with an 8-yard touchdown pass.
The ensuing kickoff was returned 65 yards by senior Kai Posey, which gave Squalicum fantastic field position. Six plays later he caught his third touchdown pass of the season, and Sebastian Smith’s extra point gave the Storm a 7-6 lead.
It was also the 12th receiving touchdown of his career, which places him fourth in school history.
Smithson hit Reed Richardson on a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter, which was set up by a Bryson Lamb interception.
Coach Nick Lucey went deep into his bag of tricks in the third quarter when Smithson threw a backwards pass across the field to Richardson, which then saw him throw the ball all the way back to Smithson who then raced 34 yards for a touchdown.
A strong running game, led by Djouvensky Schlenbaker’s 93 yards on 26 carries, helped run the clock with the two score advantage.
Smithson then scored his final touchdown in the fourth quarter on a five yard run. He finished with 64 yards on the ground, while completing 12 passes for 81 yards. Eight of his 12 completions were to different receivers.
To go along with his interception, Lamb led the team with nine tackles. Senior defensive lineman Rizon Takabe collected three quarterback sacks and two tackles for loss, and senior safety Kaleb Hawkinson intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
Squalicum (3-2) will travel to Sedro-Woolley (5-0) on Friday to take on the Cubs.
Archbihsop Murphy 6 Squalicum 26 ATM 6 0 0 0 - 6 SQU 7 7 6 6 - 26 ATM - 8 yard touchdown pass (run failed) SQU - Posey 8 pass from Smithson (Smith kick) SQU - Richardson 13 pass from Smithson (Smith kick) SQU - Smithson 34 pass from Richardson (kick blocked) SQU - Smithson 5 run (kick failed) ATM SQU 26-31 Rush Att-Yards 39-157 110-22-2 Comp-Att-Int 13-18-0 141 Passing Yards 115 Individual Leaders RUSHING - ATM: N/A. SQU: Schlenbaker 26-93, Smithson 7-64, Dunmore 4-5, Nixon 1-(-1), Brown 1-(-5). PASSING - ATM: N/A. SQU: Smithson 12-17-0-81, Richardson 1-1-0-34. RECEIVING - ATM: N/A. SQU: Posey 3-26, Schlenbaker 2-18, Morris 2-13, Smithson 1-34, Richardson 1-13, Hawkinson 1-8, Takabe 1-7, Thompson 1-4, Dunmore 1-(-8).
