BELLINGHAM – If it wasn’t for a three-point loss to Lynden earlier in the month, the Storm would be looking at an undefeated season. Nevertheless, Squalicum was one of the best teams in Whatcom County, and finished the year with a 40-8 win over Oak Harbor at Civic Stadium on Saturday night.
The Storm racked up 393 yards of total offense, and did most of it in the first three quarters. Junior running back Djouvensky Schlenbaker scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, which was followed up in the second quarter by an 8-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Mason Binning to junior wide receiver Kai Posey.
The Wildcats were able to get into the end zone late in the first half on a 6-yard touchdown pass, which was aided by a 54-yard catch-and-run a few plays earlier.
Schlenbaker scored his third touchdown of the game at the end of the second quarter, and the Storm went into halftime with a 28-6 lead, but the 6-foot-1 215-pound running back still had some work to do.
After setting his goal of 1,000 yards rushing in this five-game season, he came into Saturday night’s contest needing 178 yards to accomplish the feat. This coming after last season when he averaged 195.3 yards per game. He was able to surpass that number in the third quarter as he finished the game with 246 yards on 22 carries.
He scored his fourth touchdown of the game in the third quarter, and almost had his fifth after breaking a 61-yard run just one play after recovering a fumble from his outside linebacker spot on defense.
His fifth touchdown wasn’t meant to be as a defender knocked the ball out while he was trying to break loose of a tackler, but senior offensive lineman Jayden Raymond was able to pounce on the ball in the end zone after hustling down the field during the play.
The Wildcats scored a late safety in the fourth quarter, but it came after Storm junior safety Josh Gallegos got his first varsity interception.
Schlenbaker led the way defensively as well, with 7.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Senior linebacker Billy Scammell also had a great game to end his fantastic career, as he racked up 9.5 tackles, and senior cornerback Bryce Pennock also intercepted a pass.
Squalicum finished the season with a 4-1 record.
Oak Harbor 8
Squalicum 40
OH 0 6 0 2 – 8
SQU 14 14 12 0 – 40
SQU – Schlenbaker 5 run (Co. Morris kick)
SQU – Schlenbaker 45 run (Co. Morris kick)
SQU – Posey 8 pass from Binning (Co. Morris kick)
OH – 6 yard touchdown pass (kick failed)
SQU – Schlenbaker 7 run (Co. Morris kick)
SQU – Schlenbaker 14 run (kick failed)
SQU – J. Raymond recovered fumble in the end zone (kick blocked)
OH – Safety, running back tackled in the end zone
OH SQU
38-137 Rushing Att-Yards 37-252
10-26-2 Comp-Att-Int 10-18-0
112 Passing yards 141
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – OH: N/A. SQU: Schlenbaker 22-246, Thompson 4-34, Ca. Morris 1-22, Antunez 2-0, S. Raymond 2-(-3), Richardson 1-(-4), Heaton 1-(-4), Binning 2-(-8), Nielsen 2-(-31).
PASSING – OH: N/A. SQU: Binning 9-16-0-132, Heaton 1-2-0-9.
RECEIVING – OH: N/A. SQU: Hawkinson 3-34, Richardson 2-64, Takabe 1-14, N. Watt 1-9, Posey 1-8, Pennock 1-7, Schlenbaker 1-5.
