BELLINGHAM – It all starts up front. If you can win the battle in the trenches, it’s a good chance that you can win the game. Squalicum did just that, creating huge holes in the run game, and creating a pocket for the passing game as the Storm doubled up Arlington 42-21 at Civic Stadium on Friday night.
After each team punted on its initial possessions, the Eagles used a crisp passing game to move down the field with ease. Senior quarterback Anthony Whitis hit Griffin Gardoski over the middle for a 23-yard touchdown. Squalicum answered back with a drive of its own, but by pounding the rock. Junior running back Branden Powers scored from a yard out as the second quarter began.
Whitis then connected on a 78-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Simmons on the Eagles’ very next play from scrimmage, and from there it looked like this was going to be a shoot-out between two polar opposite teams. Squalicum quarterback Spencer Lloyd scored on a five yard touchdown run, and the score was tied at half time.
The Storm broke the game open to begin the second half, and it was sparked by a 63-yard interception return by senior safety Declan McGhee. Squalicum appeared to have another long touchdown when Lloyd found junior wide receiver Devante Powell up the seam on a 49-yard pass, but the Arlington defender was able to force a fumble just before Powell could reach the end zone, and as the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone the play was ruled a touchback.
With Powers sustaining an injury at this point, Lloyd took it upon himself to do most of the running duties, and his 23-yard touchdown run up the middle in the third quarter exemplified his speed, power, balance and determination. He finished with 203 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Lloyd also had a big game through the air (8-for-13 for 185 yards), and he found McGhee streaking across the middle of the field from the 50-yard line in the fourth quarter. Lloyd’s precision pass allowed McGhee to catch the ball at full speed, and turn upfield untouched for his second touchdown of the game.
Junior running back Elliott Aslan scored a touchdown late for the Storm.
The Storm defense clamped down on the Eagle offense in the second half, with big plays coming from linebackers Zach Tucker and Collin McEachran.
Squalicum (2-0) will travel to Marysville-Pilchuck (1-1) on Friday.
Arlington 21
Squalicum 42
Arl. 7 7 0 7 – 21
Squ. 0 14 14 14 – 42
ARL – Gardoski 23 pass from Whitis (Kramer kick)
SQU – Powers 1 run (M. Lloyd kick)
ARL – Simmons 78 pass from Whitis (Kramer kick)
SQU – S. Lloyd 5 run (M. Lloyd kick)
SQU – McGhee 63 interception return (M. Lloyd kick)
SQU – S. Lloyd 23 run (M. Lloyd kick)
ARL – Simmons 12 pass from Whitis (Kramer kick)
SQU – McGhee 50 pass from S. Lloyd (M. Lloyd kick)
SQU – Aslan 2 run (M. Lloyd kick)
ARL SQU
23-75 Rushing Att-Yards 51-313
20-37-2 Comp-Att-Int 9-14-0
255 Passing yards 210
10-88 Penalties-yards 14-118
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – Arl: Whitis 6-50, Whetstone 14-30, Skyles 1-2, Kramer 2-(-7). Squ: S. Lloyd 27-203, Powers 13-79, Aslan 6-24, Mitchell 3-4, Owens 2-3.
PASSING – Arl: Whitis 20-37-2-255, Schmidt 0-1-0-0. Squ: S. Lloyd 8-13-185-0, Mitchell 1-1-25-0.
RECEIVING – Arl: Stretch 8-69, Simmons 4-96, Gardoski 4-69, Petersen 2-15, Whetstone 2-6. Squ: McEachran 3-51, Powell 2-60, McGhee 1-50, S. Lloyd 1-25, Mitchell 1-19, Tucker 1-5.
I thought we were going to see all the highlights from Friday night lights