BELLINGHAM – Since joining the WesCo 3A North back in 2016, both Squalicum and Ferndale have enjoyed seasons of great success and conference championships. As the rivalry between Whatcom County’s only two 3A schools continues to grow, the games have had more meaning than just a regular conference matchup. After three quarters of even-Steven football, it became the Djouvensky Schlenbaker show in the fourth quarter as the Storm defeated the Golden Eagles 37-14 on Saturday night at Civic Stadium.
Schlenbaker entered the game as Whatcom County’s leading rusher, and his patience and vision showed everyone why that’s the case. The 6-foot-1 210-pound sophomore carried the ball 27 times for 281, along with three fourth-quarter touchdowns to put Ferndale away.
After a scoreless first quarter, Squalicum quarterback Mason Binning rolled right on the first play of the second quarter and hit senior tight end Cesar Vasquez on a quick pass, and Vasquez took it 60 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Golden Eagle freshman running back Isaiah Carlson answered with a 17-yard touchdown run of his own after a pass-interference call gave Ferndale a first down.
The Golden Eagles went into halftime with a slim 7-6 lead.
Both defenses were still ahead of the offenses into the third quarter, and the only scoring came from Squalicum senior Addison Shrock and his 23-yard field goal.
Schlenbaker scored his first touchdown of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter with a strong 15-yard run behind an even stronger offensive line. 6-foot-5 327-pound senior left tackle Brandon Gimse had to contain star defensive end Geirean Hatchett all game, and did a good job. 250-pound guard Ben Paz used his extremely quick feet to pull and get out ahead and block downfield for Schlenbaker. Center Adam Morris was on target with every shotgun snap, and allowed the timing of every play to be successful.
Ferndale senior running back Jacob Broselle returned Schlenbaker’s favor with a 38-yard touchdown sweep behind Hatchett, but that would turn out to be the last scoring play for the Golden Eagles.
Schlenbaker had more powerful runs, and finished the next drive on a 13-yard touchdown run.
Ferndale began driving down the field to answer, but was stopped on a fourth-down play when Squalicum linebacker Billy Scammell shot the gap and stopped Broselle behind the line of scrimmage. Scammell also intercepted a pass earlier in the game, and was in on 14 tackles.
A mix of run and pass got Squalicum into scoring position on this drive, and Schlenbaker capped it off with his third rushing touchdown of the quarter, this time from 16 yards out.
With little time remaining, the Golden Eagles were forced to go to the air, and when a pass ricocheted off a receiver’s hands it went right into the hands of Schlenbaker. He instantly turned into the star running back that he is, made some players miss and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. Schlenbaker also finished with 11 total tackles (eight solo) and fellow sophomore outside linebacker Bryson Lamb had the exact amount of tackles, including multiples stops behind the line and a quarterback sack.
The Storm (3-2) will travel to Stanwood (2-4) on Friday to take on the Spartans, and the Golden Eagles (3-2) will travel to Marysville-Pilchuck (6-0) on Friday.
Ferndale 14
Squalicum 37
FERN 0 7 0 7 – 14
SQU 0 6 3 28 – 37
SQU – Vasquez 60 pass from Binning (kick failed)
FERN – Carlson 17 run (Werth kick)
SQU – Shrock 23 FG
SQU – Schlenbaker 15 run (Shrock kick)
FERN – J. Broselle 38 run (Werth kick)
SQU – Schlenbaker 13 run (Shrock kick)
SQU – Schlenbaker 16 run (Shrock kick)
SQU – Schlenbaker 33 interception return (Shrock kick)
FERN SQU
46-204 Rushing Att-Yards 31-269
7-16-3 Comp-Att-Int 8-22-1
69 Passing yards 153
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – FERN: J. Broselle 13-80, Carlson 14-67, Pelton 14-46, Kolbert 3-13, Leavitt 1-3, Rasmussen 1-(-5). SQU: Schlenbaker 27-281, Binning 2-(-5), Mitchell 2-(-7).
PASSING – FERN: Rasmussen 7-16-3-69. SQU: Binning 8-21-1-153, Mitchell 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING – FERN: Bernard 2-35, Carlson 2-16, J. Broselle 2-14, Pelton 1-4. SQU: Vasquez 4-103, Schlenbaker 1-28, Posey 1-11, Mitchell 1-7, Jabbora 1-4.
