BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
BELLINGHAM – The old adage is that a team improves the most between games one and two. The truth of that statement came through in a penalty filled first half of football between Squalicum and Burlington-Edison. The Storm managed their miscues much better, however, and lead 17-3 at halftime en route to a 30-10 season opening victory.
It was an odd site on a warm Friday evening at Bellingham’s Civic Stadium, with both teams’ fans sitting in the north stands as construction on the larger home side has not finished summer construction. Both fan bases kept things civil and it created a fun atmosphere with both team sections packed in tightly. Squalicum’s fans had a big play to cheer for early on with a pick-6 interception return when senior Malakai Smith made a great read on a screen pass and took it 48 yards for the opening score.
Burlington-Edison had some early success running the ball, but were stopped near midfield on the next drive. Taking over, Squalicum looked to establish its running game with a heavy dose of EWU commit Marcus Nixon. Their penalty-aided drive stalled in the red zone and ended in a Slade Kaiser field goal. After the first quarter, the score was 10-0 with Squalicum in the lead. The period was punctuated with a tackle for loss by senior Storm defensive lineman Ezra Nichols.
The game’s first offensive explosive play came early in the second quarter. It showcased Nixon’s speed as he made an electric 53-yard cutback run for a touchdown and was spurred by a huge block by fellow senior Joaquin Ortiz. Then the aforementioned penalty issues cropped up for both teams during a disjointed period before halftime. Everyone headed to the locker rooms with Squalicum leading 17-3.
The miscues continued into the second half as a couple of bad snaps caused a quick 3-and-out for the Storm. Burlington-Edison quickly answered with a 7-play 53-yard drive to that ended with a 9-yard touchdown run by senior Jackson Granger.
That score pulled the Tigers within one score at 17-10. The Squalicum faithful were not nervous for long however as first-time starter junior quarterback Cole Burke engineered an 8-play 65-yard drive that culminated in a 3-yard Nixon run (no PAT). Burke had a solid first varsity start, completing 11-of-16 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown in coach Nick Lucey’s balanced offense which had 140 rushing yards.
Entering the fourth quarter with a 23-10 lead, the Storm defense didn’t give up any points with solid tackling and pass defense. Burke hit Ortiz on a beautiful deep ball for a 62-yard touchdown pass to conclude the scoring and a 30-10 final.
The Tigers, under first year coach Dalton Schwetz, showed promising signs that they will be a program to be reckoned with soon but on this night the speed and experience of the Squalicum Storm was the difference.
Squalicum (1-0) will travel to Marysville-Pilchuck (0-1) on Friday to take on the Tomahawks at 7:00.
Squalicum 30 Burlington-Edison 10 B-E 0 3 7 0 - 10 SQU 10 7 6 7 - 30 SQU - Smith 48 interception return (Kaiser kick) SQU - Kaiser 23 FG SQU - Nixon 53 run (Kaiser kick) B-E - 24 yard field goal B-E - 9 yard touchdown run (kick good) SQU - Nixon 3 run (run failed) SQU - Ortiz 62 pass from Burke (Kaiser kick) B-E SQU 36-161 Rush Att-Yards 24-140 13-31-1 Comp-Att-Int 11-16-0 78 Passing Yards 147 Individual Leaders RUSHING - B-E: N/A. SQU: Nixon 18-94, Smith 4-34, Ortiz 2-12. PASSING - B-E: N/A. SQU: Burke 11-16-0-147. RECEIVING - B-E: N/A. SQU: Ortiz 4-74, Asbjornsen 2-27, Lara 1-16, Fagaautau 1-10, Smith 1-5, Hardin 1-(-4).
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