ELMA – Despite turning the ball over on three fumbles, and scoring zero points, in the first half, Mount Baker poured it on in the second half and walked away with a 28-13 victory over Elma on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first time the Mountaineers had ever played Elma in the regular season, but the Eagles did get the best of Baker twice in the state playoffs in the late 90’s.
Down 7-0 to begin the second half, senior quarterback Davin Beason hit sophomore wing back Landen Hanstead on a hitch pattern, and after making the cornerback miss, he took off 50 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time Hanstead had touched the ball in a varsity football game.
Junior running back Marcques George followed that up with a 22-yard touchdown run through the middle of the line, which gave the Mounties the lead.
Elma scored on a 71-yard touchdown run on the very next play from scrimmage, but the extra point was blocked by 6-foot-3 sophomore Jesse Harward, to secure the 14-13 lead.
Beason scored a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and he also found senior wide receiver Wyatt Pettigrew on a perfectly thrown 26-yard touchdown pass. Pettigrew had a game-high four receptions for 71 yards.
Beason finished with 152 yards on 7-of-15 passing, and he also rushed for 67 yards on eight carries. Defensively, he deflected three passes and picked up another tackle for loss.
After taking the lead in the second half, the Mountaineer defense was able to put a lot of pressure on the Elma passing game. Baker collected six quarterback sacks, two by Joel Robles and one by Vance Lawrence, Thayer Brown, Alex Maloley and George.
Pettigrew and Kevin Tucker each also intercepted a pass, giving Mount Baker a Whatcom County leading nine interceptions on the season.
The Mounatineers (2-2) will begin conference play this Friday at Nooksack Valley (3-2) at 7:00.
Mount Baker 28 Elma 13 MB 0 0 14 14 - 28 ELM 7 0 6 0 - 13 ELM - 26 yard touchdown pass (kick good) MB - Hanstead 50 pass from Beason (kick failed) MB - George 22 run (George run) ELM - 71 yard touchdown run (kick blocked) MB - Beason 2 run (Robles kick) MB - Pettigrew 26 pass from Beason (Robles kick) MB ELM 41-230 Rush Att-Yards 35-91 7-15-0 Comp-Att-Int 6-18-2 152 Passing Yards 97 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MB: Sande 15-71, Beason 8-67, George 13-50, Hanstead 3-21, West 2-21. ELM: N/A. PASSING - MB: Beason 7-15-0-152. ELM: N/A. RECEIVING - MB: Pettigrew 4-71, Hanstead 2-55, Sande 1-26. ELM: N/A.
