BELLINGHAM – What started out as a track meet ended in a slug fest as Meridian opened up conference play with a hard-fought 34-28 victory over Nooksack Valley on Friday night.
The Pioneers scored on their second play from scrimmage when quarterback Cole Eldridge followed a perfect block from guard Jacob Franson and sped 50 yards for a touchdown. The Trojans answered right back when Ryan Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff deep into Nooksack territory, and running back Trent Martin would score a few plays later on an 11-yard run.
Eldridge scored again, this time on a 3-yard plunge behind his offensive line, but Johnson retaliated right back by returning the kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. It’s his second kickoff return for a touchdown this season.
The officials were getting a workout as Pioneer running back Dane Winter would then quickly score on a 50-yard run right up the middle, and that gave Nooksack Valley a 21-14 lead with time still remaining in the first quarter.
Meridian used quarterback draws by Cameron Webster and quick passes to Johnson to quickly move down the field on its first possession on the second quarter, and 29-yard touchdown run by Martin tied the score at 21.
Halftime adjustment had to have been made by both teams, especially with the defenses. Trojan defensive coaches Addison Perrin and Ty Harrison, along with Pioneer defensive coaches Jessy Dykstra and Britt Lentz, were all top players at one time in Whatcom County, and their gameplans took effect in the third quarter as both offenses were significantly slowed down.
Nooksack Valley was beginning to key onto Johnson, who had seven receptions for 64 yards, and that allowed Webster to go up top to Ethan Brooks. They connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers answered back with a deep ball from Eldridge to Ryan Veening that resulted in a 24-yard touchdown. It was the third time the two seniors connected for a touchdown pass this season.
The touchdown put the score at 28-28 with less than nine minutes remaining in the game. Nooksack’s defense stiffened up and forced a 3-and-out, which gave the ball back to the Pioneers on their own 40-yard line. One play later, Meridian defensive lineman Mason Knutson was able to punch the ball free and Webster recovered it.
The Trojans began to drive down the field with the help from some quick passes from Webster to Brooks and Martin. Webster then had a 14-yard run to put Meridian into the red zone. Webster followed that up with a perfectly timed pass to Brooks who ran a slant pattern into the end zone from seven yards out. The extra point attempt was mishandled, but the Trojans were still ahead 34-28.
Meridian kicker Zack Loya booted a squib kick down the middle of the field, and Winter picked it up and raced all the way to the Trojan 42-yard line. Meridian’s defense held on, as Nooksack Valley couldn’t advance on 4th down, which gave the Trojans their first win of the season.
Meridian (1-3) will try to keep the momentum going this Friday when it travels to Deming to take on Mount Baker (4-0). The Pioneers (2-2) will host Lynden Christian (2-1) on Friday.
Nooksack Valley 28
Meridian 34
NV 21 0 0 7 – 28
MER 14 7 0 13 – 34
NV – Eldridge 50 run (Conner kick)
MER – Martin 11 run (Loya kick)
NV – Eldridge 3 run (Conner kick)
MER – Johnson 89 kick return (Loya kick)
NV – Winter 50 run (Conner kick)
MER – Martin 29 run (Loya kick)
MER – E. Brooks 48 pass from Webster (Loya kick)
NV – Veening 24 pass from Eldridge (Conner kick)
MER – E. Brooks 7 pass from Webster (run failed)
NV MER
28-237 Rushing Att-Yards 35-167
9-17-0 Comp-Att-Int 14-23-0
99 Passing yards 150
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – NV: Eldridge 18-129, Winter 10-108. MER: Webster 22-106, Martin 10-56, Watt 1-3, Anderson 1-1, Bash 1-1.
PASSING – NV: Eldridge 9-17-0-99. MER: Webster 14-23-0-150.
RECEIVING – NV: Veening 5-41, Whittern 2-20, Weidkamp 1-32, Winter 1-6. MER: Johnson 7-64, E. Brooks 3-60, Bash 3-21, Martin 1-5.
