BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps
DEMING – The Bellevue Wolverines stood out like a giant on the Mount Baker schedule. But, on Saturday afternoon the Mountaineers proved they weren’t to be counted out. Despite the 42-21 loss at Bob Tisdale Field, Mount Baker gained a moral victory by showing a level of grit that made a loud statement to everyone watching.
The Mountaineers made clear early that they had come to play, turning the Wolverines away on their first offensive drive. However, Bellevue would quickly regain possession at the Baker 1-yard line after fourth-down snap sailed over the punter’s head. The Wolverines punched it in from there.
Bellevue showed that its speed was a major factor, and quickly added two more quick scores, which gave the Wolverines a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, but Mount Baker got the kickstart they needed when senior Brice Cooper raced 58 yards down the visiting sideline on a kick return. A few seconds later, he darted four yards into the endzone, making the score 21-7.
Bellevue quickly answered, but Mount Baker would score again before the half, as senior quarterback Toga Tigilau connected with senior wide receiver Jet Ross on an 8-yard touchdown. The laser strike with six seconds left in the first half pulled the Mountaineers within two scores and they would head to the locker rooms down 28-14.
The momentum looked to be on the side of the home team, as Baker was set to receive the second-half kickoff, but the ball was fumbled and caught in the air by a Wolverine who flew 26 yards for a touchdown.
After trading punts, the Mountaineers got the ball back and Tigilau found Ross on a 32-yard pass on a fade route. Following that was a 13-yard hookup from Tigilau to Cooper, which brought Mount Baker to the 1-yard line. From there, Tigilau took the snap from under center and buried his way into the endzone.
Ross finished with six receptions for 74 yards.
The dynamic Bellevue squad had one more big play in it as an interception was returned 80 yards for a score. It was the final touchdown of the game, which took place in the third quarter. The Mountaineer defense kept the Wolverines out of the endzone in the entire second half, and Mount Baker also outgained Bellevue 111-75 in total offensive yards in the second half.
Baker’s defense was led by junior defensive end Kell Reardon who finished with eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage. Junior linebacker Andrew Monteith had 6.5 tackles, while Zyan Paglia, Aaron Torres, Jeremiah Sheridan and Gunner McGrath had five tackles each.
The Mountaineers (2-1) will be back at home on Friday when they take on Sultan at 7:00.
Bellevue 42 Mount Baker 21 BEL 14 14 14 0 - 42 MB 0 14 7 0 - 21 BEL - 1 yard touchdown run (kick good) BEL - 75 yard touchdown run (kick good) BEL - 27 yard touchdown run (kick good) MB - Cooper 4 run (E. Smith kick) BEL - 5 yard touchdown run (kick good) MB - Ross 8 pass from Tigilau (E. Smith kick) BEL - 26 yard fumble return for a touchdown (kick good) MB - Tigilau 1 run (E. Smith kick) BEL - 80 yard interception return for a touchdown (kick good) BEL MB 46-355 Rush Att-Yards 32-79 0-2-0 Comp-Att-Int 12-21-2 0 Passing Yards 128 Individual Leaders RUSHING - BEL: N/A. MB: Smith 6-41, Cooper 10-33, Tigilau 6-12, Moa 6-11, Nicol-Mills 3-1, bad snap 1-(-19). PASSING - BEL: N/A. MB: Tigilau 12-21-2-128. RECEIVING - BEL: N/A. MB: Ross 6-74, Reardon 2-30, Cooper 2-11, Smith 1-8, Paglia 1-5.
