ARLINGTON – The Bayhawks found themselves down 12-3 in the final quarter, but went on to score three touchdowns as they came back to defeat Lakewood 23-12 at Dick Cardinal Stadium on Friday night.
The Cougars put together two long drives to open the game, with the first ending in a 17-yard touchdown pass, and they second one culminated in a 33-yard field goal to put Lakewood up 9-0 late in the first quarter.
The two teams would then play even over the next two quarters, as both usual pass-happy squads were trying to find luck on the ground.
Near the end of the first half, Bellingham kicker Alejandro Pringle lined up to kick a 44-yard field goal that fell just short and the Bayhawks had to go to the locker room without any points.
Pringle then had an easier shot at three points in the third quarter, and he nailed the 27-yarder, which was quickly answered by a 27-yard field goal by the Cougars, but later in the third quarter, Bellingham found something that started working.
Senior quarterback Ben Leonard, who is known for staying in the pocket and dotting his receivers, started to pick up big chunks of yards on designed runs, and the Bayhawks were back in business.
The fourth quarter opened up with Bellingham in the red zone, and it was able to score its first touchdown of the game on three-yard run by Leonard.
The Bayhawks then forced a punt on Lakewood’s following possession, and they were able to march down the field once again and score. This time, Leonard found Whatcom County’s leading receiver Matthew Steel for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 5:33 left in the game, and Bellingham held its first lead of the game, 16-12.
Leonard’s touchdown pass moved him past Bellingham Hall of Famer Sean Linville on the school’s all-time leader board with 35.
Steel finished with seven receptions for 100 yards.
The defense for Bellingham was charged up, and was able to force a turnover on downs when senior linebacker Silas McGerr was able to barely get a finger on a pass down the field.
The Bayhawks answered with another big drive, and this time it was punctuated with a 1-yard touchdown run by junior running back MJ Maina with little time left on the clock.
Bellingham’s defense was led by senior linebacker Calvin VanHofwegen who finished with 11.5 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a pass defended.
The Bayhawks (1-2) will travel to Lynden (2-1) on Thursday to take on the Lions at 7:00.
Bellingham 23 Lakewood 12 BEL 0 0 3 20 - 23 LAK 9 0 3 0 - 12 LAK - 17 yard touchdown pass (run failed) LAK - 33 yard field goal BEL - Pringle 27 FG LAK - 27 yard field goal BEL - B. Leonard 3 run (Diaz kick) BEL - Steel 10 pass from B. Leonard (pass failed) BEL - Maina 1 run (Diaz kick) BEL LAK 17-66 Rush Att-Yards 35-141 20-32-1 Comp-Att-Int 14-29-0 178 Passing Yards 132 Individual Leaders RUSHING - BEL: B. Leonard 6-41, Maina 7-18, Sefried 4-7. LAK: N/A. PASSING - BEL: B. Leonard 20-32-1-178. LAK: N/A. RECEIVING - BEL: Steel 7-100, McGerr 5-19, VanHofwegen 4-38, Sefried 3-13, Maina 1-8. LAK: N/A.
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