MARYSVILLE – Although the Bayhawks battled the Tomahawks in a football game on Friday night, they each had another opponent, and it was Mother Nature.
The atmospheric river was in full force as the ball was slick, yards were tough to come by, and Bellingham bested Marysville-Pilchuck 7-0 at Quil Ceda Stadium.
The Bayhawks were able to move the ball early, and junior quarterback Ben Leonard was able to launch a ball deep down the left sideline and it was hauled in at the goal line by senior wide receiver Joe Harward for a 26-yard touchdown. When junior Constantine Franz hit the extra point, little did everyone know, it would be the last point scored in the game.
Fumbles began to rule the night on both sides, and moving the chains became difficult.
Bellingham was in the red zone in the second quarter, but a fumble at the 10-yard line changed possession as the ball spurted into the end zone before a Tomahawk could recover.
The Bayhawks made eight stops behind the line of scrimmage with senior nose tackle Joshua Kroll and sophomore defensive end Daniel Flefel registering two each. They also held the Tomahawks to just 23 yards of total offense.
The final drive for Marysville-Pilchuck ended when a pass downfield was tipped by Harward and intercepted by senior Owen Hanstead, the 12th of his career.
Bellingham (4-4) will face Squalicum (4-4) at 7:30 on Thursday night at Civic Stadium.
Bellingham 7 Marysville-Pilchuck 0 BEL 7 0 0 0 - 7 M-P 0 0 0 0 - 0 BEL - Harward 26 pass from Leonard (Franz kick) BEL M-P 28-67 Rush Att-Yards 25-2 10-17-0 Comp-Att-Int 3-12-1 84 Passing Yards 21 Individual Leaders RUSHING - BEL: Powell 9-41, Hanstead 13-37, Leonard 6-(-11). M-P: N/A. PASSING - BEL: Leonard 10-17-0-84. M-P: N/A. RECEIVING - BEL: Harward 6-45, Gerstl 2-27, Hanstead 2-12. M-P: N/A.
