BELLINGHAM – It had been two years and one day since Lummi Nation notched a win on the gridiron, and after Saturday afternoon, the Blackhawks are poised to start a new streak, this time in a more positive manner.
Lummi Nation used a strong run game and quick passes to take down Quilcene 46-22 at home on Saturday.
The Blackhawks started out with a bang as running back Joseph Pantalia gained 54 yards over the first three plays, which brought his team inside the 5-yard line. The speedy junior then caught a swing pass from junior quarterback Michael Wilson and went into the the endzone from two yards out.
The Rangers quickly answered, but Lummi Nation had a secret Blackhawk up its sleeve, in the form of junior Gregory Hawk.
The former lineman turned running back scored the next two touchdowns and two-point conversions to give Lummi Nation a 24-8 lead. The ensuring kickoff was returned by Quilcene, but Pantalia stripped the ball out of the returner’s hands and Blackhawk junior Harold Warbus recovered.
Moments later, Hawk scored his third touchdown of the game.
Pantalia used his quickness on the following kickoff and was able to recover the bobbled ball, which gave Lummi Nation fantastic field position once again, but the Blackhawks were turned away on downs.
The momentum was short lived for the Rangers as Quilcene fumbled the ball on its next possession and Pantalia had a scoop-and-score from 10 yards out. Sophomore running back Kellen Brockie powered through for the 2-point conversion, and the Blackhawks led 38-8.
The Rangers went on to score the next two touchdowns of the game, including a dazzling 98-yard touchdown run down the far sideline, but it was too little, too late, as Lummi Nation put a stamp on the victory in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Wilson.
Pantalia finished with 86 yards rushing, as well as an interception on defense to go with his other big plays, and Hawk rushed for 66 yards and caught four passes for 85 yards to help power the offense.
The Blackhawks (1-0) will travel to Darrington (0-1) on Friday to take on the Loggers at 6:00.
Lummi Nation 46 Quilcene 22 QUIL 8 6 8 0 - 22 LUM 16 22 0 8 - 46 LUM - Jo. Pantalia 2 pass from M. Wilson (M. Wilson run) QUIL - 25 yard touchdown run (2pt good) LUM - Hawk 16 run (Hawk run) LUM - Hawk 39 pass from M. Wilson (Hawk run) LUM - Hawk 5 run (run failed) LUM - Jo. Pantalia 10 fumble return (Brockie run) QUIL - 3 yard touchdown run (pass failed) QUIL - 98 yard touchdown run (2pt good) LUM - M. Wilson 1 run (Jo. Pantalia run) QUIL LUM 23-228 Rush Att-Yards 50-241 0-3-0 Comp-Att-Int 7-13-0 0 Passing Yards 138 Individual Leaders RUSHING - QUIL: N/A. LUM: Jo. Pantalia 18-86, Hawk 12-66, M. Wilson 13-57, Brockie 7-32. PASSING - QUIL: N/A. LUM: M. Wilson 7-13-0-138. RECEIVING - QUIL: N/A. LUM: Hawk 4-85, Revey 2-41, Jo. Pantalia 1-12.
