BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps
DEMING – The warm weather came out for the Mount Baker Mountaineer game against the Onalaska Loggers at Bob Tisdale Field. But unfortunately for the Mountaineers, the final score wasn’t as sunny, as they fell 32-14 to the Loggers.
Mount Baker struck first when junior quarterback Tyson Barksdale connected with senior running back Gage Smith for a 31-yard passing touchdown on a fourth-down play, and Baker took an early 7-0 lead.
Onalaska, however, wouldn’t be down for long as they found the endzone on the next play from scrimmage on a 73-yard touchdown run to pull ahead 8-7.
The Loggers then scored on another long touchdown in the first quarter to go ahead 16-7, and two minutes into the second quarter they would do it a third time, making the score 24-7.
With a minute and thirty-six seconds left in the half, the Loggers threatened once again, but Mountaineer senior linebacker Andrew Monteith fell on top of a loose ball for one of many fumble recoveries.
Five minutes into the second half, senior safety Eli James grabbed a fumble on the Mount Baker thirty yard line. Two minutes later, senior defensive lineman Kell Reardon forced the ball loose from the Loggers and Smith picked it up for another fumble recovery.
With momentum leaning towards the Mountaineers, they took to the air again. Barksdale found junior running back Enoc Smith for a 14-yard score and closed the to gap to within two scores with one more quarter of play to go.
But three minutes into that quarter, Onalaska would push back out to a three score lead with a 4-yard rushing touchdown that made the score 32-14.
The Loggers were able to convert numerous fourth downs throughout the game to help sustain long drives, and keep Mount Baker’s offense off the field. The Mountaineers were also held to under 2.5 yards per carry for the entire game, and were forced to air the ball out more than usual. In fact, it was the first game since 2009 where Mount Baker had more pass attempts than rushing attempts.
Monteith led the defense with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Also picking up double-digit tackle numbers was senior linebacker Noah Nicol-Mills who finished with 10.5.
The Mountaineers (3-2) will begin conference play on Friday when they host Nooksack Valley (5-0) at 7:00.
Onalaska 32 Mount Baker 14 ONA 16 8 0 8 - 32 MB 7 0 7 0 - 14 MB - G. Smith 31 pass from Barksdale (E. Smith kick) ONA - 73 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) ONA - 37 yard touchdown run (2pt pass good) ONA - 51 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) MB - E. Smith 14 pass from Barksdale (E. Smith kick) ONA - 4 yard touchdown run (2pt run good)
ONA MB 60-412 Rush Att-Yards 21-50 2-2-0 Comp-Att-Int 12-23-0 29 Passing Yards 124 Individual Leaders RUSHING - ONA: N/A. MB: E. Smith 2-39, Monteith 9-19, N. Nicol-Mills 4-11, G. Smith 2-1, Barksdale 4-(-20). PASSING - ONA: N/A. LC: Barksdale 12-23-0-124. RECEIVING - ONA: N/A. LC: G. Smith 7-71, E. Smith 2-20, J. Nicol-Mills 1-14, Paglia 1-11, N. Nicol-Mills 1-8.
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