BLAINE – Mount Baker was down 22-18 after three quarters, but scored twice in the fourth quarter to defeat Omak 32-22 in the quarterfinal round of the 1A state tournament on Saturday afternoon at Blaine High School.
The Mountaineers got on the board first when a 52-yard run by senior running back Brice Cooper set Baker up at the six-yard line on the opening drive of the game. The Pioneers pushed Mount Baker back three yards over the next three plays and the Mountaineers had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by sophomore Enoc Smith.
Omak answered back with a big way, as its power run game slashed through the Baker defense on a 14-play drive, and the Pioneers ended up with a 5-yard touchdown run. Omak’s 2-point conversion made it an 8-3 contest after each team had one possession.
The Mounties showed that they can play that same game, as they countered with a power rushing attack on their next drive, which culminated with the most powerful of all plays, the “Toga Wedge” as senior quarterback Toga Tigilau took the snap from under center and plowed forward for a 6-yard touchdown. Coach Ron Lepper dialed up the exact play on the 2-point conversion and Baker led 11-8 with 11:54 left in the second quarter.
Mount Baker then went to a five-man front to help slow down Omak’s rushing attack, and it did the job as the Pioneers turned the ball over on downs on their next possession. The Mountaineers quickly turned it into points as Tigilau scored on his signature play, this time from a yard out to give his team an 18-8 lead.
Omak then combatted Baker’s five-man front with a few passes down the seam, and found some success. It allowed the Pioneers get back into scoring position, and a four-yard touchdown run tightened the Mountaineer lead to 18-14. Senior defensive tackle Jeremiah Sheridan brought down Omak’s quarterback on the two-point conversion attempt, and Mount Baker led by four at the half.
The third quarter witnessed both teams being turned away on downs near midfield, as well as a couple of turnovers on fumbles, as both squads were trying everything to avoid it being the final game of the season for them.
Eventually, some penalties pushed Mount Baker behind the sticks, and the first punt of the game took place late in the third quarter. The punt, however, never really took off as Pioneer defender broke loose through the line and engulfed the football off of Enoc Smith’s foot, and he took it 47 yard for a touchdown. Omak now held a 22-18 lead with 2:25 left in the third quarter.
The huge momentum swing towards the favor of the Pioneers didn’t last long as the Mountaineers refocused and put together a 12-play 80-yard drive which culminated in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Tigilau to senior wide receiver Jet Ross. The touchdown connection was made one play after the two seniors collaborated on a 26-yard completion which saw Ross snatch the ball out of the air despite two defenders covering him.
Mount Baker retook the lead at 25-22 with 10:18 left in the game.
The Mountaineers nearly got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff when senior Mikele Fairbanks forced a fumble inside the 10-yard line, but it was quickly recovered by Omak.
The Pioneers were able to move the ball into Mountie territory, but a run play on 4th-and-4 came up a chain-link short in the measurement, and Mount Baker was able to take over on downs once again.
Both teams then traded punts, with the Mountaineers regaining possession at the Omak 49-yard line with 3:44 left in the game and up by three points.
Mount Baker quickly found itself in a 3rd-and-6 situation, and called upon the “Toga Wedge” one more time, and it delivered in a way that was caught everyone in the stadium off guard. Tigilau took the snap, quickly gained a handful of yards behind the block of junior center Aaron Torres, and when Sheridian through his block, Tigilau split the final two defenders and was off to the races. The stadium shook as Tigilau had scored from 45 yards out to help put the game on ice.
Omak had to turn to its passing game with just over two minutes left in the contest, and it was able to net some chunks of yardage here and there, but it also allowed the Baker defense to pin its ears back and come after the quarterback. The main beneficiary was junior defensive end Kell Reardon who finished with 10 tackles, which included three quarterback sacks.
Ross led the Mountaineers in tackles with 11.5, while also posting two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
The Pioneers were able to get as far as the 28-yard line, but eventually ran out of time.
Mount Baker (10-1) will face Cashmere (10-1) at the Apple Bowl in Wenatchee on Saturday at 3:00 for a chance to play in the 1A state championship game.
Mount Baker 32 Omak 22 OM 8 6 8 0 - 22 MB 3 15 0 14 - 32 MB - E. Smith 26 FG OM - 5 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) MB - Tigilau 6 run (Tigilau run) MB - Tigilau 1 run (E. Smith kick) OM - 4 yard touchdown run (run failed) OM - 47 yard blocked punt return for touchdown (2pt run good) MB - Ross 5 pass from Tigilau (E. Smith kick) MB - Tigilau 45 run (E. Smith kick)
OM MB 43-198 Rush Att-Yards 44-267 8-19-0 Comp-Att-Int 9-18-0 87 Passing Yards 115 Individual Leaders RUSHING - OM: N/A. MB: Cooper 16-100, N. Nicol-Mills 11-52, Tigilau 3-52, G. Smith 6-34, Moa 7-29, McGrath 1-0. PASSING - OM: N/A. MB: Tigilau 9-18-0-115. RECEIVING - OM: N/A. MB: Ross 5-62, Reardon 2-43, G. Smith 2-10.
It”s our year..Go Baker. Show the rest of the state how tough MT Baker is
Let’s go Baker. Cheeeeee doggy