NOOKSACK – After jumping out to a three-score lead early on, the Pioneers held on to defeat Squalicum 19-12 at Sid Lambert Field on Friday night.
It was all Nooksack Valley early on as it scored on the first possession of the game after a 23-yard run by junior Treven Scheenstra set up a 1-yard touchdown run by fellow junior, Trey Heutink.
The Storm reached midfield on their first drive, but were forced to punt, and the snap went over the punter’s head, which gave the Pioneers terrific field position at the 23-yard line.
After completing a 4th-down pass to Tyler Martin, Nooksack Valley punched it in once again, this time Heutink scored from eight yards out.
Squalicum had trouble moving the ball again on its next drive, but this time junior punter Elias Larranaga was able to secure the snap, and he got off a 66-yard punt which completely flipped the field. The Pioneers accepted the challenge, though, and quickly scored on a 70-yard rambling rushing touchdown by Scheenstra which put the home team up 19-0 in the first quarter.
The Storm began to get some things going on offense on their next drive, as it changed into the second quarter. Senior quarterback Phoenix Price then connected on a 24-yard pass with Larranaga on 3rd-and-9 which gave Squalicum its best field position to that point.
Martin then intercepted a pass, and had a long return, but the play was called back due to a penalty, and the Storm had a new set of downs at the 20-yard line. They were able to get the ball to the 1-yard line, but on 4th-and-goal Nooksack Valley senior safety Max Lautenbach snuffed out the end around play and tackled the ball carrier for a loss, which gave the ball back to the Pioneers.
Squalicum was able to force the Pioneers to punt for the first time, and got the ball back with little time left in the first half, but a nice drive was finished off with a screen pass from Price to senior running back Maddox Strickland that covered 13 yards for a touchdown just before half time.
The Storm also received the second half kickoff, down 19-6, and they had new life when Strickland broke loose on a 43-yard touchdown run, which cut Nooksack’s lead to 19-12 early in the third quarter.
From this point on, turnovers and penalties began to take over.
Squalicum’s momentum didn’t lessen as it forced another Pioneer punt, and on the next play it was sophomore fullback Tucker Hofstedt that bruised his way through the defense for a 60-yard touchdown. However, the play was called back due to a penalty.
If that didn’t sway the momentum back to Nooksack Valley, the next play sure did as junior nose tackle Lucas Norris forced a fumble and it was recovered by Martin.
The Pioneers were able to drive all the way to the Squalicum 21-yard line, but incomplete passes on third and forth down gave the ball back to the Storm.
Squalicum was able to pick up a long gainer on a run, but a fumble near midfield was caused by Martin, and Nooksack Valley senior cornerback Jaden Jones recovered it, but the possession was short lived as Storm junior linebacker Brock Scammell’s perfect form tackle punched the ball loose from a Pioneer player, and it was recovered by junior safety Mason Sone.
As the third quarter switched over to the fourth quarter, the Storm were driving once again, looking for that tying score, but an interception by Martin halted Squalicum’s plans for the time being. It was Martin’s fifth interception of the season, and he returned it 36 yards.
Scheenstra broke loose again, this time on a 30-yard touchdown run, but it was also called back due to a penalty. Nooksack Valley recovered, and was able to drive all the way to the 10-yard line, but a fumble on a handoff was recovered by Strickland of the Storm. Squalicum now had the ball on its own 10-yard line, down by seven points, with 8:02 left in the game.
The Storm were able to move the ball, slowly but surely, on running plays, but a lot of time was ticking off the clock. They were now at their own 45-yard line, with less than three minutes to go in the game, and they were staring at a 4th-and-4 situation. Price was able to scramble to his right after not seeing an open receiver, and he picked up the first down with his legs.
A deep pass to the left side from Price to senior tight end Ray Hoffmann got the ball inside the Nooksack Valley 25-yard line, but another one of those pesky penalties occurred, which pushed the Storm back further.
A holding penalty took place on the next play, which wiped out another big gainer from Price to Strickland, and as Squalicum was moving backwards due to the penalties, more and more precious time was ticking off the clock. Now with less than a minute left, the Storm had to go to the air for the rest of the game, but were unable to complete another pass.
The Pioneers (4-0) will begin conference play on Friday when they host Blaine (2-1) at 7:00. The Storm (1-3) will travel to Archbishop Murphy (3-1) on Friday to take on the Wildcats at 7:00.
Nooksack Valley 19 Squalicum 12 SQU 0 6 6 0 - 12 NV 19 0 0 0 - 19 NV - Heutink 1 run (Leyerly run) NV - Heutink 8 run (kick failed) NV - Scheenstra 70 run (pass failed) SQU - Strickland 13 pass from Price (kick failed) SQU - Strickland 43 run (kick failed)
SQU NV 48-229 Rush Att-Yards 28-203 4-13-1 Comp-Att-Int 6-12-0 31 Passing Yards 39 Individual Leaders RUSHING - SQU: Strickland 20-150, Hofstedt 20-87, Price 2-12, Scammell 1-2, Sone 4-0, Larranaga 1-(-22). NV: Scheenstra 12-174, Heutink 8-36, Martin 2-4, Tijerina 1-(-1), Berends 1-(-2), L. Woodrich 4-(-8). PASSING - SQU: Price 4-13-1-31. NV: L. Woodrich 6-12-0-39. RECEIVING - SQU: Strickland 2-16, Larranaga 1-14, Hofstedt 1-1. NV: Martin 3-23, Ackerman 2-8, Jones 1-8.
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