BELLINGHAM – Before the game took place, the Port Angeles coach had said that number 14 for Squalicum will be the best player we face all season.
He may be right, and #14, senior Ansen Asbjornsen, made his presence felt early and often as he caught eight passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns as the Storm defeated the Roughriders 49-28 at Civic Stadium on Saturday night.
Asbjornsen scored on the first drive when he came in motion, took a shovel pass, and raced 32 yards for a touchdown.
Younger brother Asher Asbjornsen scored later in the quarter on an 8-yard receptions from senior quarterback Cole Burke.
He wouldn’t be the only running back to catch a touchdown out of the backfield as senior Avery Weener hauled in a 7-yard reception that went for six points early in the second quarter, and Squalicum was up 21-0.
Port Angeles, however, would not go down easy as an inspired second quarter led to three long touchdown plays. Two of which came on fourth downs, and the other on a deep pass that was batted straight into the hands of a Roughrider receiver who broke away for the 73-yard score.
Before the first half was over, Burke also found senior wide receiver Khalil Binta on a 26-yard touchdown pass, and the senior quarterback also called his own number from three yards out.
Burke put the finishing touches on his monstrous game in the second half by completing an 85-yard touchdown pass to Ansen Asbjornsen, and running in another score.
All in all, Burke had a hand in every scoring play. He completed 23-of-29 passes for a school-record 373 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing in a pair of scores.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Brock Scammell led the way with 9.5 tackles, and senior safety Zack Watt added 7.5 tackles. They each also had two tackles for loss, as did sophomore outside linebacker Asher Asbjornsen. Weener finished 6.5 tackles and 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Squalicum (4-3) will host Sehome (4-3) at 7:00 on Friday at Civic Stadium.
Squalicum 49 Port Angeles 28 PA 0 21 0 7 - 28 SQU 14 21 7 7 - 49 SQU - Ans. Asbjornsen 32 pass from Burke (Larranaga kick) SQU - Ash. Asbjornsen 8 pass from Burke (Larranaga kick) SQU - Weener 7 pass from Burke (Larranaga kick) PA - 49 yard touchdown run (kick good) SQU - Binta 26 pass from Burke (Larranaga kick) PA - 34 yard touchdown pass (kick good) SQU - Burke 3 run (Larranaga kick) PA - 73 yard touchdown pass (kick good) SQU - Ans. Asbjornsen 85 pass from Burke (Larranaga kick) SQU - Burke 3 run (Larranaga kick) PA - 61 yard touchdown pass (kick good) PA SQU 40-128 Rush Att-Yards 23-106 8-17-1 Comp-Att-Int 24-31-2 234 Passing Yards 367 Individual Leaders RUSHING - PA: N/A. SQU: Ash. Asbjornsen 12-70, Weener 8-35, Burke 2-6, Hofstedt 1-(-5). PASSING - PA: N/A. SQU: Burke 23-29-2-373, Price 1-2-0-(-6). RECEIVING - PA: N/A. SQU: Ans. Asbjornsen 8-178, Binta 7-124, Ash. Asbjornsen 3-43, Weener 2-5, Watt 1-15, Giles 1-7, Scammell 1-1, Kerman 1-(-6).
