BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
BELLINGHAM – It was Homecoming for the Sehome Mariners this week and the football team did its part, putting up eight touchdowns and holding Bellingham to one score in a resounding 56-7 victory over the Bayhawks at Civic Stadium on Friday night.
Getting the ball first, the Mariners marched down to the red zone. However, the Bellingham defense stiffened and stopped Sehome after a fourth down scramble by Sehome senior quarterback Nolan Wright did not pick up the line to gain.
The Bayhawk offense quickly went three and out, unable to move the ball effectively against the Sehome defense. An effective 54-yard punt by senior Owen Hanstead put Sehome back on offense on its own 42-yard line.
Building on a solid performance the prior week, senior tailback Sawyer Woods picked up yards in bunches throughout the evening. The Sehome offensive line led by seniors Cole Turrell, Finn Seitz-Gregoire, and Aiden Simmons opened up large running lanes and Woods finished the drive with an 11-yard tackle-breaking touchdown run. After the Bane Mitchell PAT, it was a 7-0 Sehome advantage with 6:20 to play in the first quarter.
The Bayhawks picked up a first down on their next possession on a pass from junior quarterback Ben Leonard to fellow junior tight end Calvin Van Hofwegen. Their drive was halted on the next series as the Sehome pass rush limited opportunities for Bellingham to throw the football. Linebackers, senior Carter Duckworth and junior Elias Lara, both batted down Leonard passes.
The second quarter began with a Sehome turnover in the red zone. Sehome’s Wright had connected on three consecutive passes on the Mariner drive, but the last one was stripped by Bellingham senior linebacker Sonny Powell, which was recovered by junior cornerback Matthew Steel. The Bayhawk offense looked to capitalize and a Lenoard to Van Hofwegen pass on a rub route gained 56 yards on the longest play of the night for Bellingham. However, the Sehome defense forced yet another punt.
The Mariners went back again to the ground and Woods would pick up yardage and put more points on the board. Four touchdowns were scored by Sehome in the second quarter, two by Woods, and two on Wright passes.
Catching those touchdowns were senior tight end Tyson Goodman and senior wide receiver Theo Quiggle on a 22-yard corner route. Bellingham had one last possession before halftime and the Bayhawks were able to get in the end zone on a 45-yard fade pass for a touchdown from Leonard to senior receiver Joe Harward.
At the extended halftime intermission, the small temporary scoreboard at Civic read Sehome 35, Bellingham 7.
The second half mirrored the first in that Sehome found success on the ground and Bellingham struggled to move the ball. Interceptions by Quiggle and senior safety Hudson Neff contributed to the Sehome defensive effort.
The story of the game continued to be Sawyer Woods and the Mariner offensive line as he racked up 263 yards on 22 carries, which is tied for the third most rushing yards in a game in school history.
Woods scored two more touchdowns and senior receiver Al Miller also caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Wright to push the final score to 56-7. The Mariners extended their winning streak over Bellingham to four games.
Sehome (4-3) will play Squalicum (3-3) as the visiting team on Friday at Civic Stadium at 7:00. The Bayhawks (3-4) will travel to Marysville-Pilchuck (1-6) to take on the Tomahawks at 7:00 on Friday.
Sehome 56 Bellingham 7 BEL 0 7 0 0 - 7 SEH 7 28 14 7 - 56 SEH - Woods 11 run (Mitchell kick) SEH - Goodman 2 pass from Wright (Mitchell kick) SEH - Quiggle 22 pass from Wright (Mitchell kick) SEH - Woods 17 run (Mitchell kick) SEH - Woods 10 run (Mitchell kick) BEL - Harward 45 pass from Leonard (Franz kick) SEH - Miller 31 pass from Wright (Mitchell kick) SEH - Woods 37 run (Mitchell kick) SEH - Woods 12 run (Mitchell kick) BEL SEH 18-22 Rush Att-Yards 25-261 12-29-2 Comp-Att-Int 14-23-0 143 Passing Yards 204 Individual Leaders RUSHING - BEL: Powell 7-29, Hanstead 9-0, Harward 2-(-7). SEH: Woods 22-263, Wright 3-(-2). PASSING - BEL: Leonard 12-28-1-143, Harward 0-1-1-0. SEH: Wright 14-23-0-204. RECEIVING - BEL: VanHofwegen 5-74, Harward 3-52, Nelson 1-8, Wright 1-5, Gerstl 1-5, Powell 1-(-1). SEH: Miller 4-104, Quiggle 4-62, Goodman 3-17, Anderson 1-10, Duckworth 1-9, Lara 1-2.
