BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
BELLINGHAM – In the round of 32 playoffs, in a matchup of teams from opposite sides of the state, it was all Sehome at Civic Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Mariners used a steady ground game mixed in with just enough passing to easily outclass the Vikings from Selah High School 45-0.
Selah received the first half kickoff and found out just how fast and rugged the Sehome defense would prove to be all afternoon.
A quick three-and-out by the Mariner defense forced a punt and Sehome took over on offense on its own 30-yard line. A familiar sight greeted the Mariner faithful as Sawyer Woods took six consecutive handoffs and rushed for all the yardage on the drive. He capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown rush that put Sehome ahead 7-0 after the extra point.
The Vikings attempted to answer on their second offensive possession and put together a balanced drive, successfully moving the ball deep into Mariner territory. However, a Hudson Neff interception ended their hopes and gave the ball back to Sehome.
Wasting no time, the Mariner offense took over and scored on a 72-yard fade pass from senior quarterback Nolan Wright to fellow senior wide receiver Theo Quiggle. The touchdown reception took place on the first play of the second quarter and put Sehome up 14-0, and it also launched Wright into first place in Whatcom County history in career passing yards.
The Mariner defense locked down the Selah offense during the second quarter forcing two punts while constantly harassing the Viking quarterback. Linebackers Eljas Lara and Laki Faagautau made key tackles in the run game and senior defensive lineman Finn Seitz-Gregoire was consistently in the Selah backfield.
A well-executed 2-minute drive by the Mariners resulted in a 31-yard Bane Mitchell field goal which pushed the Sehome lead to 17-0 at the half.
Trying to steal a possession, Selah attempted an onside kick to start the 3rd quarter but Lara was ready and secured it for Sehome.
Wright still looked to be at less than full strength from an injury that kept him out of the Sehome game last week at Archbishop Murphy, the only game he has missed in four years as a starter. He nevertheless broke free on a scramble and sprinted 33 yards down the home team sideline for a touchdown.
The score made it 24-0 Mariners and Sehome put up two more touchdowns in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. Both of the scores were on Sawyer Woods running plays and paved the way by the stout Sehome offensive line. Woods finished the game with 192 yards putting him over 1000 for the season.
At 38-0, the defense kept the pressure on and was able to secure the shutout, preventing Selah from getting on the scoreboard. Al Miller contributed an interception and the Sehome defense limited Selah to 171 total yards. A final score for the Mariners was another Wright-to-Quiggle connection, this time for a 45-yard touchdown reception.
Mitchell nailed the point after and the Mariners won the round of 32 elimination game 45-0, making a strong case for a Top-8 seed and a home game in the State Tournament.
Sehome (6-4) will find out its opponent later today.
Sehome 45 Selah 0 SEL 0 0 0 0 - 0 SEH 7 10 21 7 - 45 SEH - Woods 2 run (Mitchell kick) SEH - Quiggle 72 pass from Wright (Mitchell kick) SEH - Mitchell 31 FG SEH - Wright 33 run (Mitchell kick) SEH - Woods 23 run (Mitchell kick) SEH - Woods 5 run (Mitchell kick) SEH - Quiggle 45 pass from Wright (Mitchell kick) SEL SEH 30-79 Rush Att-Yards 32-266 10-21-3 Comp-Att-Int 7-14-2 92 Passing Yards 191 Individual Leaders RUSHING - SEL: N/A. SEH: Woods 26-192, Wright 3-55, Goodman 3-19. PASSING - SEL: N/A. SEH: Wright 7-14-2-191. RECEIVING - SEL: N/A. SEH: Quiggle 3-126, Duckworth 2-15, Goodman 1-25, Woods 1-25.
