The Blaine Borderites welcomed its 2012 high school football season with a convincing 50-16 victory over the New Westminster (B.C.) Hyacks on Friday, Aug. 31, at Blaine High School.
Mario Gobbato, star senior tailback for the Borderites, picked up right where he left off last season, rushing for 217 yards and five touchdowns on 15 carries - in the first half.
Gobbato and the Borderites' offense needed little time to score their first touchdown of the season, as on their first offensive play Gobbato streaked for a 40-yard touchdown. The Borderites' defense, much maligned for parts of the 2011 season, forced a quick three-and-out and returned the ball to its starting offense.
On the Borderites' second offensive play, Gobbato received a handoff from sophomore quarterback Nate Kramme and ran for a 28-yard touchdown.
Head football coach Jay Dodd was happy with his star tailback's performance.
"He looked great - very shifty," Dodd said. "He really emphasized on making people miss. ... He's squaring guys up and putting a couple of moves on them and getting by them."
Although the running game is the focal point of the Borderites' offense, quarterback Kramme played well, completing 4 of 5 passes for 59 yards and one touchdown in the first half.
But in Kramme's view, the first game left a lot of room for improvement.
"I think I could've thrown the ball better," he said. "There is always room for improvement - you can always get better."
New Westminster 30 20 0 0- 50
Blaine 0 0 8 8- 16
First quarter
Blaine - Mario Gobbato 40 run (2pt conversion)
Blaine - Mario Gobbato 28 run (2pt conversion)
Blaine - Mario Gobbato 5 run (2pt conversion)
Blaine - Isaiah Jackson 45 run (2pt conversion failed)
Second quarter
Blaine - Mario Gobbato 5 run (2pt conversion)
Blaine - Mario Gobbato 28 run (2pt conversion failed)
Blaine - Allen 8 pass from Kramme (2pt conversion failed)
Third quarter
New W. - Aldrin Asuncion 5 run (2pt conversion)
Fourth quarter
New W. - James Nicolas 18 run (2pt conversion)
Bla NW
First Downs 11 10
Rushing Att-Yards 30-303 30-146
Comp-Att-Int 4-5-0 1-12-0
Passing Yards 59 6
Penalties 4-50 8-50
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1
Individual leaders
Rushing - Blaine: Mario Gobbato 15-217, Cole Muder 5-11, Rudy Nolasco 4-5, Kaden Foster 3-19, Isaiah Jackson 1-45, Nate Kramme 1-6, Christian Hardt 1-0. New Westminster: Aldrin Asuncion 11-19, Julian Ramirez 5-52, Kaeden Hnatiw 6-37, Tommy Robertson 3-7, Frankie Dema 2-0, Angelo Tanjuaquio 2-5, James Nicolas 1-18, Eric Teng 1-8.
Passing - Blaine: Nate Kramme 4-5-0-59. New Westminster: Tommy Robertson 1-12-0-6
Receiving - Blaine: Cole Muder 2-40, Isaiah Jackson 1-11, Brett Allen 1-8. New Westminster: Stewart Sommerfeld 1-6.
