BELLINGHAM - Burlington-Edison High School defeated Bellingham High School 56-23 behind a diverse running attack that was too much for the Red Raiders on Friday, Sept. 7, in Northwest Conference Class 2A action at Civic Stadium.

After Bellingham took a long drive for three points in the first quarter, Burlington-Edison took control with 28 straight points. A high snap on a punt and a kickoff return by Burlington-Edison for a touchdown put the Red Raiders in a big hole at the end of the first quarter. The 25-point hole proved too much for the Red Raiders to overcome.

Dalton Schwetz of the Burlington-Edison Tigers led the team with 159 yards passing on 10 attempts and two touchdowns. Melvin Deal led the Red Raiders with 103 rushing yards on 15 touches.

"I figured, if I'm going to play, I might as well show them what I got," Deal said.

Deal was starting at running back in place of Marques Reynolds, who was out with an injury. Bellingham coach Steve Wilson expects Reynolds back soon and described him as week-to-week.

Bellingham was also without wide receiver Kyle Redmond, who was injured. Quarterback Justin Pruett didn't feel many ill effects of losing his top receiver, though, spreading the ball around and hooking up with Scott Tang, Nicholas Estrada and Darice Heywood for three touchdowns.

"We were just looking to improve, and we did," said Wilson.

Burlington 3 14 0 6- 56

Bellingham 28 14 7 7- 23

First quarter

Bell- Kaleb Smart FG

B-E- Darren Arndt Kickoff Return (Tanner Gates kick)

B-E- Brandon Stransky 14 pass from Dalton Schwetz (Gates kick)

B-E- Jeff Bajema fumble recovery (Gates kick)

B-E- Arndt 18 run (Gates kick)

Second quarter

Bell- Scott Tang 3 pass from Justin Pruett (Smart kick)

B-E- Jae Evans 6 run (Gates kick)

B-E- Evans 7 run (Gates kick)

Bell- Nicholas Estrada 24 pass from Pruett (Smart kick)

Third quarter

B-E- Isaacson 15 pass from Schwetz (Gates kick)

Fourth quarter

Bell- Haywood 6 pass from Pruett (Kick blocked)

B-E- Hamidou 15 pass from Mason Schwetz (Gates kick)

Bell B-E

First downs 32 26

Rushing Att-Yards 25-163 37-234

Comp-Att-Int 20-39-1 10-14-0

Passing yards 223 192

Penalties-yards 7-35 9-75

Fumbles-lost 4-2 2-1

Individual leaders

RUSHING - Bellingham: Melvin Deal 15-103, Justin Pruett 4-42, Isaiah White 6-18. Burlington-Edison: Jae Evans 6-50, Darren Arndt 4-47, Tyler Morrison 5-40, Damian McDougle 7-35, Brennan Hamidou 2-25, Carlos Navarro 2-16, Jeff Bajema 3-14, Jovanny Rodriguez 1-6, Dalton Schwetz 1-3, Mason Schwetz 4-0, Tyson Frazier 2-(-2).

PASSING - Bellingham: Justin Pruett 24-39-1-223. Burlington-Edison: Dalton Schwetz 8-10-0-159, Mason Schwetz 2-4-0-33.

RECEIVING - Bellingham: Nicholas Estrada 7-101, Darice Haywood 9-62, Adam Estrada 4-29, Scott Tang 3-28, Melvin Deal, 1-3. Burlington-Edison: Peters Isaacson 4-98, Austin VonHerbulis 2-47, Darren Arndt 1-20, Daron Browning 1-18, Brennan Hamidou 1-15, Brandon Stransky 1-14.