BELLINGHAM - Junior Daniel Ziegler gave glimpses of what he could do with his legs a week ago when he was pressed into action against Ferndale. All he did was run for 50- and 60-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help get the Mariners back into the game.
Turns out he's pretty effective with his right arm, too.
Starting in place of usual starter Austin Rapp, who was serving a suspension after he was ejected against Ferndale, Ziegler completed all 12 passes he attempted, including two for touchdowns, to help the Mariners to a 48-14 NWC 2A/3A victory over Anacortes on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Civic Stadium.
The win was the first under new coach Bob Norvell.
"It feels really good," Norvell said. "We really needed a win."
Ziegler finished the game with 185 yards passing and completed passes to seven different receivers. He also added 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground, as he directed one of the most dynamic offensive performances by Sehome (1-2, 1-1 NWC 2A/3A ) in years.
"Coming into the game, everybody expected me to run the ball," Ziegler said. "I wanted to show them I could pass, too."
The Mariners piled up 283 yards of total offense in the first half alone, and finished with 363.
Titi Lamositele lumbered for 84 yards and a touchdown, while Taylor Rapp - Austin's younger brother - chipped in 55.
"Our coaches wanted to get the run game going early so that it would open up the passing game for me," Ziegler said.
That plan worked to near perfection, though the game didn't get off to the start the Mari-ners were looking for.
Sehome fumbled on its second play from scrimmage, and Anacortes' Joe D'Amelio scooped up the ball and rumbled 40 yards to the Sehome 7. The Sehome defense nearly held, but on fourth-and-goal, Tristen Hayes found A.J. Yost in the back of the end zone for the Seahawks' first points of the season.
The Mariners responded, though, when Lamositele broke into the Anacortes secondary and blasted through a pair of Seahawks tacklers at the 25 on his way to a 37-yard, game-tying touchdown. Lamositele accounted for 57 of Sehome's 76 yards on the drive on just three carries.
Ziegler then went to the air to give Sehome the lead in the second quarter, when he found Malik Williams from 18 yards out on a pretty corner route, before Bo Banner scored on an 8-yard end-around.
But Andrew Medalia engineered a 52-yard drive for Anacortes before the end of the half and capped it off with a 6-yard toss to Nick Monroe to make it 20-14.
After Sehome tagged on a safety on an Anacortes snap out of the back of the end zone, Ziegler again took to the air, hitting Banner for 37 yards to the Anacortes 5. Two plays later the duo connected again to put the Mariners up 29-14, and the Mariners pulled away from there with an 11-yard touchdown run from Ziegler, another safety, a 30-yard field goal from Sam Diehl and Jesse Haggen's interception return for a touchdown on the game's final play.
"This was a big, big win for us after we started 0-2," Ziegler said. "I think it gives us confidence."
Ziegler's performance also could create a bit of a quarterback controversy - or at least some options - when Austin Rapp returns.
"Of course I'd like to stay at quarterback, but I'll play wherever they need me - running back, receiver - anywhere," Ziegler said.
Sehome next travels to Meridian on Friday, Sept. 21.
Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2286.
Anacortes 7 7 0 0- 14
Sehome 7 13 0 28- 48
First quarter
Ana - A.J. Yost 7 pass from Tristen Hayes (Kyle Jones kick)
Seh - Titi Lamositele 37 run (Sam Diehl kick)
Second quarter
Seh - Malik Williams 18 pass from Daniel Ziegler (Diehl kick)
Seh - Bo Banner 8 run (run failed)
Ana - Nick Monroe 6 pass from Andrew Medalia (Jones kick)
Fourth quarter
Seh - Safety
Seh - Banner 12 pass from Ziegler (Diehl kick)
Seh - Ziegler 11 run (Diehl kick)
Seh - Safety
Seh - Diehl 30 FG
Seh - Jesse Haggen 48 interception return (no attempt)
Ana Seh
First downs 10 21
Rushing Att-Yards 38-133 38-176
Comp-Att-Int 5-18-2 12-12-0
Passing yards 53 185
Penalties-yards 7-56 7-63
Fumbles-lost 1-0 4-1
Individual leaders
RUSHING - Anacortes: Derek Chase 20-86, Zach Hiles 4-33, Tristen Hayes 2-(-7), Andrew Medalia 7-1, Nick Monroe 5-20. Sehome: Daniel Ziegler 12-23, Taylor Rapp 6-55, Titi Lamositele 8-84, Malik Williams 3-0, Bo Banner 1-8, Forrest Longanecker 3-7, Josh Slesk 1-1, Jose Gutierrez 3-(-3), Daniel Goebel 1-1.
PASSING - Anacortes: Tristen Hayes 1-3-0-7, Andrew Medalia 4-15-2-46. Sehome: Daniel Ziegler 12-12-0-185.
RECEIVING - Anacortes: A.J. Yost 2-19, Joe D'Amelio 1-19, Nick Monroe 2-15. Sehome: Taylor Rapp 2-33, Willy Lallas 2-14, Daniel Goebel 2-14, Forrest Longanecker 1-23, Malik Williams 2-38, Bo Banner 2-59, Titi Lamositele 1-4.
Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.
