BELLINGHAM - The Squalicum football team showed its unity as it was victorious over Abbotsford Collegiate by a score of 63-7 on Saturday, Sept. 22.
Almost every Storm player was given playing time after Squalicum took a 50-0 halftime lead.
Luke Weber led the Storm with 114 rushing yards and three all-purpose touchdowns, giving Squalicum a big boost and allowing some of the backups to get repetitions.
"I just tried to run hard," Weber said. "I thought Mac (Walker) and (Kyler) Saxton played hard. It was good to see them on the field."
The three different quarterbacks who took snaps for Squalicum were led by Clark Hazlett, who threw for 141 yards, completing six of his nine passing attempts. Senior Blake Youtsey got his first plays at quarterback, and also caught a 23-yard touchdown from Hazlett near the end of the first half.
The Storm had nine different players run the ball, including Walker and Saxton who ran for a combined 48 yards. They were joined in the rushing attack by Trey Hunter, Jordan Campbell, Brandon LeDoux, Nick Manchester, Hazlett and Mac Novak.
"It was really good to see the older guys getting excited for the younger guys," Squalicum coach Reed Richardson said.
An overmatched Abbotsford remained disciplined, jumping on two Squalicum fumbles and only being penalized twice for a total of 10 yards. The Panthers were only able to field 18 players, but kept fighting and scored in the fourth quarter on a Carter Williams pass to Jordan Goheen that went 22 yards for a touchdown.
Richardson said Squalicum is looking forward to its next game against Ferndale this Friday, Sept. 28, in Ferndale. Both the Storm and the Golden Eagles are undefeated thus far and will be looking to gain the upper hand in the Northwest Conference.
"We're going to have to play faster (Ferndale running back Alex) Conley is incredible and we have to be able to tackle him," Richardson said.
Squalicum 25 25 6 7- 63
Abbotsford 0 0 0 7- 7
First quarter
Squalicum- Blake Youtsey 26 pass from Clark Hazlett (Kick failed)
Squalicum - Mac Novak 3 run (Kick failed)
Squalicum - Luke Weber 58 pass from Hazlett (Blaze Yetter kick)
Squalicum - Weber 36 run (Kick failed)
Second quarter
Squalicum - Weber 3 run (Kick failed)
Squalicum - Nick Manchester 3 run (Jacob Hamm kick)
Squalicum - Brandon LeDoux 30 interception return (Kick failed)
Squalicum - Youtsey 23 pass from Hazlett (Kick failed)
Third quarter
Squalicum - Colton Clemens fumble recovery in end zone (Kick failed)
Fourth quarter
Squalicum - Mac Walker 7 run (Tanner Griffiths kick)
Abbotsford - Jordan Goheen 22 pass from Carter Williams (Cody Follett kick)
Squal Abby
First downs 37 20
Rushing Att-Yards 31-247 16-0
Comp-Att-Int 11-15-1 11-28-3
Passing yards 204 86
Penalties-yards 6-50 2-10
Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0
Individual leaders
RUSHING - Squal: Luke Weber 8-114, Jordan Campbell 3-26, Mac Walker 5-25, Kyler Saxton 2-23, Mac Novak 2-20, Trey Hunter 4-19, Nick Manchester 3-17, Brandon LeDoux 2-16, Clark Hazlett 2-(-13). Abby: James Pauls 11-26, Carter Williams 5-(-26).
PASSING - Squal: Hazlett 8-12-1-182, Nathan Striggow 2-2-0-14, Blake Youtsey 1-1-0-8. Abby: Williams 11-28-3-86.
RECEIVING - Squal: Youtsey 3-62, Weber 1-58, Coleman Schwab 2-35, Blaze Yetter 2-27, Brock Jorgensen 1-8, Carter Frere 1-8, Lars Porras 1-6. Abby: Cody Follett 2-38, Jordan Goheen 3-25, Grayson Marquardt 4-18, Cody Lawlor 2-5.
