BELLINGHAM - Squalicum trotted onto Civic Stadium's field after halftime holding a comfortable 17-7 lead over Burlington-Edison.
The Storm left wondering how it could have gone so wrong.
On Friday, Oct. 19, the Storm suffered its second loss of the season to Burlington-Edison 24-17 in a Northwest Conference 2A/3A game. Squalicum (6-2, 4-2 NWC 2A/3A) held an early 17-0 lead, but gave up 24 unanswered points to the Tigers (5-3, 3-3 NWC 2A/3A), including a last-minute rushing touchdown that all but sealed its fate.
Mistakes, though, were what inevitably doomed Squalicum.
In the Storm's opening possession of the second half, it tried to convert a fourth-and-1 on its own 38-yard line and was stopped, giving Burlington-Edison the ball in good field position. After a nine-play, 38 yard drive, aided by a Squalicum pass interference call, Burlington-Edison quarterback Dalton Schwetz scored on a 2-yard run, closing the gap to 17-14.
The pivotal mistake came midway through the fourth quarter when Squalicum quarterback Clark Hazlett fumbled the ball on their own 37-yard line. The Tigers recovered the ball and tied the game after a 34-yard field goal by Tanner Gates.
"There was mistake after mistake after mistake," Squalicum coach Reed Richardson said. "It's hard to win a football game when you make a bunch of mistakes."
After a quick Squalicum three-and-out, Burlington-Edison took control on its 41 with just more than three minutes left. The Tigers marched down the field and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by Schwetz, giving the Tigers their first lead of the game with 18 seconds left.
Despite relying on its running game most of the night - the Storm ran the ball 56 times to just 10 pass attempts - it wasn't able to get it when it counted. Squalicum ran for only 43 yards in the second half, compared to the 264 yards in the first.
Luke Weber led the Storm, rushing for two touchdowns on 27 carries for 159 yards.
"My offensive line was great and the holes were wide open," Weber said. "They really did a great job."
Squalicum tailback Nick Manchester also chipped in 85 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Squalicum's passing attack only accounted for two completions and 31 yards.
"We're just going to bring and try to get some momentum heading into playoffs," Weber said.
Burlington-Edison 0 7 7 14- 24
Squalicum 7 10 0 0- 17
First Quarter
Squ-Luke Weber 45 run (Carpenter Kick)
Second Quarter
Squ-Weber 10 run (Carpenter Kick)
Squ-Carpenter 26 field goal
BE-Von Herbulis 14 pass from Schwetz (Gates Kick)
Third Quarter
BE-Schwetz 10 run (Gates kick)
Fourth Quarter
BE-Gates 34 field goal
BE-Schwetz 1 run (Gates Kick)
BE Sq
First Downs 14 16
Rushing Att-Yards 26-150 56-307
Comp-Att-Int 10-24-1 2-10-1
Passing Yards 98 31
Penalties 4-35 9-65
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-2
Individual leaders
Rushing - Burlington-Edison: Tyler Morrison 8-89, Dalton Schwetz 7-15, Jeff Bajema 5-43, Jae Evans 5-(-2), Timmie Rush 1-5. Squalicum: Luke Weber 27-159, Nick Manchester 18-85, Nathan Kamkoff 3-11, Mac Novak 3-38, Blaze Yetter 2-10, Clark Hazlett 1-(-5), Brandon LeDoux 1-9.
Passing - Burlington-Edison: Dalton Schwetz 10-24-98-1. Squalicum: Clark Hazlett 2-10-31-1.
Receiving - Burlington-Edison: Jae Evans 3-50, Peter Isaacson 3-17, Austin Von Herbulis 2-16, Daron Browning 1-10, Darren Arndt 1-5. Squalicum: Ben Garcia 2-31.
