Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

PREP FOOTBALL: Mount Baker secures playoff No. 4 seed after win over Squalicum

After a scoreless first half, Mount Baker scored two touchdowns in 12 seconds in the third quarter to take control of an important Class 2A Northwest Conference game.

The Mountaineers, who had two running back surpass 100 yards each on the ground, went on to win 28-7.

With the win, Mount Baker (5-4, 5-4 NWC, 4-3 NWC 2A) locks up the NWC's No. 4 seed and will play at Archbishop Murphy in the 2A Northwest District playoffs.

Squalicum (5-4, 5-4, 4-3) falls into the district play-in game on Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the second straight season, and will need a victory over the Cascade Conference No. 4 seed to extend its season and play NWC No. 1 seed Lynden for the right to advance to state.

A gusty wind during the first half kept either team from completing a pass attempt, as Zak Lepper and Quin Moore combined to go 0 for 7.

But Mount Baker had no problem picking up big chunks of yardage between the tackles.

David Kashubin rushed for 116 yards in the first half, and Kurtis Zender added another 46. Five of Kashubin's 11 carries went for double-digit yardage totals.

Squalicum, meanwhile, struggled to find much offensive rhythm, even though Brad Miller rushed for 58 yards on nine carries. The Mountaineers held the rest of the Storm offense to 3 yards in the first half.

Mount Baker was unable to build a lead, though.

The Mountaineers twice put themselves in goal-to-go positions, only to come away without a point.

Squalicum's Michael Dallas had a big hand or two in keeping the game scoreless at halftime, as he blocked field-goal attempts by Mount Baker's Jose Mata to end both drives.

Mata also had a 57-yard field-goal attempt near the end of the half blocked by the interior of the Storm line.

Besides the blocked field-goal attempts, the best scoring chance of the half went to Squalicum's Nikko Walker, who got his hands on a Lepper pass with nothing between him and the end zone but Civic Stadium turf. Walker juggled the ball twice before the pass fell incomplete.

Mount Baker's first completed pass of the night was a big one, as Lepper found Taylor Engels on the right side of the end zone for a diving reception and a touchdown with 1:35 to play in the third quarter.

The play was set up by the game's first turnover, a fumble by Squalicum's Evan Fenton that was disputed by the Storm coaching staff.

There was no argument, when Miller lost control of the ball on the Storm's next play from scrimmage and Zender came away with the recovery.

Lepper then found Logan Packard on a fade route to the left side for a 19-yard touchdown and a quick 14-0 lead.

Mount Baker made it 21-0 after another Squalicum turnover, this one coming on the first of two Levi Wigg interceptions off Moore. A 50-yard run by Zender, who finished with more than 100 yards, got the Mounties in scoring position, and Nick Jacoby finished it off with a four-yard TD run with 9:25 to play. Wigg later added a 12-yard TD run.

Mount Baker's sudden scoring surge came without the services of their first-half hero, Kashubin, who did not take the field in the second half.

Squalicum got on the board with a 12-yard TD run by Evan Fenton.

Mount Baker 0 0 14 14- 28

Squalicum 0 0 0 7- 7

Third quarter

MB - Taylor Engels 10 pass from Zak Lepper (Jose Mata kick)

MB - Logan Packard 19 pass from Lepper (Mata kick)

Fourth quarter

MB - Nick Jacoby 4 run (Mata kick)

MB - Levi Wigg 12 run (Mata kick)

Sq - Evan Fenton (12 run (David Starkovich kick)

MB Sq

First downs 19 10

Rushing Att-Yards 53-324 27-146

Comp-Att-Int 2-5-0 7-18-2

Passing yards 29 75

Penalties-yards 5-31 6-58

Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-2

Individual leaders

RUSHING - Mount Baker: David Kashubin 11-116, Levi Wigg 6-28, Nick Jacoby 14-66, Kurtis Zender 17-125, Zak Lepper 5-(-11). Squalicum: Evan Fenton 5-15, Brad Miller 14-88, Nikko Walker 7-38, Quin Moore 1-5.

PASSING - Mount Baker: Zak Lepper 2-5-0-29. Squalicum: Quin Moore 7-18-2-75.

RECEIVING - Mount Baker: Taylor Engels 1-10, Logan Packard 1-23. Squalicum: Brad Miller 1-15, Evan Fenton 3-35, Christian Foster 2-15, Jeremy King 1-10.