Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

PREP FOOTBALL: Mountaineers bounced by ATM

SNOHOMISH - If you had told coach Ron Lepper and the Mount Baker football team at the beginning of the season that they would have traveled to Snohomish County to play the No. 2 team in the state in a playoff game and trailed by only 14 points at halftime, they probably would have jumped at the chance.

That's exactly where the Mountaineers found themselves on Friday, Nov. 6, in a Class 2A Northwest District playoff game against Archbishop Murphy at Snohomish High School's Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"We actually were hoping to keep it to seven points at the half, but their back broke free and got that touchdown," Lepper said. "We wanted to be in striking distance."

But the Wildcats made sure that was as close as Mount Baker would get, rushing for 364 yards and scoring touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half to cement a 28-0 victory.

Though the loss ends the Mounties' season with a 5-5 record, Mount Baker players left the field proud of what they accomplished in 2009.

"It means a lot to just get here for the seniors," senior lineman Jacob Kernells said. "We worked really hard and came a long ways together since we were freshmen. It's been an honor to have played with these guys."

With the win, Archbishop Murphy moves on to the 2A state tournament, receiving the Northwest District's top seed and a first-round game at home.

"They are a very talented team," Kernells said. "I can see them being very successful in state and going a long ways."

Seeing the Wildcats go a long ways was part of the problem for the Mountaineers on Friday night.

Archbishop Murphy had 16 plays of 10 or more yards in the game, compared to three for Mount Baker.

"They got their yards, that's for sure," Lepper said. "There were times that we thought we would have them contained for a much shorter play, but then they would squirt free and pick up some big yardage. But what can you say? They are a very talented team, and they have some very talented guys over there."

The Wildcats flashed that big-play ability early, getting runs of 26 and 21 yards to set up Blake Torres for a 33-yard scamper around left end for the game's first score.

Alex Martinez made it 14-0 on ATM's second possession with a 4-yard TD run, after the Wildcats had runs of 22 and 16 yards on the drive.

Mount Baker appeared headed for a three-touchdown deficit before halftime, when ATM drove to the Mounties' 37 in the final minute, but Levi Wigg intercepted Alex Martinez 18 seconds before the break to keep the score manageable.

The Wildcats made up for the mistake, though, marching 62 yards on seven plays with the opening possession of the second half for a 4-yard TD run from Torres.

A 16-yard touchdown pass from Austin VanderWel to Mark Schireman on the first play of the fourth quarter all but put the game away.

Mount Baker was able to move the ball in spurts offensively, but was never able to put together long, sustained drives. The Mounties' deepest penetration of the game came on their final drive, when they reached the Wildcats' 11, before turning the ball over on downs.

Wigg rushed for 46 yards on five carries, while Nick Jacoby had 39 yards and Kurtis Zender had 37.

The Mounties were without usual starting center Dylan Reiter, who broke a thumb a day earlier, Lepper said. David Figueroa filled in and did a good job, according to Lepper, but Mount Baker still lost about 120 pounds up front.

"We have a lot to be proud of this season," Lepper said. "To be playing a meaningful game in November for the first time in four years, that says a lot. The credit has to go to our seniors, who made it their goal to help get us here. They led the way and made sure everybody was working hard to get here. Now it's up to the rest of the guys to carry on from here."

Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2271.

Mount Baker 0 0 0 0 - 0

Archbishop Murphy 7 7 7 7 - 28

First quarter

ATM - Blake Torres 33 run (Stephen Briede kick)

Second quarter

ATM - Alex Martinez 1 run (Briede kick)

Third quarter

ATM - Torres run (Briede kick)

Fourth quarter

ATM - Mark Schireman 16 pass from Austin VanderWel (Briede kick)

MB ATM

First downs 8 22

Rush att.-yards 35-138 43-364

Cmp.-Att.-Int. 3-8-1 3-10-2

Passing yards 28 31

Penalties-yards 2-10 5-52

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Individual statistics

RUSHING - Mount Baker: Kurtis Zender 13-37, Nick Jacoby 14-39, Zak Lepper 1-0, Levi Wigg 5-46, A.J. Howard 2-16. Archbishop Murphy: Alex Martinez 13-86, Keola Wilkins 4-53, Jacob Clark 8-77, Blake Torres 7-84, Aidan Huggins 3-6, Austin VanderWel 5-38, Alex Kramer 1-19, Connor Kruse 2-1.

PASSING - Mount Baker: Zak Lepper 3-8-1-28. Archbishop Murphy: Austin VanderWel 2-6-1-25, Alex Martinez 0-1-1-0, Connor Kruse 1-3-0-6.

RECEIVING - Mount Baker: Nick Jacoby 1-(-1), Logan Packard 1-25, Taylor Engels 1-4. Archbishop Murphy: Matt Huggins 1-9, Mark Schireman 1-16, Jacob Clark 1-6.