From Squalicum to Bellingham, it’s all in the family for quarterback Josh Leonard
Not many players in Whatcom County have had more football friends and family members pulling for him than Josh Leonard.
Leonard, who led the county in touchdown passes with 16 as a junior, will guide his new team when Bellingham meets Meadowdale on Friday night at Civic Stadium.
Then he’ll root for his former team, Squalicum, against Seaquam Secondary (B.C.) in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader at Civic. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. for the first game.
Leonard explained that he applied for approval to transfer for his senior season because he is close to brother Ben Leonard, a freshman receiver in a football program coordinated by second-year head coach Adam Leonard, their father.
Josh has extra motivation to play well. His youngest brother, Nick Leonard, a sixth-grader at Whatcom Middle School, is all about learning football as quarterback of the Bellingham Knights.
Nick is rated the nation’s No. 1 player in his age group with a point system developed by the web site QBHitList.com, which tracks the progress of youth football players. As a fifth grader, the web site notes that he produced 35 touchdowns in eight games passing and running combined.
“It was my idea to transfer,” said Josh. “The team (at Bellingham) has really been accepting and supportive right away. It really helped a lot that we really bonded at camp (in June) at Central Washington University.”
“It’s all about keeping the family together,” said Adam Leonard, who is coaching the Bayhawks as a 2A independent while trying to develop a program that can have the caliber of football success that city rivals Squalicum and Sehome have often enjoyed in recent years in the Northwest Conference. At this point, Bellingham does not play against either city rival in football.
Leonard showed his empathy for one of the county’s most promising players, junior Tyler Frost, who saw a penalty nullify his outstanding 52-yard touchdown run in the Bayhawks’ 32-27 loss to 3A Metro League contender Chief Sealth on Saturday at Civic.
“I really felt sorry for Tyler,” said Josh. “It was a really good run.”
Bellingham trailed 25-21 early in the fourth quarter when Frost’s touchdown was called back.
On Bellingham’s final offensive play, Josh made an outstanding twisting run of his own for a 21-yard touchdown when he saw no receivers open, but there wasn’t enough time left to get the ball back. It was the first varsity touchdown run of his career and provided the lasting memory of a high-five from Ben.
“I was surprised I scored on that run,” Josh said.
“I haven’t seen Josh (who is 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds) do that since middle school,” Adam said. “Now our assistants are telling me we should run more read-option plays.”
Josh is also making it tough on football statisticians and opponents alike with a tricky pass play called a jet sweep, which is known as a fly sweep at Clemson University, which popularized it. He executes the play so well and so quickly that it can easily be interpreted as a handoff.
“I always inform the officials that the jet sweep is like a shovel pass, so if the play is incomplete, it can’t be called a fumble,” Adam said. “Josh really knows how to quickly pop that ball in (to the running back).”
Instead of going 9-for-24 for 135 yards and his first touchdown pass for Bellingham — a 13-yarder to former quarterback Gabriel Van Hofwegen, now a tough tight end — Leonard officially wound up 17 for 34 yards for 194 yards and one interception, a 60-yard runback for a Chief Sealth touchdown.
“That interception was on me,” said Adam, lamenting his play call.
Josh, a left-handed passer, says it feels “really natural” to be playing for his father. Adam says he has never forgotten how Josh felt he was getting a bit too much pressure from his father as a fifth-grader.
“I really heard what Josh said to me,” Adam said. “That’s when I backed off.”
Adam and his wife, Stefanie Leonard, were multi-sport athletes at Division III University of Puget Sound in the late 1990s.
“Puget Sound has given me my first college offer,” says Josh of the Loggers, whose quarterback is former Squalicum standout Mason Binning. “I’m looking for the best fit. I see myself playing D III or at an NAIA college.”
“I feel lucky that Josh is a quarterback,” said Nick, a legitimate dual threat and also a middle linebacker who is looking forward to playing for Bellingham. “He just really helps.”
Like Ben, Nick is a three-sport athlete. For his part, strong-armed Josh is considering trying baseball.
One thing’s for sure, if Josh does throw more than a football for Bellingham. He won’t lack for fan support.
WEEK TWO
Thursday
Blaine vs. Sehome at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday
Ferndale at Oak Harbor, 7 p.m.
Connell at Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m.
W.F. West at Lynden, 7 p.m.
Bellingham vs. Meadowdale at Civic Stadium, 5 p.m.
Squalicum vs. Seaquam Secondary (B.C.) at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Archbishop Murphy, 7 p.m.
Mount Baker vs. Wenatchee at Apple Bowl, 4 p.m.
Meridian vs. Chelan at Sergeant Field, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Lummi vs. Tulalip at Tulalip Tribe Sportsplex, 4 p.m.
