The unexpected sub: Pressed into service, Meridian linebacker Josh Elmer rushes to victory
Josh Elmer only seemed to come out of nowhere.
The 5-foot-6, 146-pound sophomore used the grit that enables him to play well as a starting middle linebacker to rush for a surprising 160 yards and two touchdowns in Meridian’s 26-14 non-league win over Bellingham on Friday.
“I really was surprised to get that many carries (20),” said Elmer, who packed the ball only three times in his previous two varsity games.
“I lacked confidence and I came in nervous,” he acknowledged.
But the first hit or two late in the first quarter made all the difference as Elmer helped the Trojans improve to 3-1 heading into their Northwest Conference Class 1A opener Friday against Nooksack Valley at Meridian.
“I knew Josh could do it,” said Meridian coach Patrick Ames. “He just needed the chance and the confidence.”
Elmer got the chance to play a complete game because standout junior running back Hunter Jones was unavailable.
Strong running by Elmer, junior running back Taye Binta and senior quarterback Tucker Harrison made possible a 15-play, 80-yard drive capped by a leaping 8-yard catch in the end zone by Bryce Johnson for a 7-7 tie near the end of the first quarter.
It was the 11th touchdown pass of the season for Harrison, who shook off first-half interceptions by Bellingham’s Alex Breeding and John Twedt to finish 9 for 22 for 124 yards, with three passes for 77 yards to Johnson.
Elmer’s first varsity touchdown, a 23-yard run late in the first half, gave the Trojans a 14-7 halftime lead.
On Meridian’s first series of the second half — set up by freshman Fyfe Jaeger’s second interception of the night — Elmer ran for 51 yards to the 2-yard line. He soon scored from the 3 for a 20-7 advantage.
“Two interceptions by a freshman was fantastic,” said Ames, who uses at least half a dozen freshmen in key roles.
The Trojans pulled off another 80-yard drive late in the third quarter, featuring a 50-yard pass-run to the 8 from Harrison to Johnson. The hard-running quarterback plowed over from the 5 for a 26-7 bulge.
Bellingham (1-3), which is playing an independent schedule, gratified coach Robb Myhre by staying in the game.
“I thought we settled down in the second half,” he said. “We had made too many mistakes.”
Junior quarterback Max Rasset’s 6-yard scoring pass to Daniel Reyes and Liam Poulton-Claypool’s second conversion kick pulled the Bayhawks within 26-14 with 7:16 to play.
Bellingham stopped the Trojans at the Bayhawks’ 11 on the ensuing series with 3:26 to play. Rasset immediately found Lucas Cousens on a 53-yard pass-run, with Meridian’s Daniel Short making a touchdown-saving tackle.
At that point, Meridian’s Armit Negra forced a fumble and Josh Groen recovered. Meridian ran out the clock — no knees in this game — bolstered by Elmer’s 18-yard dash.
Rasset’s 2-yard run — set up by Alex Breeding’s interception and Cousens’ 40-yard catch — on Bellingham’s first series gave the Bay hawks a 7-0 lead.
The Trojans threw Rasset for losses five times and only Breeding (six carries for 75 yards including a 47-yard dash) produced much on the ground. With three freshmen in the secondary, also including twins Asher and Kellen Todd, Meridian did a solid job by allowing 11 completions in 31 passes for 155 yards, including three catches for 104 by Cousens.
LAKEWOOD 14, SQUALICUM 13: “The game’s under protest,” Storm coach Nick Lucey said of the final 6.8 seconds against Lakewood (2-2, 1-1 NWC 2A).
Kai Posey made a diving catch of a 25-yard pass from Reed Richardson, landing the Storm (2-2, 0-2 NWC 2A) on the 3-yard line with a first down.
“We had enough time (the clock stops on first downs) to spike the ball and then try a field goal,” said Lucey. “But somehow the clock started too soon, with the umpire still over the ball.”
Storm rushing star Ben Schlenbaker remained out with an ankle injury and quarterback Leyton Smithson could not throw because of an injury also sustained in the Storm’s 15-12 loss to Lynden a week earlier.
“I think they both may be back (for Friday’s game against Sehome),” Lucey said.
Richardson, normally a receiving standout, scored on a 1-yard run for a 7-7 tie and Posey’s 16-yard touchdown reception from Richardson pulled the Storm within 14-13 with about seven minutes left. But the Storm’s 2-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete.
“Bryson Lamb had a fantastic game at middle linebacker and Kaleb Hawkinson saved a touchdown with a great tackle at the 10. Posey also made a crucial interception,” Lucey said.
FERNDALE 42, MOUNT VERNON 7: The Golden Eagles (4-0, 2-0 Wesco North 3A) turned in another offensive explosion at Mount Vernon to set up a huge conference game at Marysville-Pilchuck (4-0, 2-0) Friday.
Senior quarterback Mark Schlichting scored on a sneak and threw a touchdown pass of about 40 yards to sophomore Dylan Moore (full statistics were not available).
Ferndale’s powerhouse backfield of Isaiah Carlson (two touchdown runs) and Ryan Pelton (one scoring sprint) completed a strong night that gave the Eagles 150 points in their first four games.
Wingback Thomas Broselle is recovering from an ankle injury and hopes to return against Marysville-Pilchuck.
Ferndale has won 9 of its past 10 games, going back to the unusual six-game winter 2021 season.
LYNDEN 38, BURLINGTON-EDISON 35: Junior Troy Petz kicked a 19-yard field goal with five seconds left for the Lions (3-1, 2-0 NWC 2A) to beat the host Tigers (3-1, 0-1 NWC 2A).
“The kids drove 65 yards to win it in the last three minutes, with Lane Heeringa proving to be a warrior with 56 of the yards,” coach Blake VanDalen said. “It felt a lot like a Tom Brady drive.”
Heeringa finished with 142 yards on 26 carries and Petz made all five conversions.
“We wanted to be 50-50 balanced, and we did that,” VanDalen said. “We threw for 198 and ran for 201.”
Junior quarterback Kaidan Hermanutz completed 10 of 16 passes for all 198 yards and three touchdowns. Isaiah Stanley caught a 24-yard scoring pass and Kaleo Jandoc caught touchdown tosses good for 70 and 10 yards.
Campbell Nolte scored the other two touchdowns on 4-yard runs and finished with 10 carries for 40 yards.
Jandoc’s 10-yard score gave the Lions a 35-28 lead before Tigers tied it at 35-all with three minutes to play..
VanDalen said defensive back Ryan Kleindel was outstanding with an interception and two key pass breakups on third-and-long.
The Lions overcame 245 yards rushing and four touchdowns by Burlington’s Zach Watson.
SEDRO-WOOLLEY 42, SEHOME 21: Tyson Brown and Connor Davis each ran for two touchdowns and caught a scoring pass as the Cubs (4-0, 2-0 NWC 2A) remained tied for the league lead with the win over the Mariners (1-3, 0-2).
Jovyn Sangha threw touchdown passes to Braddock Duckworth and Zach Chisholm as Sehome hung tough and trailed only 21-14 at the half.
Duckworth returned a fumble about 30 yards (exact statistics were not available) for the game’s final points in the fourth quarter and Aidan Andrews made good on his third conversion kick.
“Sedro-Woolley is well-coached, very physical and has a lot of speed,” said Sehome coach Kevin Beason.
Lynden and Sedro-Woolley will meet in Week 9. Only two teams will advance to the state playoffs from NWC 2A. Both will receive byes in Week 10 and will go directly to the round of 16, befitting how strong the league is this season.
KING’S 44, NOOKSACK VALLEY 20: The Pioneers (2-2) came off a 35-7 loss to Kelso, which was a substitute opponent a week earlier for Nooksack due to Rainier Beach’s COVID-19 exposure. King’s (3-0) showed why it is a District 2 state playoff contender (King‘s is no longer in District 1).
Nooksack details were unavailable by deadline.
FOUR TEAMS SIDELINED: Blaine (2-0) saw its second consecutive cancellation due to COVID exposure protocol, but coach Jay Dodd said the Borderites are ready to return for a vital home game against Lynden Christian (1-2) Friday in an NWC 1A opener.
Mount Baker (1-2) and Lummi (3-0) were unable to find new opponents when their opponents developed COVID. Lynden Christian tried to fill a hole in its schedule by asking several teams for a game, but the Lyncs could not find anyone to play them.
WEEK 5
Friday’s games
Lynden Christian at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Ferndale at Marysville-Pilchuck, 7 p.m.
Sehome vs. Squalicum at Civic Stadium, 5 p.m.
Bellingham vs. Anacortes at Civic Stadium, 8 p.m.
Nooksack at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Lynden at Cedarcrest, 7 p.m.
Mount Baker at Tonasket 4 p.m.
Lummi — Bye.
This story was originally published September 27, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
