“So glad to be back at receiver” — Squalicum’s Reed Richardson ends emergency QB stint
Going into his sophomore season at Squalicum, Reed Richardson never imagined he would need to play quarterback.
Now back at wide receiver as a senior after a much-needed emergency stint behind center, he hopes he never plays quarterback again as the Storm begins a potential series of elimination games.
However, the versatile multi-sport athlete wouldn’t mind passing on an option play now and then. After all, there’s no question he can throw well.
On Friday night, Oct. 29, the Storm (5-2, 3-2 Northwest Conference 2A) faces Burlington-Edison (6-1, 4-1) at Civic Stadium at 8 p.m., with the league’s second and final state tournament berth going to the winner behind league champion Lynden (7-1, 5-0).
Standout quarterback Leyton Smithson and three-season rushing star Ben Schlenbaker, each injured against Lynden in Week Three, both played superbly at full strength in Squalicum’s 34-14 season-saving NWC win over Sedro Woolley in Week Seven.
“Now we’re all back where we’re supposed to be,” said Richardson. “I sure had been hoping Leyton would be able to return at quarterback. I’m so glad to be back at receiver.”
Richardson, who isn’t sure of his college plans, has established quite a reputation at Squalicum.
“Reed is a gamer, absolutely clutch in the moment,” said Storm coach Nick Lucey, whose team will bid for its sixth state berth in his seven opportunities (there were no playoffs in the abbreviated winter 2021 season and the Storm did not qualify in 2017).
“Reed has an innate feel for the big play in football and basketball,” Lucey said. “He’s highly athletic with great hands.”
Upon reflection, it was in the most frustrating moment of what could yet be a great season when Lucey realized what a gamer Richardson really is.
“Against Lakewood (the week after the 15-12 loss to Lynden), Reed had not had a lot of reps at quarterback, yet he was able to pull off a brilliant two-minute drill,” Lucey said of a moment he will never forget for its sheer frustration.
With Squalicum out of timeouts and trailing 14-13, Richardson found fellow senior receiving star Kai Posey at the 3-yard line with a 25-yard pass. With 6.8 seconds remaining and the clock stopped for a first down, he wanted a legal spike and a field goal attempt, but Lucey protested in vain the clock started too soon and the Storm was stuck with the loss that dropped them to 2-2, 0-2.
“Not many kids could have pulled off what Reed did in those circumstances,” Lucey said. “It was amazing.”
Richardson, though, came back with a fine showing at quarterback the next week with 8 for 10 passing for 116 yards and a 39-yard scoring shot to Posey in the Storm’s 27-0 win over Sehome.
And with Smithson back at quarterback in Week 6, Richardson returned to receiver. He caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Smithson and he threw a 34-yard scoring pass to Smithson on a trick play in the Storm’s 26-6 win over Archbishop Murphy.
“We were very excited to do that,” Richardson said of throwing to Smithson, a childhood friend who returned to Squalicum as a senior after playing well enough in Idaho to attract college offers.
Richardson has always been a hard guy to discourage, as he often showed while playing quarterback on highly successful youth football teams coached by his father, Storm assistant coach Reed Richardson, beginning in fourth grade.
“I was born with a football,” the younger Richardson said with a laugh, recalling all the time he spent as a kid on high school sidelines dreaming of athletic opportunities.
Richardson had recovered from an ankle injury in basketball only to learn he had to quarantine during the season’s first game with a “breakthrough” case of COVID-19. Since he had been fully vaccinated for some time, he had only mild symptoms.
Squalicum had to take a forfeit from Snohomish in Week 2. Wind and rain were remarkably heavy for September in the Week Three loss at Lynden. Richardson never had a realistic chance to catch a pass as the Storm went zero-for-7.
The Storm was not able to play a non-divisional game in Week 8 due to Nooksack Valley’s COVID exposure.
“Those guys (Smithson, Schlenbaker, Posey, Bryson Lamb, Kaleb Hawkinson and other longtime senior buddies) make me look good,” the younger Richardson said of the period when they have all been able to play together during this odd season.
Richardson could have said the same thing of many big moments as a stellar sophomore and junior receiver for graduated quarterback Mason Binning.
Richardson is gratified to be playing with so many longtime friends.
“We got to know each other so well,’’ he said. “It’s so much fun to be playing with these guys.”
The elder Richardson, in fact, couldn’t be happier about that.
“That’s the real fun of all this,” he said of the season. “To see all these guys playing one more season together.”
WEEK NINE
Friday’s games
Squalicum vs. Burlington-Edison at Civic Stadium, 8 p.m.
Sehome vs. Cedarcrest at Civic Stadium,5 p.m.
Lynden at Sedro-Woolley, 7 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Meridian at Mount Baker, 7 p.m.
Neah Bay at Lummi, 6 p.m.
Bellingham at Mount Vernon, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Ferndale vs. Monroe (Wesco North-South playoff for first place) at Blaine, 2 p.m.
Spokane East Valley at Lynden Christian, 1 p.m.
