Multiple mini-playoff games? Whatcom’s cluster of good teams might have to face off again
On a night packed with vital Whatcom County football developments for seven teams, Sehome co-captain Tommy Funk came through with the finest game of his four-year career to beat Squalicum for the first time, then instantly became the Storm’s biggest fan.
For one game, anyway.
Funk rushed for 260 yards and three touchdowns in Sehome’s 38-20 win over Squalicum Friday at Civic Stadium, keeping state playoff hopes alive for the Mariners along with the Storm.
But for Sehome (5-3, 3-3) to have a shot at the third and final playoff berth in Northwest Conference 2A, the Mariners must hope Squalicum (4-4, 3-3) can beat Sedro-Woolley (6-2, 4-2) Thursday, Oct. 27, at Civic Stadium.
Assuming Sehome wins at Lakewood (2-6, 1-5) on Friday, such a scenario would leave the Mariners, Storm and the potent Cubs — a 48-0 winner over Archbishop Murphy — tied for third place at 4-3, with 1-1 records against each other.
That would mean a three-way mini 2A playoff (partial games, with details to be worked out) at neutral Anacortes on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
And, irony of ironies, such a three-way playoff may give Sehome the chance to face Sedro-Woolley — an opportunity denied the Mariners in the league season when Sehome forfeited to Woolley because of a confirmed hazing incident.
“Oh, yeah, we’ve been talking about still having a shot at state if we get help from Squalicum,” Funk said.
You can’t make this stuff up!
Meanwhile, Ferndale’s 28-7 win at Stanwood (7-1, 5-1) gave the Golden Eagles (6-2, 6-0) their second consecutive Wesco North 3A title and the right to play Wesco South 3A champion Monroe (site and time to be announced) this week for the conference’s No. 1 seed in the state playoffs. The postseason begins with the Round of 32 in Week 10.
In Class 1A, Lynden Christian’s 61-13 win over Blaine clinched at least an NWC co-title for the Lyncs (8-0, 3-0), but LC still isn’t guaranteed one of the two state spots allotted to NWC 1A.
That’s because Mount Baker’s 41-6 win over Meridian kept state playoff hopes alive for the Mountaineers (4-4, 2-1), who can force a three-way mini-playoff by beating LC on Friday at Baker.
In that event — and if Nooksack Valley (2-1, 6-1) beats Blaine Friday — then LC, Baker and Nooksack would all wind up 3-1 with 1-1 records against each other. Nooksack had a bye Friday.
Like we said, you can’t make this stuff up!
As if all that wasn’t enough, Lynden’s state-leading 19-game winning streak and the NWC 2A title are on the line when the Lions play at Anacortes on Friday. Lynden’s 48-3 win over Lakewood and Anacortes’ 26-7 victory over Burlington-Edison left the Lions and Seahawks tied at 8-0, 6-0. Both teams will start the State Round of 16 in Week 11 after they take byes in Week 10.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
SEHOME 38, SQUALICUM 20: The Seahawks led 24-0 late in the first half thanks to four huge plays in such an important game.
Funk’s 62-yard run set up a 23-yard field goal by sophomore Grady Evans, who also kicked all five extra points. On Sehome’s next series, freshman quarterback Nolan Wright and sophomore speed burner Andre Watson made it 14-0 with a 64-yard pass-run play to set up Wright’s ensuing 3-yard touchdown.
Watson quickly turned an interception into a 72-yard touchdown and Funk burst through several tacklers for 58 yards to set up his 4-yard score for 24-0 with 2:24 left in the first half.
“Those were the two biggest runs I’ve ever had,“ said Funk, who finished with 19 carries for his career-high 260 yards, which historian Tyler Anderson said was sixth-most in Sehome history.
Funk received much-needed tough yardage support from Carson Neff, who ground out 64 yards on 16 carries. Wright completed six of nine passes for 120 yards including five for 117 to Watson to highlight coach Kevin Beason‘s first win over perennial state qualifier Squalicum in his six seasons.
“Carson Neff is a great team guy,“ Funk said of the fellow senior. “He gave us a lot tonight.“
The Storm played without sophomore running standout Marcus Nixon, who has 15 stitches in a knee.
“I’ll be back next game,“ said Nixon, who plans to have the stitches removed before facing Sedro.
Storm quarterback Josh Leonard recovered with poise from two earlier interceptions by Sehome’s Watson and Kai Swanson. Leonard quickly made it a 24-14 game in the final two minutes of the first half with touchdown passes of 11 yards to Bryan Sheedy and .12 to Jacob Sorenson.
Even though the Storm netted only 25 yards rushing for the game to make it much tougher on Leonard, the junior completed 16 of 35 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns, with two to Sorenson, who caught six passes for 89 yards. Leonard has a county leading 16 scoring passes and more than 1,300 yards for the season.
On the Storm’s first touchdown drive, Leonard completed passes of 11 yards to Sorenson, 12 to Joaquin Ortiz-McAlister, 12 to Nick Wart and 11 for a touchdown to Sheedy. Watt then alertly recovered an untouched kickoff at Sehome’s 30 and Leonard found Watt for 18 yards and Sorenson for the 12-yard score with 30 seconds left in the half.
The Mariners, though, would not be denied. They opened the second half with Funk’s 2-yard touchdown, set up by runs of 21 yards by Neff and 31 yards by Watson for 31-14. Early in the fourth quarter, Funk scored from the 1 for 38-14, not long after the 195-pound bruiser raced 45 yards on the seventh and final big play for Sehome.
“I think it was our best game -- for now,” Beason said with a grin.
FERNDALE 28, STANWOOD 7: The Golden Eagles stunned Stanwood with a 20-0 first quarter lead on touchdown runs of 3 and 20 yards by Isaiah Carlson, giving the stellar senior a county-leading 20 scores, and a 6-yard score by fast-improving sophomore Zach Nielsen.
“Our entire defense played great,” said coach Jamie Plenkovich, thrilled that Ferndale held Stanwood to a season point low. “Top to bottom, this was our best game. Super well, we performed super well.”
The Golden Eagles improved their Wesco North record to 29-7 since joining the conference in 2016, with three North titles. The game against Monroe will be for the overall championship.
Junior quarterback Bishop Ootsie capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Plenkovich left the game in the last minute of the first half after being ejected by the officials for undisclosed reasons. Donny Hennigs took over for Plenkovich, whose status for the Monroe game is uncertain. Plenkovich will definitely be back in Week 10.
“It was a group (coaching) effort,” Hennigs told the website Scorebook Live. “I was just kind of being the organizer. We ask our kids to do it (replace a teammate) all the time and that’s what we expect as a staff, too.”
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN 61, BLAINE 13: The Lyncs surpassed 40 points for the sixth game under new coach Greg Terpstra and did it with a 48-0 halftime lead. Including Friday’s bursts by Mount Baker and Lynden, Whatcom County’s 11 teams have surpassed 40 points 24 times in eight weeks.
Junior quarterback Jeremiah Wright scored the first touchdown on a 55-yard run and passed 13 yards to Braden Kuik for the second score. Kuik also contributed seven conversion kicks.
Wright scored the third touchdown on a 1-yard run after passing for 19 yards to Kayden Stuit. Wright’s short night at quarterback ended with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Tyson Bajema, giving Wright 12 touchdown passes and more than 1,000 yards for the season.
Griffin Dykstra passed for a 1-yard score to Tyler Sipma, his ninth, one play after Dykstra passed to cousin Lane Dykstra for 35 yards. Dykstra also threw a 14-yard scoring toss to Isaac Paxton and Treven Blair scored on a 40-yard pick six, putting the Lyncs up 48-0 at the half.
Two more quarterbacks guided LC to scores. Thomas DenHartog ran 26 yards to set up star defensive lineman Jacob Tolsma’s 1-yard touchdown, his first for the varsity. With starting center Tommy Meyer in at quarterback, Tolsma burst 30 yards for his second touchdown
For Blaine (1-7, 0-3), Colin Davis threw touchdown passes of 55 yards to Riley Ihde and 25 yards to Conner Dalry.
“Overall, our kids continued to battle against a good team,” Blaine coach Jay Dodd said.
MOUNT BAKER 41, MERIDIAN 6: Marcques George gained more than 300 yards from scrimmage while scoring a career-high five touchdowns with a reception of 37 yards from Landon Smith and runs of 1, 47, 48 and 33 yards.
“Marcques has had more than 200 yards three times but I’m pretty sure this (267 yards on 17 carries) is a career high,” said Baker coach Ron Lepper. “This gives Marcques 14 touchdowns and about 1,200 yards in seven games.” (The Mounties have one win by forfeit.)
Wilhelm Maloley scored Baker’s other touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Smith, giving the senior quarterback nine scoring tosses.
Lepper credited defensive end Ethan Larson with “a lot of pressure,” including four pass deflections and a sack. Landon Hanstead set up a touchdown with an interception and Jesse Harward blocked a punt.
Meridian (4-4, 1-3) scored on a 1-yard run by Marcus Castaneda after Jaeger Fyfe threw passes of 15 and 10 yards to Josh Elmer.
LYNDEN 48, LAKEWOOD 3: Quarterback Kaedan Hermanutz rushed for a game-high 81 yards on seven carries and scored from the 2 for Lynden’s first touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Brant Heppner, who alternates at the position, scored on a 15-yard run and threw a 43-yard scoring pass to Troy Petz, who also made all six of his conversion kicks to give him 32 in 34 attempts. The versatile Heppner has produced 12 touchdowns running and passing.
Lynden coach Blake VanDalen pointed out that Petz has caught five scoring grabs among his 10 catches. Petz now has 77 points for the season.
Lane Heeringa scored on runs of 3 and 6 yards, helping the Lions go up 35-0 at the half. Heeringa picked up 58 yards on seven carries and improved his season total to 11 touchdowns.
Charlie Ayres, a junior who serves as the third quarterback, displayed his talent with touchdown runs of 16 and 8 yards.
The Lions’ three quarterbacks combined for 9 for 11 accuracy for 124 yards. Isaiah Stanley caught four for 36 yards.
Danny Lopez, one of Lynden’s 31 seniors, made his first varsity interception.
“It was Senior Night and I felt I was running for mayor of Lynden,” VanDalen quipped. “I shook hands with 50 total parents during the ceremonies.”
CONCRETE 58, LUMMI 8: Quarterback Tony Abrams produced the only score for the Blackhawks (2-5) with a 20-yard run.
Lummi finishes the regular season with a 6 p.m. kickoff Friday at Neah Bay. It’s uncertain whether the Blackhawks will play in Week 10 during the quad-district playoffs.
SATURDAY’S GAME
BELLINGHAM 20, FRIDAY HARBOR 14: The Bayhawks improved to 3-5 as an independent with a win over 1A Friday Harbor at Civic Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Gabe VanHofwegen got Bellingham going with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Liam Poulton-Claypool. Logan Steeves ran 48 yards for the second score and team tackling leader Tyler Frost, showing the sophomore’s versatility, scored on a 2-yard burst.
Poulton-Claypool kicked two extra points and helped lead a solid defensive effort along with Isaac Bates, who had an interception in what coach Adam Leonard called “a real good win.”
The Bayhawks hope to avoid a losing season when they meet Meridian in Week 9 and Sultan in Week 10.
WEEK NINE
Thursday, Oct. 27
Squalicum vs. Sedro-Woolley at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sehome at Lakewood, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 28
Lynden Christian at Mount Baker, 7 p.m.
Blaine at Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m.
Lynden at Anacortes, 7 p.m.
Meridian vs. Bellingham at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Lummi at Neah Bay has been canceled.
Ferndale at Monroe, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published October 24, 2022 at 5:55 AM.
CORRECTION: Next week’s games were updated Oct. 25, 2022.
