Three of Whatcom County’s best players square off Friday as Sehome meets Squalicum
So you think watching a football game between rivals with no chance to make state would be a waste of time?
Think again!
Sehome (4-3, 2-3 NWC 2A) and Squalicum (3-4, 1-4), have lost a combined five games to three of the state’s Top Ten Class 2A teams. But their match-up Friday at Civic Stadium will feature three of the state’s best young players.
All three of those prodigies are convinced that this game may feature two of next season’s three state qualifiers from the Northwest Conference (the conference is limited to two teams this season).
Both teams can boast that much potential, led by Sehome sophomore quarterback Nolan Wright and junior wide receiver Andre Watson, and erstwhile Squalicum running back Marcus Nixon, now one of the league’s best dual threats at quarterback.
Adding spice to the rivalry, first-year Sehome head coach Brian Young — or “BY” as every player on both teams calls him with respect and affection — served as an invaluable assistant coach while helping head coach Nick Lucey’s Storm reach the playoffs six times in the past eight opportunities.
“Nick is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with … He let me be me,” Young said.
“BY has been such a huge part of our success as a person and a coach,” Lucey said. “Now we root for him every week but one.”
Now are you intrigued? You should be.
“I think it will be a great game,” said Watson, who has 46 catches for 600 yards and 100 receptions for his career, thanks in part to Wright’s accuracy. He has 1,444 yards passing and 17 touchdown passes, according to the Whatcom Preps website.
“The fans definitely should come. It’s going to feel a little weird,” said Nixon, who has combined for 1,150 yards combined rushing and passing and 15 touchdowns produced. He is a lifelong friend of Watson.
Nixon can say that because this game, Squalicum’s Homecoming, will be his first shot at beating Sehome. He missed last year’s match-up, won 38-20 by the Mariners with seniors doing most of Sehome‘s scoring. Nixon had suffered a knee injury the previous week.
“What makes those guys special is that all three would trade their stats for a championship,” said Young. “They’re all so team oriented.”
Lucey discovered that quality about Nixon when he asked his star running back to switch to quarterback for the first time in his life, following the transfer of Josh Leonard to Bellingham for his senior year.
“Marcus is just growing every week from a skills standpoint,” Lucey said. “He’s a threat every time he touches the ball. Seeing his growth is huge. He’s the general back there. He’s a character kid and he’s an even better teammate.
“He’s an easy kid to love. He’s charismatic,” Lucey said.
Indeed, Nixon feels he is growing his skills. “I think I’ve gotten better at quarterback with each game,” he said.
Nixon, though, won’t lie.
“Yes, I would still rather play running back, but I’ll always play quarterback when the team needs me there,” Nixon said.
But regardless of where Nixon plays as a senior next season for the Storm, he says he may be asked to switch positions in college.
“I could see myself playing wide receiver or defensive back,” said the 6-foot, 185-pound Nixon.
In contrast, Wright, “a natural born quarterback” as Young describes him, has never done anything but call the signals. The 5-foot-11 two-sport standout throws like few players ever have in Whatcom County.
Young, who served as Squalicum’s defensive coordinator for the past five seasons, is convinced of that.
“Nolan is a fantastic leader,” Young said. “He’s a heck of a competitor and he’s real cerebral. He gives me a lot of great feedback during games and he‘s a 4.0 student. He’s got that mental talent.”
Wright loves the opportunity to provide feedback.
“I’d like to say we’re a pretty good duo,” he said of his coach. “We feed off each other’s ideas. BY is always willing to listen and we collaborate well.”
As for the spring-legged 5-10, 175-pound Watson, the receiver/defensive back ran the third leg on Sehome’s state champion 4x100 relay team last spring. He uses that speed to try not only to win, but to catch the eyes of as many college scouts as possible.
“He’s got real good hands and his hand-eye skills are second to none,” Young said.
Watson says his honest dream is “a Power Five scholarship,” although by the time he gets to college, college football will be the Power Four, because 10 teams in the Pacific-12 are shifting leagues next fall.
Watson is so quick, so electric, and so good at getting his teammates going because of his personality, that everyone calls him “Juice.”
“Andre plays with a chip on his shoulder and we’re working on making that a positive chip,” said Young.
Wright admires Watson’s work ethic.
“Andre’s drive is insane,” Wright said. “He’s made major improvements in everything he’s doing. He’s a great worker. It‘s his mentality. Andre thinks he‘s the best and I won‘t argue with that. He‘s definitely up there and he‘s got a great sense of humor.”
As a sophomore, Wright has plenty of time to impress college scouts. Playing in likely the state’s toughest 2A league, he said it’s “special playing against the best of the best.”
“I want to go as far as I can as a quarterback,” said Wright. “My goal is to work toward Division I, but I’ll play where the fit is best.”
Nixon admires Wright’s smarts at quarterback: “His football IQ is pretty high.”
All three athletes stress that they owe much of their success to the support of their parents -- Matthew and Devyn Nixon, Derrick and Jennifer Watson, and Barry and Julia Wright.
WEEK EIGHT
Friday
Sehome vs. Squalicum at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Blaine at Lynden Christian, 7 p.m.
Meridian at Mount Baker, 7 p.m.
Stanwood at Ferndale, 7 p.m.
Lynden at Lakewood, 7 p.m.
Bellingham at Friday Harbor, 6:30 p.m.
Lummi at Neah Bay, 5 p.m.
Nooksack Valley, Bye
