Somers came up big when it counted

Lynden quarterback Sterling Somers was facing some old demons Friday night against Sedro-Woolley, a team in which the standout out senior threw four interceptions against during last season’s Class 2A state championship loss.

During the first half, the Cubs’ ability to be Somers’ Achilles heel showed again.

The Lions QB threw two interceptions, one in the red zone, and he also turned the ball over on a fumble inside Sedro-Woolley’s 10-yard line.

But what looked like a possible remake of last year’s struggles turned into something special late in the game.

Somers brought Lynden all the way back from 29-15 with 6:50 left in the fourth. His back-to-back scoring drives were brilliant.

Somers threw a 22-yard pass to Noah King, ran for 7 yards and then connected with Jordan Wittenberg on a double move for a 23-yard touchdown on the first drive, and just like that the score was 29-21 with 5:50 to play.

Then Somers took over at Lynden’s 22 with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter needing a touchdown and two-point conversion. He went 5 of 6 on that drive for 59 yards and ran for 17 yards, capping the drive with a 10-yard TD pass to King before sending the game to OT with a successful pass to Wittenberg for the two-pointer.

“So proud of our kids for the fact that it didn’t go well and we left some points out there,” said Lynden coach Curt Kramme on how his team rallied in the fourth. “We found ourselves down two scores with six minutes to go and found a way to tie it up.”

Mountaineers’ rushing attack leads to big pass plays

When a team runs the ball as well as Mount Baker does so frequently, opponents are forced to stack the box in every attempt to thwart the run.

That leads to big-play opportunities on the play-action, as the Mountaineers showed three times in Friday’s win over Meridian. Twice it led to Mason Bass passing touchdowns – a 40-yarder to Thomas Barbo and a 71-yarder to Jed Schleimer. T.J. Bass also caught a 33-yard play-action pass.

It seems the Mountaineers are able to complete one or two of the big pass plays a game and there’s not much teams can do to stop it.

“It’s hard. We run the ball and you want to stop the run and then all of a sudden,” Baker coach Ron Lepper said after the game. “At the same time, you got to execute those things. Credit the line for giving us time and guys making catches and Mason needs to put the ball where it needs to be.”

The philosophy is one the Mountaineers have used for years and with the success it’s had, don’t expect it to stop anytime soon.

Ferndale’s offensive line regains pride with dominance

The holes Ferndale’s offensive line created and the havoc the front five wrought in the Golden Eagles’ 49-7 win over Sehome were apparent in the 178 yards accounted for on the game’s first four touchdown plays.

The Golden Eagles were impressive enough on their game-opening 69-yard, eight-play drive, capped by Austin Honeycutt’s 18-yard score. That began a first half in which Ferndale outgained Sehome 319 total yards to 48 and outscored the Mariners 35-0.

But it got even better for the Golden Eagles behind senior offensive linemen Christian Rodriguez, Zach Eriksen, Sam Cleary and Nick Bartel and junior Nate Slaton, who worked his way into the starting lineup. Ferndale scored on a 34-yard burst by Honeycutt, highlighting a four-play, 58-yard drive, and then saw Jackson King open a “drive” with a 78-yard catch-and-run pass from sophomore James Hinson. Sophomore Cole Semu then displayed impressive speed with a 48-yard score.

“Our guys up front really set the tone,” said Ferndale coach Jamie Plenkovich, who felt his team wanted to show that its flat showing in a 34-7 loss to Lynden last week wasn’t really what the Golden Eagles are all about. “Our line was solid on both sides, and we played solid team defense.”

The Mariners displayed gumption by holding Ferndale without a first down on its second and third series. But then Plenkovich felt the Golden Eagles’ pride kicked in, with four touchdowns in the second quarter.

On Senior Night at Ferndale -- which honored a plethora of senior players and cheerleaders -- it was fitting that seniors Kyler Schemstad and Taylor Bellefeuille combined for perhaps the most athletic play of the evening.

Schemstad leaped high to deflect a pass and Bellefeuille swooped in to intercept the ball for a 34-yard touchdown, but the score was nullified by a penalty.

Squalicum not looking too far ahead

Squalicum clinched their first league title in school history Friday, Oct. 23, using the old adage “one game at a time.”

The Storm improved to 8-0 with a 34-13 victory over Blaine at Civic Stadium.

Squalicum plays Anacortes (2-6) Oct. 30 and with the playoffs starting the following week it may be tempting to overlook the Seahawks, but Storm coach Nick Lucey has been preaching the same message since the start of the season.

“We just try to take it one week at a time,” Lucey said. “We’re going to look at the film and try to be the best we can be and take a step that way.”

This message has rubbed off on players like junior Ben Peterson as well.

“It’s nice to get the first league title in school history, and our ultimate goal is the state title, but we’re just going to take it one game at a time.”

Nooksack Valley QB Casey Bauman shines

Playing quarterback and defense for Nooksack Valley, Casey Bauman had a full four quarters, during which he performed well through big pass plays and rushing.

At the end of the second quarter, Bauman was having to move quickly to find a break in Lynden Christian's defense and that moment came with hardly any time to think for Bauman, who threw a pass deep into the end zone from midfield for a 55-yard touchdown to Michael Jackson.

Jackson freed himself in time to catch the ball in a move that excited the crowd more than any of the previous five touchdowns from either team.

"Casey had a really nice game," Nooksack Valley coach Robb Myhre said, congratulating the passing game of both his quarterback and receivers.

Bauman threw three touchdown passes on Friday night in the game against Lynden Christian. His ability to slip away from a defensive block repeatedly gave his team the ability to keep closing in, despite Lynden Christian holding their early lead.

Ferndale, Bellingham have game changes

The Golden Eagles’ Week 9 game against Sedro-Woolley has been moved from Friday, Oct. 30 to Thursday, Oct. 29.

The game will be played at 7 p.m. at Sedro-Woolley High School.

Bellingham’s game Friday, Nov. 5 against Friday Harbor has been canceled. Instead of Friday Harbor, the Red Raiders will play Granite Falls.

Ames selected Seattle Seahawks Coach of the Week

Long time Meridian football coach Bob Ames was selected Coach of the Week by the Seattle Seahawks. With the selection, Meridian will receive a $500 grant from the NFL toward its football program.

Ames won his 300th career game last week.

This story was originally published October 24, 2015 at 7:29 PM with the headline "Somers came up big when it counted."