Mount Baker hoping to slow up Montesano’s offensive attack

Mount Baker at Kalama

Time: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21

Site: Montesano High School

Mountaineers update

State appearances: 12

State record: 10-12

State semifinal appearances: Two

State titles: None

League: Northwest Conference 1A (first, 4-0)

Coach: Ron Lepper (20 seasons, 137-66)

Scouting report: Mount Baker quarterback Mason Bass ran for a 35-yard touchdown with three minutes left in its Class 1A State Playoff opening-round game against Kalama to help the Mountaineers earn a wild road win last week. The Mountaineers, who racked up 555 total yards, never led until Bass’ score. Baker ran for 461 yards, and Jed Schleimer accounted for 230 of those and three touchdowns on 27 carries. Schleimer now has rushed for 2,272 yards — 17th most in Washington state 11-man history — and 32 TDs this season. Carson Engholm ran for 148 yards and a touchdown, and receiver Thomas Barbo caught two passes, both touchdowns, for 67 yards. Kalama threw for 475 yards and opened up a 21-0 first-quarter lead before Mount Baker came storming back. The win advances the Mountaineers to the state quarterfinals for the fourth straight season. Mount Baker is seeking its third trip to the Tacoma Dome in program history, all of which would have come in the past four years.

Player to watch: Senior Kolton Zender is a force on both sides of the ball. He’s helped pave massive holes for Mount Baker’s running backs, and the Mountaineers will need a big effort out of him this week on defense in order to slow down Montesano.

Bulldogs update

State appearances: 26

State record: 32-22

State semifinal appearances: 11

State titles: 3 (1983, 1994, 2012)

League: Evergreen 1A (second, 6-1)

Coach: Terry Jensen (14 seasons at Montesano, 30 overall, 235-32)

Scouting report: Montesano quarterback Jake Herzog connected with receiver Kylar Prante for a 50-yard touchdown pass with 3 seconds remaining to earn the Bulldogs a stunning 25-22 Class 1A State Playoff opening-round win over defending 1A champion Cascade Christian last week. The Bulldogs led 19-7 before the Cougars rallied to score twice in the game’s final six minutes to take their first lead of the game, but Herzog’s Hail Mary sealed the win. Herzog ran for a team-high 101 yards and completed 10 of 14 passes for 173 yards. Prante caught five passes for 143 yards and rushed for 83 yards on 16 carries. Montesano running backs Kyle Englund and Logan Truax combined for 163 rushing yards, playing a large role in the Bulldogs’ 360 rush yards. Montesano outgained Cascade Christian 533-227 in total yards. Montesano beat Nooksack Valley, a team Mount Baker beat twice by a combined score of 121-44, 56-0 on Sept. 11.

Player to watch: Kyler Prante’s miracle play was just one of many big plays the star wideout has made this season. The Evergreen League MVP is one of Montesano’s top weapons and will undoubtedly draw plenty of attention from Mount Baker.

Key to the game: Mount Baker ousted Montesano during the opening-round of the state playoffs last year, and the Mountaineers gave the Bulldogs a full dose of their ground and pound. Liam Short and Jed Schleimer combined for 404 yards and Baker won comfortably. There’s no reason to think the Mountaineers won’t lean on that formula again. If Baker can assert its ground game, and on defense, contain Montesano’s various offensive weapons just enough, the Mountaineers could find themselves in the Tacoma Dome next week.

Prediction: Mount Baker 35-28

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Mount Baker hoping to slow up Montesano’s offensive attack."