When it rains, it pours. The Storm were overtaken by the deluge of Anacortes’ passing attack.
Squalicum was never able to get any offense going in a 35-0 loss to the Seahawks on Oct. 13. It was less of a poor outing for the Storm than it was another statement game on Anacortes’ resume.
The Seahawks have burst onto the scene this season, dominating every Northwest Conference team that comes their way thus far.
“First off, hats off to [Anacortes], that’s a good team,” said Squalicum’s coach Nick Lucey. “We just couldn’t quite get going, but that happens when you play good teams.”
Both teams looked evenly matched as the first quarter began. Squalicum’s offense was as productive as it would be on its first drive of the game, but to no avail. Anacortes struck first.
With just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Seahawks’ junior quarterback Rex Larson connected with senior Hayden John on a wide receiver screen, evading Storm defenders on his way to an 87-yard touchdown reception.
Another efficient drive set up Anacortes’ second score of the opening period, a 9-yard touchdown catch by sophomore running back Brock Beaner from Larson. It was 14-0 after one quarter.
Squalicum’s defense stood tall, shutting down the Seahawks on fourth down inside the red zone early in the second quarter. The Storm, however, would give it right back on a strip sack on their own 15-yard line.
That quickly became seven points for Anacortes, as Larson found sophomore Brady Beaner for a 1-yard touchdown completion a few plays later.
The Storm recovered an Anacortes fumble on a punt, taking over on their own 32-yard line after a post-play penalty pushed them back 15 yards. Squalicum’s sophomore running back Marcus Nixon remained bottled up, but the offense showed signs of life.
What looked like a redemption drive for Squalicum was upended when John pulled down an interception just outside Anacortes’ own goal line.
“We knew they can throw the ball, even though they like to run it and set it up with [Marcus] Nixon,” Anacortes coach Justin Portz said. “We knew we had to keep him inside and contain him, and I think we did that pretty well.”
Anacortes fumbled again, and Squalicum took over at midfield. As was the story all night, the Seahawks’ defense shut down everything the Storm attempted offensively. Anacortes took a 21-0 lead into halftime.
The second half featured stout defense on both sides. Squalicum, though, remained unable to move the football down the field.
Anacortes’ two second-half touchdowns came on a 52-yard connection between Larson and John midway through the third quarter, followed by a 2-yard plunge by senior wide receiver Carson Portz with seven minutes remaining in the game.
Squalicum picked up some yards in the waning minutes but couldn’t get anything on the scoreboard.
The Storm’s junior quarterback Joshua Leonard completed 10-of-23 passes for 41 yards. Nixon compiled 57 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Joaquin Ortiz-McAlister led Squalicum in receiving as the sophomore caught five balls for 40 yards. Senior wide receiver Jacob Sorenson finished with two receptions for 26 yards.
Larson completed 20-of-30 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns through the air for the visiting Seahawks. Brock Beaner totaled 95 yards rushing on 14 carries while his backfield mate, junior Arturo Varela, compiled 81 yards on five carries.
“[Rex is] a gunslinger,” Portz said. “I love it because he trusts his arm more than I probably do sometimes. Sometimes he sees things that I don’t see because I’m not a quarterback.”
John pulled in four receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Rylin Lang caught five passes for 67 yards. Brady Beaner finished with 37 yards receiving and a touchdown on three catches.
Squalicum dropped to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in Northwest Conference games. The Storm will be on the road in their own stadium versus Sehome (3-3, 1-3 NWC) for their next game on Oct. 21.
“For us, it’s all about improvement — from the beginning of the season to the end,” Lucey said. “We know we play in a good league. You’re going to have your hands full some nights.”
Anacortes advanced to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Northwest Conference contests. The Seahawks go on the road at Burlington-Edison (2-4, 1-3 NWC) on Oct. 21.