The Borderites’ season came to an anticlimactic end on Nov. 5 after logistics prevented their game against Friday Harbor from being decided in overtime. They finished their season with an overall record of 2-6-1, though one game was cancelled early in the season.
The game was tied 54-54 at the close of the fourth quarter, but Friday Harbor’s team had to leave to catch the last ferry of the night to get back home.
It was the first football game in Whatcom County to end in a tie since 1972, according to Whatcom Preps.
The Borderites mounted an improbable comeback to tie the score with less than a minute to play.
Blaine trailed Friday Harbor 54-33 with just five minutes left in regulation.
But after a rushing touchdown by sophomore Rashaan Paez, an onside recovery, and a 28-yard passing touchdown by junior quarterback Connor Brown to junior receiver Hunter Candanoza, Blaine trailed 54-46 with just three minutes to go.
Friday Harbor’s run-heavy offense looked unstoppable for most of the night. On nearly every play, the Wolverines disguised their handoffs with end-arounds and option plays.
Blaine’s defense stood strong when they needed it most though. With a minute left, they stopped Friday Harbor short of the sticks on second down to force a crucial third-and-one at midfield.
Blaine stacked the box to prevent a sneak. If Friday Harbor converted, it would have sealed the win.
But Friday Harbor’s snap went sailing over its quarterback’s head. Blaine’s junior receiver and defensive back Isaac Bouma bolted into the backfield to scoop up the loose ball, and he returned it for a touchdown to make it 54-52 with 56 seconds on the clock.
Blaine needed a two-point conversion to tie it. On the two-point try, Brown and Candanoza connected again to even the score.
But the Borderites didn’t get to complete their comeback. Friday Harbor kneeled the ball to run out the clock, and the game ended in a tie, leaving their season on an unresolved note.
Head coach Andy Olson said it was a bummer they couldn’t finish the game.
Week 10 games are often “kooky,” he said, but this one was more unusual than most.
Olson said the comeback displayed their perseverance. He described his team in two words: “No quit. They just keep going.”
For Blaine’s five senior athletes, ending their high school careers on a tie wasn’t ideal, but pulling off a 21-point comeback in 5 minutes was a strong send-off, said senior offensive and defensive lineman Matthew Noa.
“There was a lot of crappy, lot of happy,” Noa said. “We let ourselves get down, but we told ourselves to stay level and we came back (to tie) the game. Unfortunately, we couldn’t control how it ended, but we ended the season good.”
The emotions were high as Blaine’s five seniors walked off the field at the end of the game.
“(It’s) a small town — we’re all close. We all know each other very well,” Noa said. “It’s hard to not play with these guys anymore. It’s going to be heartbreaking.”
Noa said that he’s excited to see what the Borderites do next year, though, as much of the team’s core will be returning.
Olson said 19 of the team’s 22 starters will be returning next year.
“It’s just a great team. I had a lot of fun all four years,” Noa said. “It was an amazing team. I can’t wait for the future — Isaac Bouma, Connor Brown, Hunter Candanoza — a bunch of really good players on this team, and they’ll be ready for next year.”
Brown threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Bouma and Candanoza had 160 and 122 receiving yards respectively. Bouma had three total touchdowns, and Candanoza had one receiving touchdown.
Junior running back Saihou Kanagie had 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Asher Hagee and Paez each scored one rushing touchdown (stats via WhatcomPreps.com).
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here