Blaine picked up its first win of the season October 14 on the road against Bellingham High School. The Borderites beat the Bayhawks 44-18 in their homecoming game at Civic Field.
Coming into the game with a 0-6 record and on the back of a 34-20 loss to the Meridian Trojans, Blaine was showing progress since the beginning of the season but had yet to win. On Friday night, the team made it happen through a strong rushing and passing performance.
Head coach Jay Dodd said it was a well-deserved victory, and that he was excited for his boys.
“We’re a young team that’s still learning how to win,” he said.
Facing a couple of blowout losses this season, Dodd has stayed composed on the sideline and focused on helping his players improve play-by-play. He said it’s not easy, but he’s learned how to take defeats through his years of coaching.
“Whether you like [the score on the scoreboard] or not you have to continue to get better and keeping the mindset of the team striving to get better,” he said.
His players demonstrate why. Senior quarterback Kael Evinger completed 17-of-26 passes for a total of 245 yards against the Bellingham defense. Blaine became the first Whatcom County team this season to have a pair of wide receivers tally over 100 yards in the same game. Junior wide receivers Hunter Vezzetti and Riley Ihde finished with 131 yards and 104 yards. Sophomore Colby Shipp also had a game-high 121 yards rushing on 27 carries with two touchdowns.
Bellingham came into the game with a 2-4 record.
Blaine has three more games this season. The team will host Lynden Christian Friday, October 21 for senior night and a return to conference play. Then travel to Nooksack Valley Friday, October 28 and host Cedar Park Christian Friday, November 4. All games are at 7 p.m.
The Borderites have a 1-6 overall record this season. They are 0-2 in conference.
Statistics thanks to whatcompreps.com.
Girls soccer
Blaine girls soccer tied Meridian 1-1 at home October 13 and lost 9-1 at Lynden Christian October 17.
The Lady Borderites travel to Mount Baker Monday, October 24 to play at 6 p.m. for their last regular season game. They are 4-6-1 this season and 3-2-1 in conference.
Volleyball
The Lady Borderites lost to Squalicum 3-1 on the road October 12 and then lost at home to Meridian in a narrow 3-2 match on youth volleyball night. Blaine youth athletes were given free entry to the game as long as they wore their team t-shirts.
The girls will travel to Mount Baker Thursday, October 20. They host Burlington-Edison Tuesday, October 25 for senior night and then travel to Mount Vernon Thursday, October 27. All matches are at 7 p.m. They are 1-11 this season.
Swimming
Blaine’s co-op team with Ferndale will compete next at Arne Hannah Aquatic Center in Bellingham Tuesday, October 25. The team’s schedule can be found at bit.ly/3U5exL8.
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