Arlington cruises to 50-19 Stilly Cup win over Stanwood

STANWOOD — The Arlington Eagles didn’t need a comeback this time.

A week after coming from behind to win their own homecoming game, the Eagles ruined Stanwood’s homecoming game and retained the Stilly Cup for the sixth consecutive year by walloping the Spartans 50-19 Friday at Bob Larson Stadium.

“It was fun bringing it home again,” Arlington senior wideout Kyle Bayer said.

Arlington (3-0 Wesco North, 5-1 overall) has now won three straight, including last week’s game in which they scored 35 unanswered points to beat Oak Harbor at home.

“We wanted to come out and put both sides of the ball together early,” Arlington coach Greg Dailer said. “We felt we did that in the second half against Oak Harbor, but we didn’t really come out (that way). But we came out clicking pretty good on both sides of the ball (Friday).”

The Eagles remain in first place in the Wesco 3A North Division, while Stanwood (0-3, 1-5) has now lost five games in a row.

However the Eagles suffered a pair of significant injuries that may temper the feeling. Quarterback Andrew Kalahar injured his throwing shoulder near the end of the first half, and linebacker George Spady sustained what Dailer called “a pretty severe concussion” and left the field in an ambulance. Dailer said that Spady was undergoing a CT scan at Providence Hospital Friday night.

“We’re all praying for him,” Dailer said.

Kalahar did all his damage in the first half as he completed 25 of 31 pass attempts for 368 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for another. Bayer finished with six catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns, while Donavan Sellgren added eight catches for 84 yards and two scores.

“Every game we’ve played we start slow and pick it up later,” Bayer said. “It was our goal to come out firing and not be down to start. We wanted to be on top from the first whistle.”

The Eagles moved the ball at will and scored six first-half touchdowns as they built a commanding 44-12 lead at the intermission.

Kyle Jackels had two interceptions and Jack Delich scored twice to lead the Spartans. But those were the bright spots as the Eagles wasted no time taking the early lead as Bayer and Sellgren each caught two TD passes in the first half.

Drew Shuckerow’s 18-yard touchdown run cut the lead to 16-6 and Kole Johnson’s 60-yard scoring toss to Delich made it 22-12, but the Spartans couldn’t get any closer as the Eagles answered each time.

The Eagles added a rushing touchdown from Kyler Smith and a defensive touchdown from Ryley Nelson, who returned an interception 65 yards in the third quarter to push the Eagles’ lead to 50-12.

Delich scored his second touchdown on an 80-yard punt return with 12 seconds left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 50-19.

“We had a couple breakdowns on defense — not too many, but they scored,” Dailer said. “We were able to respond. Our receivers made big plays and our linemen were blocking (well). I was real happy with our execution tonight.”

Arlington’s Avery Winterer added a fourth-quarter interception, but neither team scored again.

At Stanwood H.S.

Arlington 30 14 6 0 —50

Stanwood 12 0 7 0 —19

A—Andrew Kalahar 1 run (Cordell Cummings pass from Kalahar)

A—Donovan Sellgren 9 pass from Kalahar (Gabriel Green pass from Kalahar)

S—Drew Schuckerow 18 run (kick blocked)

A—Kyle Bayer 49 pass from Kalahar (pass failed)

S—Jack Delich 60 pass from Kole Johnson (kick blocked)

A—Kyler Smith 5 run (Cummings pass from Kalahar)

A—Sellgren 23 pass from Kalahar (Kalahar kick)

A—Bayer 29 pass from Kalahar (Kalahar kick)