MP runs wild
Published 9:25 pm Friday, September 16, 2011
EVERETT — Andre Pina was sensing something extraterrestrial happening.
At least on thing was out of this world.
Pina, who missed Marysville Pilchuck’s win over Edmonds-Woodway last week, rushed for 113 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns to lead the Tomahawks to a 48-0 win over Cascade Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
MP took the early lead on the arm of sophomore quarterback Jake Luton, but starting in the second quarter it was the Andre Pina show. Pina gashed Cascade for a 20-yard gain on the first play of the second quarter and then scored on a weaving 37-yard dash a few plays later to put MP up 34-0. After a Bruins punt, Pina rattled off a 9-yard run and then came the ET moment. Busting up the middle, Pina was hit by two Cascade tacklers, but the senior spun over the tackle, put a hand on the ground to steady himself and then bulled his way for more yardage to turn a small gain into a 15-yard run.
“I don’t even know what happened,” said Pina about the run. “Aliens were talking to me from space. I just kept going. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Marysville Pilchuck head coach Brandon Carson is just happy to have the running back in the huddle — even if he is hearing voices. “After missing last week he was really excited to get out there and play tonight and we’re excited to have him back,” said Carson.
MP running back Cody House, who came into the game leading all Wesco 4A ballcarriers in rushing yards, was bottled up for most of the night. Cascade held House to 57 yards on 10 carries — House did catch a 5-yard touchdown in the first quarter — allowing Pina and sophomore Deion Stell to showcase their talents. Stell, who got his first varsity start, ran for 29 yards on three carries, including a 14-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a 27-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that was called back due to a penalty.
“It just shows that we’ve got more than one running back,” Pina said of he and Stell’s strong running. “We can put anybody out there behind that line and just run.”
In the first quarter, the usually ground-oriented Tommies ran away from Cascade with the passing game. After Cascade punted on its first possession, Luton hit Kyle Nobach on a 15-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. On the Tomahawks next possession, Luton hit House in the end zone to make it 14-0 before uncorking a long arcing 65-yard touchdown pass to Nobach on the first play after another Cascade punt late in the quarter.
“Jake did a good job on his reads tonight,” said Carson. “He made good decisions. If something wasn’t there he tucked the ball and ran.”
Marysville Pilchuck’s defense stuffed Cascade’s running attack for much of the game, but it was downright in the first quarter. The Bruins were held to one first down, fumbled away a possession and punted six times in the first quarter.
“Our defense up front was pretty good,” said Carson. “Our defensive line takes pride in getting off the ball. It was kind of a team effort.
“We’re happy with where our defense is right now.”
Marysville Pilchuck faces its first Wesco North opponent next week as the Tomahawks host Arlington.
at Everett Memorial Stadium
Marysville Pilchuck 28 6 14 0 — 48
Cascade 0 0 0 0 — 0
MP–Nobach 15 pass from Luton (Naff kick)
MP–House 5 pass from Luton (Naff kick)
MP–Nobach 65 pass from Luton (Naff kick)
MP–Stell 14 run (Naff kick)
MP–Pina 37 run (kick blocked)
MP–Pina 3 run (Naff kick)
MP–Moser interception return (Naff kick)
Records-Marysville Pilchuck 3-0 overall; Cascade 0-3.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Visitor 0 0 0 0 — 0
Home 0 0 0 0 — 0
School–scoring player’s last name yardage type of play (extra point outcome)
School–scoring player’s last name yardage type of play (extra point outcome)
School–scoring player’s last name yardage type of play (extra point outcome)
Records–Marysville Pilchuck x-x overall. Cascade x-x.
