Stanwood’s Elias Caniglia is tackled by Arlington’s Jake Willis during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
STANWOOD — It didn’t take long for the Arlington High School football team to reclaim its usual hold of the annual Stilly Cup.
After dropping last season’s rivalry game 37-6 in their home stadium, the Eagles blew out Stanwood 42-7 on its own turf in the 2023 edition. Arlington hadn’t dropped a Stilly Cup since 2009 prior to last year’s loss.
The Eagles (5-0, 4-0) have shown to be at the top of the ladder in the Wesco 3A North division this season. And, on Friday, they took another step forward.
Arlington’s high-powered spread offense came into the matchup having scored at least six touchdowns in each of its first four contests and matched that number against the Spartans (3-2, 2-2).
Junior quarterback Leyton Martin found his rhythm after the Eagles came up empty in their opening two drives, connecting on 22-of-29 passes for 277 yards and 4 TDs with one interception. He added 30 yards on the ground on seven rushes.
Junior running back Caleb Reed ran in the other two scores, coming up with 43 yards on eight carries.
Stanwood, which registered nine penalties (eight offensive) in the first half, struggled to finish off drives despite being able to move the ball up the field within its Wing-T scheme. The Spartans had 299 yards of total offense leading to just one score and lost three fumbles. Cruise Swanson led the rushing attack with 113 yards on the ground as the Spartans rushed the ball 51 times as group.
After a scoreless first period, Arlington harvested a 21-point second quarter as Martin completed touchdown throws from 9, 5, and 7 yards out. Junior Jake Willis, who grabbed three TDs in a Week 4 win over Ferndale, came up with a game-high 117 yards receiving on six receptions and was responsible for two TDs. Senior Stevie Balderas had eight catches for 70 yards and one score and senior Jacoby Falor added a touchdown.
Stanwood wouldn’t get its lone score until the tail end of the third quarter, as 6-foot-5 wideout Eli Caniglia caught a 9-yard TD from junior signal-caller Luke Brennan (8-for-11, 90 yards). After a failed onside kick, Caniglia would intercept Martin inside the red zone, setting the Spartans up for a chance to pull within two possessions with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter.
After turning it over on downs, the Eagles would cruise the rest of the way.
Arlington can clinch the Wesco 3A North title next Friday against Marysville Pilchuck (4-1, 3-1). The Eagles will enter boasting an average of 45.6 points per game. The Spartans will look to rebound next Friday as they host a non-league bout against Union of Vancouver (1-4).
Stanwood’s Cruise Swanson pushes Arlington’s Jake Willis away while he runs the ball during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Stanwood’s Luke Brennan scrambles with the ball during the game against Arlington on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Stevie Balderas escapes a tackle by Stanwood’s Cole Williams during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Leyton Martin points to direct one of his teammates during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Jake Willis leaps above Stanwood’s Cole Williams to make a catch during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The moon is visible between goalposts at Stanwood’s football field during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Stanwood’s Cruise Swanson pushes Arlington’s Caiden Patterson away while running the ball during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Jake Willis reaches up to try and intercept a pass to Stanwood’s Noah Custer during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Chase Deberry point to signal for a turnover during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Kaid Hunter is hugged by one of his coaches during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Kaid Hunter runs the ball during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Leyton Martin throws the ball above the extended arm of Stanwood’s Ethan Burke during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Stevie Balderas runs through multiple tackles by Stanwood players during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Stanwood’s Luke Brennan throws the ball while on the run during the game against Arlington on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Stanwood’s Luke Brennan reaches out to try and recover a fumbled ball during the game against Arlington on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Nolan Welch-Downing runs with the football and cheers after forcing a turnover during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Chase Deberry celebrates with his coach during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Nolan Welch-Downing yells after forcing a turnover during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Multiple Alrington players tackle a Stanwood player during the game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Caleb Reed is tackled into the end zone for a touchdown during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Caleb Reed is lifted in the air after scoring a touchdown during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington players react to forcing another turnover during the game against Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington’s Kobi Spady runs toward the sidelines to celebrate beating Stanwood for the Stilly Cup on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington fans cheer with the team after the win against Stanwood for the Stilly Cup on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington players lift the Stilly Cup in the air after beating Stanwood on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tough rebounding cemented the Bearcats’ 72-50 victory.
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