Lake Stevens sloshes back into first

By Dan Sargent

Herald Writer

LAKE STEVENS – In a Western Conference North Division game that had the field turn from green to complete brown with standing water by games end, the Lake Stevens Vikings sloshed its way to a 26-6 victory over the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks Friday night.

The Lake Stevens Vikings will play Oak Harbor at Oak Harbor Stadium on Thursday to determine were they will fall in the Wesco North playoff picture. After being blanked last week by Mount Vernon 7-0 in a mud bowl, the Vikings must have learned a thing or two as they scored on their first possession of the game driving 61 yards in 4 plays finished off on a Justin Balunsat 10-yard scamper up the middle of the Marysville-Pilchuck defense. Balunsat’s run was set up by passes of 32 and 20 yards by quarterback Mitch Canham to tight end Jon Williams and wide receiver Kevin Hutchinson. Dylan Henderson set up the next Viking score by intercepting a Tomahawk pass with 2:30 to go in the half. The Vikings drove 45 yards ending as time expired in the half on a 9-yard pass from Canham to Ryan Andrews to put Lake Stevens up 13-0.

Canham hit Randy Lyons on a 9-yard slant pattern on the left side to put the Vikings up 19-0 with 6:48 left in the third.

The fourth quarter saw Vikings running back Nate Thomason score on a 5-yard run to put the Vikings up 26-0. Thomason carried 20 times for 95 yards.

Marysville-Pilchuck struck back quickly on a 55-yard pass from Ryan Swobody to Ben Siekawitch on a fly pattern up the left sideline. The Lake Stevens defense held the Marysville-Pilchuck offense in check all night only giving up 24 yards rushing.

“Came out smacked them in the mouth and held them up at the end of play and smacked them in the mouth again,” Lake Stevens assistant coach Mike Hodgins said. I was very impressed with out defense tonight.”


Lake Stevens-Balunsat 10 run (Canham kick)

Lake Stevens-Andrews 9 pass from Canham (kick failed)

Lake Stevens-Lyons9 pass from Canham (pass failed)

Lake Stevens-Thomason 5 run (Canham kick)

Marysville-Pilchuck-Siekawitch 55 pass from Swobody (kick failed)

Records-Marysville-Pilchuck 2-5 in league, 2-6 overall. Lake Stevens 6-1, 6-1.

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