Bulldogs run wild

Coach: 'This is the first week we have played a complete game of football'

Justin Johnson | Oct 20, 20220

Justin Johnson count

North Mason High School junior running back Trevon Simons runs past two downed Sequim defenders during an Olympic League game on Friday night at Phil Pugh Stadium in Belfair. Simons finished with 184 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 36-21 win over the Wolves.

Trailing by a point in the final minutes of the first half, the Bulldogs had a choice: put their heads down or go to work.

It was an easy decision.

After an underthrown pass resulted in a drive-killing interception on Sequim's 5-yard line, the North Mason High School football team's defense backed the Wolves up and a shanked punt gave the Bulldogs the ball on the 13-yard line with 30 seconds left.

Given a second chance to end the first half on a high note, North Mason took advantage as junior running back Trevon Simons rushed 2 yards into the end zone with 17 seconds left and Avery Ballein ran in a two-point conversion that gave the Bulldogs the 14-7 lead at the break of what would eventually become a 36-21 win Friday night at Phil Pugh Stadium.

"When I was talking to our offense I gave them two plays and said which one do we like. Keaton Crank said coach 'run to my side and we will score,' " North Mason coach Rob Thomas wrote in an email to the Journal. "I love the confidence in our guys. Very next play we ran the ball once again with Trevon and he basically walked into the end zone to put us up 12 to 7 and then Avery Ballein ran in the two-point conversion behind Woody Tupolo and Caden Atencio. What a way to end the half with a 14 to 7 lead."

After Sequim tied the game early in the third quarter, North Mason drove down the field and took a 20-14 lead when Simmons ran in his third touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ballein landed his kick untouched on the 18-yard line, where Dakota Filer pounced on it to give the Bulldogs the ball back immediately.

The first play of the possession ended with Filer catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Micah McIntyre and then the two connected again on a two-point conversion that gave the Bulldogs the 28-14 lead.

The Wolves made it 28-21 late in the third quarter, but North Mason delivered the knockout early in the fourth.

With 11:11 left in the game, Filer caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from McIntyre and Simons ran in a game-breaking two-point conversion to give the Bulldogs the 15-point lead.

"Our big guys up front did some work Friday night," Thomas wrote. "They opened holes that you could drive a truck through, and our backs had a great night running the ball. With our success at running the ball this opened up our passing game and once again when we dropped back to pass our guys up front did a great job protecting our quarterback this week. This was the first week that we have played a complete game of football. We finally where firing on all cylinders and it was great to see. We will build from our successs and learn from our mistakes to continue to grow as a program."

Simons finished with 184 yards rushing on 20 carries with three touchdowns. Ballein had 45 yards on 13 carries. McIntyre had 144 yards passing with two touchdowns and added 14 yards rushing. Filer finished with 90 yards receiving and two scores.