Gale blows through Lopez
Blackhawks weather wind and rain for 36-18 win over Lobos.

Gale Jefferson eyes a Lopez defender as he streaks by the Blackhawk bench during Saturday's victory. Lummi is now 4-1.

Yes, that's a corny headline above this story, but anyone who witnessed Saturday's game at Lopez High School will understand its double meaning. First, a harsh wind blew throughout the afternoon, sending sheets of rain across the field. Second, senior wide receiver Gale Jefferson, filling in at quarterback for the injured Dustin Tom, carried the load for the Blackhawks. Gale rushed 19 times for 134 yards and a touchdown, caught two passes for 60 yards and a TD, and completed 11 of 15 passes for 165 yards.

Tom went down with a sprained ankle early in the game after a horse-collar tackle. He only was in for a dozen or so plays, but he managed to complete five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran three times for 16 yards. "The brief time he was in there he did pretty well," coach Jim Sandusky said. Tom sprained his other ankle earlier in the season and has played with it heavily taped. Sandusky expects the senior to be back for this week's game against Crescent.

With Jefferson at the helm, the Blackhawks adopted a more conservative approach on offense, limiting the number of passes and ball exchanges because of the wind and sloppy conditions. Jefferson often simply took the snap and started running. Many of his pass completions came on short forward laterals.

Running back Tony Washington's return to the lineup Saturday proved fortuitous. The senior received a hardship waiver during the off-season allowing him to play a fifth year. He sat out the first half of the season on academic probation and saw his first action at Lopez. He exhibited his hard-nosed running style, carrying the ball 15 times for 64 yards and scoring twice. "I would have run harder but I didn't want to slip," he said afterward.

Tony Washington avoids the grasp of a Lopez tackler on Saturday.

The Blackhawks will be traveling by ferry again this weekend when they go to Crescent for their first Pacific Coast League game of the season. Lummi is now 4-1, but Sandusky said it wouldn't matter if the Blackhawks were 0-5 or 5-0; from now on the games count toward the playoffs. Lummi set a national scoring record last season when it put up 118 points against Crescent, but Sandusky said the Loggers are much improved. They are 3-1, their only loss coming to Neah Bay. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

Scheduling note: Two of Lummi's games have been changed. The Blackhawks now will be at Neah Bay at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. Their final regular season game will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at home against Lopez.

Coach Jim Sandusky tapes Gale Jefferson's ankles during the ferry ride to Lopez Island.