Mountain View makes strong case in rout of Ballard

With a playoff seeding committee to impress, Mountain View wanted to put on its best show Friday.

And at their best, the Thunder can be pretty impressive.

Such was Mountain View’s 49-6 win over Ballard in a state preliminary round game Friday at McKenzie Stadium.

Dominating in every phase of the game, the Thunder made a strong case why they should be seeded high when the 16-team 3A state playoff bracket is announced on Sunday.

Mountain View (9-1) led 42-6 at halftime after outgaining Ballard 340-97. Another touchdown less than three minutes into the second half put the game into a running-clock mode, hastening its end.

“I feel like we made a great statement,” senior Andrew Remlinger said. “I feel it shows dominance for the rest of the state to know that Mountain View is here, and we’re coming to play for that championship.”

Remlinger played a role in both sides of Mountain View’s dominance. On defense, he had three sacks and an interception that set up the Thunder’s first touchdown.

On offense, the mobile guard cleared the way for a rushing attack that averaged 7.4 yards per carry. Jack Mertens had 126 yards and three touchdowns while quarterback Garrett Moen had 73 yards and one touchdown.

Isaiah Johnson, a junior who had just 84 all-purpose yards in the regular season, rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

“It’s all O-line,” Johnson said. “We were getting good blocks the entire game. We were communicating. Without the O-Line, we couldn’t have won this game.”

Mountain View has been impressive all season, its only loss coming in Week 1 against Union, the state’s top-ranked 4A team. The Thunder outscored opponents by an average of 50-7.

Ballard, a Seattle school that tied for second in the Metro League Sound Division, came into Friday averaging 32.6 points per game. But aside from a 47-yard touchdown pass on their second drive, the Beavers (6-4) couldn’t muster much offense.

That gave Mountain View’s quick-strike offense plenty of chances to light up the scoreboard.

“It’s just being relentless on defense and never stopping on offense, stepping on people’s throats even when we’re up,” Remlinger said. “We’ve got to do that so we can win games like that.”

Now Mountain View awaits seeding by the playoff committee. Wherever in the bracket the Thunder end up, they want to continue the roll they’re on.

“As long as we do our job, the scoreboard will do the rest,” Johnson said.

MOUNTAIN VIEW 49, BALLARD 6

Ballard 6 0 0 0—6

Mtn. View 14 28 7 0—49

First quarter

MV – Jack Mertens 18 run (Aiden Hargrove kick)

B – Ian Crocker 47 pass from Ryan Blokker (kick failed)

MV – Mertens 1 run (Hargrove kick)

Second quarter

MV – Mertens 1 run (Hargrove kick)

MV – Isaiah Johnson 9 run (Hargrove kick)

MV – Johnson 15 pass from Garrett Moen (Hargove kick)

MV – Garrett Moen 11 run (Hargrove kick)

Third quarter

MV – Michael Bolds 14 pass from Moen (Hargrove kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Ballard: Ryan Blokker 13-25, Ian Crocker 3-11, Zed Webster 6-41, Jarman Hauser 4-18. Mountain View: Jack Mertens 17-126, Garrett Moen 8-73. Isaiah Johnson 5-59, Tresean Foreman 2-36, Alec Cann 2-8.

PASSING — Ballard: Ryan Blokker 9-18-2-58. Mountain View: Garrett Moen 9-13-0-155.

RECEIVING — Ballard: Ian Crocker 2-9, George Blue 3-21, Dajean Wells 3-18, Lucas Waters 1-10. Mountain View: Jack Mertens 2-30, Isaiah Johnson 4-98, Makai Anderson 1-7, Michael Bolds 1-14, Alec Cann 1-6.