Freshman football 10-14 vs Stanwood

If you weren’t at the freshman football game against Stanwood last Wednesday at Wildcat Memorial Stadium, you missed a good game!

Oak Harbor didn’t waste any time getting on the board, taking the opening kickoff from their own 37 to the goal line in just 7 plays, capped by a Trower run from 35 yards out. Less than 3 minutes into the game it was OH 6, Stanwood 0.

Stanwood responded quickly, needing only 2 plays and 47 seconds to score. The kick failed, leaving the score at 6-6.

Still 6-6 at the start of the 2^nd quarter, Stanwood continued a long drive, punching it into the end zone from one yard out to take a 13-6 lead with 7:54 to go until halftime.

The Wildcats started from the 30 yard line, and moved the ball quickly into Spartan territory. Trower took the handoff on the first play out to the 42, and later Richter carried the ball 55 yards down to the Stanwood 5. Langingham took it in on the next play. The kick failed, leaving Stanwood with a 13-12 lead.

The Spartan’s next possession was a disaster for them. The kickoff went to the 12 yard line and was returned to the 39, but an illegal block call moved it back to the Stanwood 13. Stanwood’s center snapped the ball over the head of the QB on the next play and he was able to recover it at his own 2 yard line. The Wildcat defense put pressure on him on the next play, tackling him 5 yards deep in the end zone for the safety. OH was back in the lead 14-13 with just over 5 minutes until halftime.

That score would stand until halftime.

Oak Harbor tried an onside kick to open the 2^nd half, and nearly recovered the ball at the Stanwood 44. The Spartans then used 10 plays to score, re-taking the lead 21-14 at the 5:53 mark.

OH also scored, with 3 runs by Langingham and two by Kolste, including a 2-yard run for the TD. The drive covered 56 yards and burned nearly 3 minutes off the clock. A 2-point conversion attempt failed and Stanwood held on to a 21-20 lead with 2:44 left in the 3^rd.

Stanwood had problems on their next series, losing yards due to two penalties and a sack, and the drive was stopped by an OH interception at the Stanwood 49 yard line. 3 plays later the 3^rd quarter ended, with Oak Harbor looking at a 3^rd and 11 at the 50, and behind by 1 point, 21-20. The 4^th down snap went over the QB’s head and he was tackled at the OH 36.

The defense held, with a 4^th and 12 Stanwood pass attempt falling incomplete. With 8:52 left in the game.

With the ball at their own 38 yard line, Trower took the ball out to the Stanwood 46, then Langingham caught a swing pass and raced 44 yards to pay dirt. The 2-point run attempt failed, but Oak Harbor was back in the lead 26-21, but with over 7 minutes left on the clock.

Stanwood’s second play was a run up the gut, and the runner broke free and was racing for the Oak Harbor end zone, but 3 Wildcats caught up to him. Trower knocked the ball free and James Engen recovered it at the OH 23.

Oak Harbor was only able to get the ball out to the 43, but burned over 4 minutes off the clock before punting with 2:17 left in the game.

Stanwood, with only 1:58 left in the game and at the OH 46, threw a pass complete to the OH 42, then an incomplete, then a deep pass was picked off by Trower, and he returned it back to the OH 45. 3 knees later time ran out and Oak Harbor was the 26-21 winner.

Jordan Oliver had a great game. He threw for 148 yards and 2 tds, both to Langingham

67 photos, mostly of warmups, are posted HERE.

5 video clips are posted HERE.