JV Football @ Marysville - Monday

The JV football team traveled to Marysville-Pilchuck for their final game of the season. Playing on a wet and very muddy field, much like what the old Memorial Stadium was like. There was no scoreboard operator, so time was kept on the field, and there were almost as many Oak Harbor parents in the stands as Marysville parents. There was a good showing by the Wildcat faithful.

M-P got the opening kickoff, and using a powerful running game, took just 2 plays to score, the scoring play a pass completion and run from the OH 47 yard line. The kick missed wide left.

The Wildcat offense got the ball on their own 30 and started moving it, but on a 3rd & 10 on the 45, with the OH QB under pressure, a quick screen pass was intercepted by Marysville and returned down to the OH 4. A saving tackle was made by the quarterback, but Marysville ran it in for a score, so it was now 13-0 in faor of MP.

On the next Wildcat possession, the field conditions were as much a factor as the Tomahawk defense, as a couple of pass attempts were not caught when the receivers slipped on the slick, muddy grass.

Getting the ball back after a Wildcat punt, Marysville used their run game and strong offensive line to move the ball down to the 17. A pass attempt to the corner of the end zone was broken up by Ian Sinchak, who timed his jump perfectly to knock the ball away. Sinchak was in on the stop on the next two plays as well - one a solo tackle for only a 2-yard gain, the second finishing off a runner that was stopped by David Encinas. In the end, Marysville was forced to attempt a 34-yard field goal, which was missed.

Oak Harbor took over at their own 20 after the missed field goal attempt, moving the ball out to the 43 where the drive stalled. The OH punt went to the 22, but excellent blocking my MP allowed the return man to bring it out to the 48. He had a clear shot to the end zone, except for Clarence LaMont who made the tackle. That play ended the first quarter with Maryville in the lead 13-0.

On their 2nd play of the drive, Marysville broke the runner, and he was able to get down to the 1, but an illegal block brought the ball back to the OH 21. On a 2nd & 4 play at the OH 15, two Wildcats sniffed out the play and caught the runner in the backfield for a 4-yard loss. However, the Marysville QB, who had set up for a pass, brought the ball down and ran down to the 8, then on a designed play, ran to his right for a touchdown. The kick failed, making the score 19-0.

Oak Harbor took the kickoff at the 22, then returned it to the 35. On a 3rd & 17 play, LaMont was hit on the arm just as he released the football, and Marysville caught the errant pass at the OH 43. Marysville drove back down the field, scoring another touchdown on a pass play from the 27 with about 2 minutes left in the half, pushing the score to 26-0 for M-P.

With less than 2 minutes in the half, the Wildcats stepped up the tempo, and used a hurry-up offense. A pass reception and run by LaMont brought the ball from the 16 out to the Marysville 49. A pass reception by Aaron Boesch at the 29 was given extra yardage due to a Marysville personal foul penalty. LaMont ran the ball down to the 4, and after an incomplete pass, he took advantage of a hole in the MP defense and crossed the goal line with under 30 seconds to play. The kick was good, and the score was 25-7.

The OH kickoff went to the 10 and was returned to the 36. With 15 seconds left, MP threw deep, completing the pass down to the OH 24, but Boesch got to the QB on the next play for the sack, ending the half.

The Wildcats got the ball after halftime, and after the drive stalled at the OH 48, the punter got his foot into the ball. The kick went into the end zone for a touchback, but it was still a 52-yard punt!

Marysville went exclusively to the run game on their next possession. Using a mix of runners, the Tommies were able to move downfield, and after a 40 yard run that ended at the OH 3, the QB sneak play resulted in a touchdown.

The OH offense took over at their on 24, and on a 2nd & 14 play, our QB scrambled and found some open holes to take it out to the 39 for a first down. After a a pair of incompletions and a short reception, the Wildcats were looking at 4th & 8 from their own 41. Lining up in punt formation, the ball was snapped directly to #3 (sorry, we don't have a JV roster, so don't have his name - please help!), who found room to run on the left side and carried the ball across midfield and down to the Tomahawk 38. Another scramble by #3 got the ball to the 22, but 3 straight incompletions, a couple due to receivers slipping in the mud, had the Wildcats with a 4th down situation. A pass to Sinchak was good and he had some room, but the Marysville tackler was able to stop him short of the first down marker.

Marysville took over on their 14, and were able to score again with just over 3 minutes remaining.

With a 2nd & 10 at the OH 30 and under 3 minutes remaining, #46 (another unknown) caught a pass and found LOTS of open room, getting all the way to the MP 18 before being tackled. Unfortunately, the 'Cats couldn't move the ball any further and had to turn it over on downs.

Marysville ran one play, then took a knee to end the game, with the final score 39-7 in favor of MP.

Some video highlights from the game are posted HERE.