Football 2010-10-28 vs Meadowdale

Last Thursday the Oak Harbor Wildcat varsity football team played their last regular season game against the Meadowdale Mavericks with a playoff spot on the line.

After introducing the seniors who were playing their final game on Oak Harbor's turf, the game got started. After Isaiah Trower returned the kickoff to the OH 45 yard line, Josiah Miller took the handoff and ran 55 yards to the Maverick end zone. Just 17 seconds into the game it was Oak Harbor 7, Meadowdale 0.

The OH celebration didn't last long, as 3 plays later Meadowdale scored on a 55 yard pass play. They missed the PAT kick leaving the score at 7-6 with 9:33 to go in the 1st quarter.

Oak Harbor punted on their next possession, but shortly after the Meadowdale quarterback was sacked and a fumble forced, recovered by Judd Ford at the Meadowdale 15 yard line. After moving down to the 8 yard line, OH attempted a field goal but it was blocked by a high-jumping Maverick lineman and they took over on their own 31 yard line. 8 plays later Miller forced a fumble and Kyle Frank recovered it giving Oak Harbor the ball back at the OH 18.

The Wildcats mounted a sustained drive, including a long run by Sam Wolfe to get it started and a nice reception by Justin Counts to keep it going, and it ended with a Jon Lanningham 7-yard touchdown run. Peter Franssen's kick was good, increasing the Wildcat lead to 14-6.

On their next drive, Meadowdale also put together a long drive, going 80 yards in 11 plays for a score. Again, their PAT kick missed, leaving OH ahead 14-12 with 9:56 left until halftime.

After an OH punt, Meadowdale drove 65 yards for their 3rd TD of the half. Instead of kicking they went for a pass PAT which was completed, putting the Mavs ahead 20-14 with 4:32 left in the 2nd quarter.

OH punted again, but this time the kick was muffed by the Meadowdale receiver and Sam Wolfe recovered the ball at the Meadowdale 21. 3 plays later Wolfe ran the ball in from the 11 yard line. Franssen's kick missed, and the game was tied at 20 with 1:44 left until halftime.

Meadowdale thought they could score again, but big sacks by Brent Ryan and Kevawn Brooks ended that though, then the Mav punt traveled only 10 yards. With 37 seconds left, OH had a chance to score again with teh ball at the Meadowdale 35 yard line, but the pass was intercepted at the Meadowdale 10 yard line. Now with 25 seconds left, Meadowdale got into OH territory with 6 seconds to go but Miller snagged the Maverick pass to end the drive and the teams went into the locker room tied at 20.

Oak Harbor got the ball to start the 2nd half and drove deep into Meadowdale territory, but another pass was intercepted, this one in the Meadowdale end zone. The Wildcat defense held and forced Meadowdale to punt, but OH fumbled the ball at the 50 yard line and the Mav's completed the bomb pass for a 48-yard score to go ahead 26-20, and that score would stand until the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th, Meadowdale drove down to the OH 20 and went for it on 4th and 2. The pass fell incomplete, but a very questionable defensive pass interference call on the Wildcats gave new life to the Meadowdale drive, and 2 plays later completed a pass for a touchdown and added a 2-point PAT to make the score 34-20.

On Oak Harbor's next possession, QB Ian Kolste was sacked and fumbled the ball, recovered by Meadowdale. The fumble was very understandable because as he went down Kolste fell on his right arm, breaking the bone.

Meadowdale advanced the fumble to the OH 13 yard line and 2 plays later ran it in for a TD, making the score 41-20 with 2 minutes left in the game, and that score would also be the final.

The Wildcats play one more game, a non-league crossover game next Thursday, November 4th at Monroe HS.

Click HERE for some video highlights. (no, Ian's broken arm is not on it.)

HERE are some photos from the game, as well as photos of each senior before the game, taken from the booth.