Varsity Football 2011-09-02 vs Mountlake Terrace

The varsity football season kicked off last Friday with the Wildcats hosting Mountlake Terrace at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.

The Hawks received the opening kickoff and on their very first play of the year were called for a false start. Things went downhill from there. After running just 3 offensive plays, Nick Farrell forced a fumble that was recovered by Cody Hernkind, giving the Wildcats the ball on the Terrace 30 yard line. Four plays later Josiah Miller ran it in from 13 yards out to put the Wildcats ahead 7-0 with 9:11 left in the first quarter.

Terrace's second series also ended in a fumble, again with Hernkind recovering, but the Wildcats were unable to score, coming up just inches short on a 4th and 1 play.

The first quarter ended with the Wildcats leading 7-0.

Early in the 2nd, Oak Harbor drove down to the MLT 27, but a pass intended for Mike Washington was just a bit long and was intercepted at the 3 yard line. Not to worry, as the Hawks lost 2 yards in their 3 plays, punting from their own 1 yard line. Again the 'Cats turned the ball over, this on a fumble on the Terrace 30 yard line. And again, Terrace punted after 3 plays.

The Wildcats scored their second TD of the night on a 23-yard pass play from Ian Kolste to Josiah Miller with 4:06 to go in the first half.

Miller scored again just over 3 minutes later on a really nice 84-yard scamper down the near sideline. Franssen's kick made it 21-0 which was the score at halftime.

On their first possession of the 2nd half, the Hawks went 3-and-out, punting to Miller. The ball slipped through his fingers, but Isaiah Trower was there, picked up the ball at the OH 46 and ran it all the way to the end zone to put OH up 28-0.

Terrace's next possession lasted all of 5 plays, the last two ending in tackles for loss, including a nice teaming of Hernkind and Tucker Lundstrom to force the punt which went to the OH 8 yard line.

There, the Wildcats marched all the way to their 5th TD of the night, behind a 52 run by Brent Ryan starting at the OH 12 and ending with a 23-yard Franssen run.

With the game well in hand, the Wildcats started dipping into their reserves, and those players made some noise as well. Troy Sturdevant had a nice sack, Julian Faralan had a nice run to bring the ball inside the 10 yard line and Jack Richter ran it in for the final TD of the game.

Final score - Oak Harbor 42, Mountlake Terrace 0.

Next up for the Wildcats is a trip to Snohomish's Veteran's Stadium to face the Glacier Peak Grizzlies. Game time is 7pm.

A video highlight clip is posted HERE.

47 photos are posted HERE.