FB 2011-10-21 vs Marysville-Getchell

As expected, the Oak Harbor Wildcats dominated the visiting Marysville-Getchell Chargers on Homecoming night last Friday.

The game didn't start well for the 'Cats. The Chargers took the opening kickoff out to the OH 31, then OH got hit with a defensive pass interference call, but right after that Jeremy Foster tackled the MG runner in the backfield then Brent Ryan recovered a fumble at the MG.

After the turnover, an apparent OH score was brought back due to a holding call, but 3 plays later Ryan went in from 3 yards out for the first score of the game.

The OH "D" held Getchell to a 3-and-out, but 3 plays later Getchell took the ball back with an interception at their own 39. Again an OH penalty gave MG another first down, but they wound up punting after another 3 plays.

On the 2nd play from scrimmage, Josiah Miller broke loose down the near sideline for a 70-yard scoring run with 1:50 left to make it 14-0. Another 3-and-out for Getchell forced a punt which Miller returned to the 14, then got another 7 yards tacked on due to the horse collar tackle by the Chargers. This time Miller caught a pass from Ian Kolste. That score was his 23rd of the season, tying Blake Ward's total from 2003 and made it 21-0 as time expired in the first quarter.

Two plays later the OH offense was back on the field after Ben Miller tipped a Charger pass that was then intercepted by Casey Ferguson at the Getchell 10 yard line. One play later Miller set a new school record for touchdowns in a single season, running it in from the 10.

Later in the second, a halfback pass by Getchell was intercepted by Mike Washington at the MG 25 and returned to the 1 yard line. Ryan punched it in to make it 35-0 with 10:20 left in the half.

Marysville had one good play, completing a screen pass at midfield then running down to the OH 16 before being tackled, but the Chargers failed to convert a 4th and 8 play, then Oak Harbor marched down the field in 5 plays, ending with Sheyenne Sams going in from 27 yards out. The final score of the half came on a 5-yard run by Miller with 1:40 left making it 49-0.

Isaiah Trower ran 75 yards on the 3rd play of the first possession of the second half, then Julian Faralan ran 35 yards for what appeared to everyone as a touchdown, but was spotted at the 1 yard line be the officials. No matter, as Faralan ran in on the next play to make it 63-0 with 4:17 left in the 3rd quarter.

Now deep into the depth chart, the Wildcats didn't move the ball as efficiently, turning the ball over on downs at the Getchell 20. The final score of the game came with just 8 seconds left when Logan Faught intercepted a MG pass and returned it 30 yards for a TD.

Final score - Oak Harbor 69, MG 0. This is believed to be a school record for most points by a varsity team in a single game in school history.

Next for the Wildcats is a trip to Edmonds Stadium on Thursday, October 27th to play the Meadowdale Mavericks. Both teams will enter the game 8-0. The Wildcats average over 50 points per game on offense, the Mavericks allow an average of just over 7 points per game on defense. The winner will be WESCO 3A champ and get home field advantage.

From information currently available, if (actually, when - time to be confident) Oak Harbor beats Meadowdale and is WESCO 3A #1, they will host Greater St. Helens League (Vancouver area) #3 on either November 4th or 5th, probably the 5th due to travel distance. If they win that game the Wildcats will be District 1 #1 and will be in the bottom half of the state bracket.

If the Wildcats don't win, they will be WESCO 3A #2 and will play Metro (Seattle) League #5, with the winner District 2 #2 and would most likely play Bellevue in the first round of the state playoffs.

After the game, the players gathered for their typical postgame conference with the coaches, but afterwards spread out around the midfield soccer circle and commenced to do several rounds of the Hokey Pokey.

Then, as part of the Papa Murphy's Pizza promotion of free pizza for a years, OH kicker Peter Franssen attempted a 35-yard field goal. If he made the FG, the person selected in the drawing would win free Papa Murphy's pizza for a year. Kolste held the ball, Coach Fisher and Turner were under the goalposts, and the rest of the team gathered at the 40. Kolste spotted the ball, Franssen kicked the ball cleanly, BUT, the ball sailed wide right.

No worries, as Papa Murphy's allowed a second try, and this time Franssen's kick was right down the middle.


Video highlights are posted HERE.

Over 100 photos of Homecoming night activities are posted HERE. Included are Football Senior Night introductions. Photos posted here are free to download.

Game photos are posted HERE. Game photos are all from the second half and feature a lot of the 2nd string players.