FB 2012-10-08 vs Mt. Vernon

Last Monday the JV football team hosted the Stanwood Spartans, and went into overtime.

Oak Harbor got the ball first and on the first play from scrimmage ran 51 yards down to the MV 20, but there the drive stalled and Mark Johnston kicked a 20-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

Later in the first, the Wildcats forced a Bulldog punt from the MV 31 and it appeared that the kick was returned for an OH touchdown, but the 'Cats were flagged for running into the kicker.  The penalty did not result in a first down for Mt. Vernon, but they did get to re-kick, and this time the ball was downed at the OH 47.  3 plays later the ball was stripped from the OH runner and returned 54 yards for a MV TD.  After converting the 2-point PAT with 1:26 left in the 1st quarter, MV was now in the lead 8-3.

The Wildcats regained the lead at the 10:21 mark in the second when a 6-yard run by Gage Eccleston capped a 6-play 81-yard drive.  The PAT pass fell incomplete, leaving the score 9-8.

Mt. Vernon came back just over two minutes later, scoring on a 7-yard pass with 8:16 to go.  Another 2-point PAT made it 16-9 in favor of MV.

Seventeen seconds is how long it takes fullback Mark Johnston to cover 55 yards in full football gear, as he scored on the first play of the next OH possession.  With 7:59 until halftime, OH 15, MV 16.

The OH defense held the rest of the half, forcing punts on all three MV possessions, but the Wildcats also punted once, and were intercepted twice.

Mt. Vernon opened the second half with a quick score of their own, needed just 26 seconds to score, needing two plays and ending with a 4-yard run.  This time the PAT failed, so it was 22-15 now for the Bulldogs.

On one of the longest drives in the game tied the game.  While it didn't use a lot of time off the clock, the Wildcats used 12 plays to drive 63 yards to the MV 6-yard line where QB Clayton Doughty kept the ball.  Johnston's kick was good with 7:48 left in the 3rd.

The Bulldogs looked like they were going to score to retake the lead, but Eccleston intercepted MV at the 1 yard line.  The Wildcats got the ball out to the 6 but fumbled the ball back.

At this point the defense shined.  With their backs against the wall, they dug in and forced Mt. Vernon back.  Four times the Bulldogs tried to find the end zone and four times they were denied.  In those four plays the Bulldogs lost 15 yards and OH took over.

The third quarter ended tied at 22, and both teams spent most of the 4th quarter around midfield, neither team moving the ball much, and the quarter expired with the game still tied at 22.

In overtime, OH won the toss so MV had to go first.  Their first two plays were marred by bad snaps, so on 3rd down the ball was at the 40 instead of the 25.  The third down pass fell incomplete, bringing up 4th and 25 from the 40.  This time the snap was good and the throw was accurate, but the ball was intercepted by Oak Harbor.  It appeared to be #26, who does not appear on the roster, snagging the ball around the 5 yard line.

Oak Harbor's first play went seven yards, but the second play, a handoff to Eccleston, went 18 yards and the winning score.  Final: Oak Harbor 28, Mt. Vernon 22.

Video highlights are HERE.

Photos are HERE.


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