FB 2013-09-13 varsity vs Arlington

Friday's game started with a bang.  On their second play from scrimmage, Arlington fumbled the ball and on the very next play, Sheyenne Sams, playing in his first game of the year, scampered 22 yards to put the Wildcats up 6-0 just 17 seconds into the game.

Arlington was forced to punt on their next possession, but so was Oak Harbor.  The difference is that OH's punt was blocked, giving the Eagles a first down at the OH 16.  They also needed only 1 play to score, a 16-yard pass.  at the 7:42 mark in the 1st, it was Arlington 7, OH 6.

More trouble on Oak Harbor's next possession, as the punt was shanked and went out of bounds at the Wildcats' 15 yard line.  One play later it was Arlington 15, OH 6.

The next OH possession lasted on play, with Arlington intercepting  at their own 25, but the Wildcat defense stood and the Eagles turned the ball over on downs at the OH 37.  Three plays later, Dejon Devroe broke loose for a 32-yard scoring run to make it 14-15 at the 2:39 mark in the first quarter.

The first quarter still wasn't finished, as Arlington marched 52 yards and scored on a 19-yard pass in the final minute of the quarter to boost their lead to 22-14.

At 7:12 in the 2nd quarter, Arlington scored yet again, this time on a 26-yard pass to make it 14-29.

A 32-yard kickoff return by Sams started the next OH drive, that stalled on the Arlington 26.  Arlington then drove into OH territory, but that drive was halted by a timely pass interception at the Wildcat 9-yard line by Dyllan Harris.  OH was able to get the ball back out the 50, then time expired in the first half.  Arlington led 29-14.

Oak Harbor got the ball to start the 2nd half, and the first drive looked promising, until Arlington appeared to pick off a pass at their own 4-yard line and return it 96 yards for a score.  It appeared that was, but before the pass there was a flag on Arlington, giving OH the ball at the Arlington 9-yard line with a new set of downs.  Two plays later it was Sams with a 1-yard plunge to close the gap to 21-29.

Arlington's next drive ended after 5 plays when senior Isaiah Rennes recovered a fumble at the Arlington 36.  Six plays later it looked like the Wildcats would score, but the OH pass was intercepted in the end zone.

The OH defense got fired up and held the Eagles on 3 plays, forcing a punt, then with 10:29 left in the game, Sams sprinted to the end zone from 12 yards out to make the score 27-29.

The next drive by the Eagles also ended with a fumble.  The Arlington QB scrambled out of the pocket, was chased down by Rhys Mattila who stripped the ball, and Nate Stanford and Ben Danielson jump on the loose ball for the 'Cats at the OH 18 yard line.  Seven plays later it was Devroe again, this time from 2 yards out to give Oak Harbor a 33-29 lead.

Arlington wasn't ready to lie down, and went 75 yards in 9 plays, capped by a 4-yard run to regain the lead 36-33 with 4:10 left in the game.

Starting at their own 46 yard line, the Wildcats used 5 plays and took over 2 minutes off the clock, scoring on a 16-yard Devroe run to make it 40-36 for the Wildcats with 1:54 to go.

Arlington started their final drive on their own 31 and drove into Oak Harbor territory.  Facing a 4th and 2 at the OH 48 and time running down, Arlington threw the ball deep.  Dyllan Harris stepped in front of the Arlington receiver to snag the ball and secure the Wildcat victory.

Final - Oak Harbor 40, Arlington 36.


Photos are posted HERE, and also at WescoAthletics

Video highlights from the game are HERE.

Next week the varsity men travel to always-tough Lake Stevens on Friday.  Monday the JV team travels to Arlington while on Wednesday the Freshman/C team hosts the Eagles in their first home game.  Entrance to JV and Freshman games is free, so come cheer the Wildcats!