Over the past three weeks Oak Harbor football coach Dave Ward has learned a thing or two about his team — and he likes what he sees.
For the third contest in a row, the Wildcats fell behind an opponent, only to gather composure, turn things around and dominate for the win.
“It’s a nice quality to have,” Ward said. “The teams are going to be getting tougher and its nice to know we have the ability to come back.”
After falling behind 7-0 midway through the third quarter, Oak Harbor scored 21 unanswered points to defeat Mount Vernon, 21-7, in its Homecoming game Friday night.
“The guys felt good,” Ward said of the victory. “To go on the road and come from behind against a team that had everything going their way, says a lot.”
Battling to a scoreless halftime tie, the Wildcat offense continued to struggle against the last-place Bulldogs to start the third quarter. Penalties and mental mistakes that held the offense up in the first half plagued Oak Harbor again after they received the second-half kickoff and were forced to punt.
Mount Vernon wasted no time making the Wildcats pay.
Two plays after starting at their own 31 yard line, quarterback Riley Junquist connected with tight end Corey Boon for a 38-yard strike to the end zone.
Instead of deflating, Oak Harbor kept its sights set.
On the ensuing drive the Wildcats mounted a 13-play, 66-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run from senior fullback Dan Raymond. The drive was kept alive by a key third-and-18 play from the OHHS 28 yard line. Wide receiver Cameron Kays took a pass from Marshall Lobbestael and immediately pitched the ball to Chris Valencia on a hook-and-ladder. The speedy freshman scampered up sideline just across the first down marker, keeping the drive alive.
“Once we got that first down, it seemed to sort of rejuvenate us,” Ward said. “Emotionally we were ready to make plays.”
Oak Harbor made plays on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Kays picked off two passes in the second half and Valencia recovered a key third-quarter fumble caused by John Umayum that sailed into the Oak Harbor end zone.
Oak Harbor took the lead with 7:57 to go in the game on a 6-yard counter run from Gabe Vest. The junior had a solid day carrying the ball 13 times for 103 yards, one touchdown and defensively he forced a Mount Vernon fumble right before the first half, preventing a field goal attempt.
James Blunk sealed the game with 2:26 to go, catching a 27-yard play action pass for a TD from Lobbestael. Blunk finished the game with three catches for 88 yards.
Now 4-1 in league and 4-2 overall, Oak Harbor faces its most difficult and important task in its Homecoming game this Friday against Stanwood (4-1, 4-2). The two teams are tied for the third and final playoff spot from the WesCo North.
“I think we’ve improved each week and that’s our goal this week, is to keep playing better,” Ward said. “It’s time to decide who’s going to rise to the top.”
Kickoff for Friday’s game is 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Oak Harbor 21, Mount Vernon 7
Oak Harbor 0 0 7 14—21
Mount Vernon 0 0 7 0— 7
Scoring—Mount Vernon: Boon 38 yard pass from Junquist (Burns kick). Oak Harbor: Raymond 1 yard run (Fakkema kick). Oak Harbor: Vest 6 yard run (Fakkema kick). Oak Harbor: Blunk 27yard catch from Lobbestael (Fakkema kick).
