League-leading Marysville-Pilchuck can consider itself the luckiest football team in the WesCo North getting out of Wildcat Memorial Stadium Friday night with an undefeated record still intact.
The Tomahawks scored on their first play from scrimmage in the opening quarter on a 67-yard run by senior halfback Caleb Posey, but that was the last time Marysville-Pilchuck would cross the goal line until the fourth quarter.
In between, Kevin Flavin nailed a 40-yard field goal for Oak Harbor with 13 seconds remaining in the first quarter to cut the lead to 7-3, and then the defensive units on both teams hammered one another for the better part of the next three quarters.
Marysville-Pilchuck struggled against the tough Wildcat defense but managed to score two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, to pull out a hard-fought 20-3 Senior Night victory.
“They just busted a couple of long ones on us,” coach Jay Turner said. “Outside of that, we held our own.”
Oak Harbor packed the line of scrimmage with defensive players the entire game in an effort to stop the Tomahawks’ powerful running game and for the most part had success.
Posey’s long run for a touchdown to open the game was the only big play Marysville-Pilchuck had until the final quarter.
The Wildcats had an opportunity to take the lead beginning late in the third quarter when quarterback J Johnson engineered an 11-play drive that stretched into the early moments of the fourth quarter.
With just over 11 minutes remaining in the game and facing a fourth and goal situation at the Marysville-Pilchuck 2-yard line, Jordan was stopped just short and Oak Harbor was forced to turn the ball over on downs.
Two plays later, Ryan Sterley ripped off a 93-yard scoring dash to give the Tomahawks a 13-3 advantage.
Danny Stokes’ extra point attempt was blocked and with 10:31 left in the game, Oak Harbor still had a chance to come back.
However, Marysville-Pilchuck linebacker Mike Stone picked off an errant Jordan pass and with 31 seconds remaining, Austin Denton scored the Tomahawks’ final touchdown on a 12-yard run.
“The way we played is something we can build on for next season,” Turner said. I’m excited because the kids played hard tonight. They fought and there’s no quit in them.”
At the end of the game, cheers of “undefeated” came from the visitors’ side of the field, but they weren’t all that enthusiastic.
Tomahawk players and fans knew they had been lucky to win.
The Wildcats’ football season is not completely over and fans have one more opportunity to watch the purple and gold in 2008.
Oak Harbor hosts Kamiak (2-4, 2-7) in a crossover game Friday night at Wildcat Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Final standings
WesCo North
Team League Overall
W L W L
M-P 6 0 9 0
Snohomish 4 2 6 3
Lake Stevens 4 2 6 3
Stanwood 3 3 3 5
Oak Harbor 2 4 3 6
Arlington 2 4 5 4
Monroe 0 6 2 7
Scores Friday, Oct. 31
Marysville-Pilchuck 20, Oak Harbor 3
Stanwood 48, Arlington 39
Snohomish 49, Lake Stevens 48
Mariner 58, Monroe 21
