Noise was certainly a factor in Saturday’s state football championship game — it was the noise of the Oak Harbor fans that fueled the intensity of the Wildcats and ultimately led to the first title in the high school’s history.

The incessant cheering from the hordes of Wildcat fans in the Tacoma Dome began immediately as the team took the field for warmups. Coach Dave Ward managed to conceal any signs of nerves as he conversed with Oak Harbor supporters who visited him near the sidelines.

“It’s like a dream,” he told one fan.

Ward’s brother Pete, who made the trip from Spokane with his son to watch the game, said the coach was certainly nervous, but confident in his team.

“He’s always nervous before a game,” Pete said. “Of course he is. But he’s got a great game plan.”

Given the manner in which the Wildcats have bested their opponents in a series of nail-biting victories, the coach’s brother was confident that a lack of mental toughness would not be an issue.

“They’ve won so many close games that I think their minds are there,” he said. “We have a great chance in this game. If it stays close, we can pull it out.”

Saturday marked the third trip over the mountains for the brother, whose son enjoyed a stellar year at quarterback for Mt. Spokane High School. With the Oak Harbor coach’s imminent retirement, perhaps after next season, the championship game was bittersweet, but much more sweet than bitter.

“This will be great,” Pete said. “Dave’s retiring after this year and it will be a perfect way to go out. It’s been a huge year for our family. Just incredible for all of us.”

Decibels mounted as the game kicked off and what would become a historical night officially began.

Oak Harbor School District Superintendent Rick Schulte surveyed the pumped up crowd and the ubiquitous purple and gold regalia.

“I feel spectacular,” he said. “Everybody’s on an up. Everybody’s calmly confident.”

“It’s Rumble time,” a student yelled over the superintendent’s head, referring to Wildcat receiver Rodrick Rumble.

Schulte said the Wildcat gridiron gladiators were winners even before taking the field. The student athletes’ integrity is not feigned but almost inherent, which is a tribute to the parental influences.

“This group of football players has a tremendous amount of maturity and character,” he said. “They’re good all the time, on the field and off the field. They’re great kids and they’re great people.”

Aside from the countless Oak Harbor families and alumni that made the trek to the title game, the sheer number of students was overwhelming. And vocal. The superintendent said the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s fund-raising drive to finance the trip for students lacking the financial resources was a godsend.

“That pumped up everybody,” Schulte said. “The community really came together.”

During the first half of the game, the noise level never wavered. After a last- second Wildcat touchdown to end the half put Oak Harbor up 14-7, the cacophony became the best kind of deafening.

“I feel great,” said Andy Hunter, father of the formidable tackle Will Hunter, at halftime. “I think they’ve played really well so far. It’s so nice that they were able to get that last touchdown.”

The parents of Wildcat players were on tenterhooks as they watched the game. Marianne Hunter, Will’s mother, said many of the team members have been playing together since they were kids. They’re not just teammates, they’re close friends.

“This group of kids out there have been playing every sport together ever since they were six, seven, eight. This is it. This is like a dream come true,” she said. “They eat together, they hangout together. They’re just a great group of kids. And I think it shows when they go out there and play.”

Clinging to a tenuous single touchdown lead, Andy Hunter still oozed with confidence inspired by the impressive football squad.

“I wouldn’t bet against them,” he said with an ear-to-ear smile. “We knew Bothell would be favorites, but I just tell you, I don’t bet against these kids.”

“That’s what he’s been telling people all week,” Marianne added.

The Hunters’ son and teammates were told all year which teams they would have to clutch up and defeat. Marianne said Will recognized the skewed logic immediately.

“He said, ‘All along, we’ve been the team to beat,’” she said. “That’s what they all believe.”

Bothell struck first and fast in the second half with a quick touchdown to tie the game. After momentarily deflating the Oak Harbor fans, the roar came back even fiercer. Students were dangerously close to dislocating their shoulders as they pumped their fists and pompoms. Cheerleaders could only be distinguished from fans by their purple and gold outfits.

“The students are loving it,” said OHHS Assistant Principal Bill Weinsheimer. “They think this is the best thing ever.”

After several questionable calls by the referees that could have proven pivotal in the tight game, the throngs of Oak Harbor supporters came understandably unglued. But they refused to give into negativity and instead turned their energy around and hurled positive vibrations and verbal encouragement at the Wildcats.

It paid off in the end. OHHS senior C.J. Wong said the feeling after the game was indescribable.

“It’s an amazing thing for a senior year,” Wong said. “You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

“This was absolutely perfect,” Pete Ward said.

Schulte underscored the unmistakable turnings of tide in the Oak Harbor community capped off by the win.

“This is just a perfect storm of new things,” he said. “We’re going to break ground on a new stadium the first week of January. We’ve got huge community support seeing all the people here. It’s absolutely wonderful. We couldn’t have a better community. This championship is for everybody.”

Edmundo Corrales, the father of Wildcat center Edmundo Coralles II, is having difficulty adjusting to life after the championship.

“We’re still trying to come down from it,” he said Monday. “There are so many memories.”

As for Andy Hunter, his mantra was cemented with the victory.

“I wouldn’t bet against them,” he said after the game.