Oak Harbor senior team takes title / Youth football

By Jim Waller • November 15, 2016 1:30 am

The Oak Harbor youth football senior team wrapped up an undefeated season with a 26-12 win over host Mount Vernon in the divisional championship game Saturday, Nov. 12.

In other North Cascade Youth Football League Super Bowl action, the Oak Harbor midget purple team fell in its title match 21-6 to Sedro-Woolley at Mount Vernon High School Saturday.

OH Seniors 26,

Mount Vernon 12

The Oak Harbor seniors (age 13) combined a strong ground game with a little razzle-dazzle and a stingy defense, according to coach Nick Asinsin, to earn the championship trophy.

Oak Harbor finished the season with 11 wins while outscoring its opponents on an average of 33-6. No team put up more than 12 points on Oak Harbor in a single game.

Mount Vernon’s only losses this year were to Oak Harbor; Oak Harbor won the regular season meeting 13-6 Oct. 15.

In Saturday’s championship game, Oak Harbor’s Malachi Rainey rushed for over 100 yards, including touchdown runs of 52 and 25 yards.

Caden Leckelt also scored twice, one rushing and one receiving.

The catch was off a trick play when quarterback Cameron Asinsin tossed what appeared to be a screen pass to Landon Cantrell, who then threw a 20-yard TD strike to Leckelt.

The Oak Harbor offense also received strong play up front, according to coach Asinsin, from Christian Bethea, Adam Kassem, John Leete, Jared McDonald, Tre Johnson, Tristan Simmons and Joshua Simmons.

“They battled in the trenches all night and opened holes that would make any running back happy,” Asinsin said.

Oak Harbor’s defense, coached by Duan Mebane, was led by Bennett Andersen, Brenden Andersen, Joel Pacleb, McDonald, Tyson Bovee and Xander Owsley, Asinsin said.

Pacleb snagged two interceptions, and the Andersen twins tacked on several tackles for losses.

“As a coach, it is truly an honor to guide these young men at such a crucial time in their life,” Asinsin said. “Most of these kids we have coached since they were 8, and they have matured into role models in the community. I am so grateful that they won the championship because they deserved it.”

Sedro-Woolley 21,

OH Midget Purple 6

The Oak Harbor midgets (ages 9 and 10) lost only twice this fall, both to Sedro-Woolley Blue. Sedro-Woolley won the regular season game 20-14 Oct. 1.

“Oak Harbor played a very hard and tough game and fought to the end,” coach Mark Cribb said. “The midget team had 26 9- and 10-year-olds who, for 16 weeks, practiced and played hard and made all of their parents and coaches proud of the effort and team work they displayed.”

Team captains were Tyler Abbott, Ka’imi Asinsin, Tristan Gallaway and Dominic Smith.