It wasn’t exactly “three yards and a cloud of dust,” but Oak Harbor High School’s rushing attack, which was missing in action the Wildcats’ first two games, helped add some balance to Oak Harbor’s offensive arsenal in a 13-6 win over Everett Friday at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.

The victory was the first of the year in three games for Oak Harbor; Everett suffered its first loss.

While Oak Harbor finally made some noise with a rushing attack, another big story line in the game was quarterback Clarence Lamont. Lamont started the first two games but was removed in favor of Luke Felkner in the second half last week. Felkner led Oak Harbor to three touchdowns in the fourth quarter in his relief role. That performance earned him the starting QB spot for the Everett game. However, at the end of the first quarter he suffered a possible concussion and was unable to continue.

Everett kicked two field goals in the first quarter and was threatening again when Oak Harbor stuffed the Seagulls on a fourth-and-one at the 5-yard line. Enter Lamont. Throwing from his own end zone, he immediately hit Josh Sayre for 47 yards. Oak Harbor mixed in a few runs, got a face mask penalty, and Lamont hit Mike Washington Jr. for an 8-yard gain to put the Wildcats in striking distance.

The drive then bogged down, but on fourth and six from the Everett 31, Lamont hit Washington with a 31-yard TD throw. Ryan Fakkema kicked the extra point and Oak Harbor was ahead 7-6 with 6:36 left in the half.

As the game progressed, Lamont got more and more help from the running game.

In losses to Cascade and Monroe the last two weeks, the Wildcats ran for a combined total of just 85 yards. Friday, they chalked up 130 yards on 32 carries. Senior Donovan Hunt, who played a big role in Oak Harbor’s rushing attack the past two years, finally got untracked as he ran for 91 yards on only nine carries.

Oak Harbor coach Jay Turner said he wasn’t sure if Hunt, who was fighting an injury and missed much of practice this week, was even going to play. Also out was receiver/defensive back Rashaad Smith, who is ill. The coaching staff had some concerns with two of their best athletes sidelined. Fortunately Hunt was able to go, but he didn’t start and, as Turner said, “Didn’t play all that much.” But it was enough to ignite the ground game.

Turner said, “We made some adjustments and added some quick runs.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Fisher said, “The guys picked it (the changes to the running game) really quick.”

He added that one of the strengths of their no huddle-offense is that it speeds up the game and wears down the defense, particularly the lineman because it is difficult to substitute. He said the Oak Harbor lineman sensed Everett was getting tired late in each half and said, “Let’s NASCAR them” — speed up the game even more. Fisher said, “If we can keep it close, we know we can do some damage in the second and fourth quarters.”

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Lamont came up big again. With fourth and six from the Everett 28 he hit Sayre for a 17-yard gain and a first down. On the next play he flipped to Hunt in the flat and the senior running back made several Seagulls miss and plowed the ball in from the 11 for the score. The PAT kick failed and it was 13-6 OH.

On Everett’s next possession, it appeared the Seagulls were going to retaliate. The marched off three first downs and 54 yards without having to run a third-down play. Aided by a delay of game penalty, the defense finally held and forced a punt.

Hunt reeled off a 15 yard run, but a holding penalty stifled the drive and the Wildcats had to give up the ball. Judd Ford rocketed a 51-yard punt and Everett took over from its own 36 with 3:04 left in the game. Several plays into the drive Oak Harbor’s Josh Higbee picked off a halfback pass and the Wildcats had the ball back with 2:12 left.

Oak Harbor put the game away as they moved all the way to the Everett 19 as the Seagulls committed two face mask penalties and Hunt put the dagger in with a 23-yard run.

Lamont finished the game with nine completions in 13 attempts for 145 yards and two interceptions.

The Wildcat defense limited Everett to 211 yards; Oak Harbor finished with 279.

The Wildcats travel to Mount Vernon next Friday.