SPORTS

Related Stories

SPORTS PAGE

Schedule and story list

Vikings hold off Wolverines 20-14, keep Island Cup

Story and photos by Matt Pranger

posted 10/13/03
Orcas defender Hunter Easterling picked off a pass at the 5-yard line, stemming a Friday Harbor drive with 28 seconds remaining and cementing the Vikings grip on the Island Cup trophy for one more year.

"It was a hell of a game. They are a good team," Orcas senior Robby Kihlstrom said of the Wolverines while grasping the Island Cup trophy after the game. "That was fun."

"They're ranked fourth in the state and we put up an awesome battle," said Friday Harbor junior Joey Burns after the teams' Northwest League opener.

"I was pleased with our effort," said Friday Harbor coach Richard Ledford. "It was a good game… Our players executed well and we just came up a little bit short.

"We both deserve the Island Cup," said Friday Harbor team manager Tyler Brow. "I'm proud of these guys.

"We fought hard… There has to be a winner and a loser and unfortunately we came up the loser," said "We kept team unity until the very last play."

With the victory, Orcas (5-0) knots the series with Friday Harbor (3-2) at 22-22-1. Friday Harbor's victories include seven wins in the 1990s. Orcas dominated the five previous meetings, compiling 233 points to Friday Harbor's 30.

The Wolverines started the season 3-0 and entered the game 14th in the Seattle Times Class A Football Rankings. Friday Harbor fans packed the inter-island ferry. Orcas fans filled the home stands for the Vikings homecoming and stretched the length of the sidelines. The game -- played in battering winds and intermittent rain -- met Wolverine and Viking fans' expectations.

Friday Harbor missed a field goal in the first quarter but regained the ball on Tyler Roberts interception. A few plays later Roberts zipped 16 yards into the end zone. Dwight Ware booted the extra point and the Wolverines led Vikings 7-0 with three minutes to go in the first period.

Easterling intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards to the Friday Harbor 28-yard line. Orcas quarterback McLane Stone threaded the ball to Kihlstrom for a 16-yard touchdown reception with 9:58 left in the second quarter. Andrew Ihlenfeldt kicked the PAT to tie the game 7-7.

Kihlstrom swiped his second pass of the game. Stone rolled out and connected with Easterling for a 49-yard touchdown reception. Ihlenfeldt added the extra point and Orcas led 14-7 at 8:21 in the second quarter.

A pass interference call helped keep a Friday Harbor drive alive with about two minutes to go in the half. Danny Cumming threw the ball 25 yards to Matt Cowell for the Wolverines' second touchdown. Ware kicked the PAT and the game was knotted 14-14 with 1:20 before halftime.

Orcas threatened in the third quarter but Friday Harbor defensive back Jesse Woodruff snagged a pass at the Wolverines' 1-yard line. The Vikings held the Wolverines against the goal but Cowell booted a 67-yard punt.

The Vikings' winning touchdown -- a third-down, 1-yard dive by Ihlenfeldt with 6:24 left in the game -- was set by a Ihlenfeldt bulling for a drive-extending first down and a 15-yard pass to Kihlstrom. Friday Harbor's Chas Lawson blocked the PAT, keeping the Wolverines' hopes of an upset alive.

Friday Harbor punted on the ensuing possession but then held the Vikings. The Wolverines advanced on an 11-yard catch and a pass interference penalty. Roberts took a pitch for eight yards and went around the end to the 30-yard line with 1:01 to go. Foley scampered to the 19-yard line.

The Vikings figured they won the game when they recovered a fumble in the Friday Harbor backfield but the an official inadvertently blew his whistle as the ball bounced on ground with 42 seconds to go. The play was replayed and a Friday Harbor reception at the goal line was out of bounds. Easterling made his second pick of the day to secure the Vikings' victory.

Friday Harbor's homecoming opponent is Concrete -- a foe they upset in a non-league road contest earlier this year. The game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. The Vikings meet Archbishop Murphy -- the No. 1 ranked defending Class A champions -- at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 on the Wildcats' home turf.

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

news @sanjuanislander.com

ABOUT US | ADVERTISING INFO | CONTACT INFORMATION |