A rare win in the Lions' den:
Friday Harbor shocks Concrete 19-14
By Matt Pranger
posted 09/22/03
Friday Harbor's football team stunned Concrete 19-14, Friday, Sept. 19, 2003 in a non-league victory on the Lions' home turf. The Wolverines' last win over the Lions came in 1983, before any of the current players were born. The Wolverines' last won in the Lions' den 21 years ago.
"It was such a feeling of accomplishment," said Friday Harbor senior quarterback Danny Cumming. "The bus ride home was great... Everybody was excited about how we performed."
"It was a big confidence booster," said junior running back Tyler Roberts.
"All our fans were on the field like it was a championship," said assistant coach Darrin Scheffer, who played on the previous Wolverine team to defeat the Lions.
"Our kids really fought hard. I was so proud of them," said Friday Harbor coach Richard Ledford. "Both sides hit really hard and we were happy to come away with a win."
"Every snap of the ball was a battle," Ledford said. "There was no place in the game for either team to take a play off."
Last year Friday Harbor (2-0) fell to Concrete (2-1) in the final seconds when a pass slipped through a Wolverine defender's hands and into the paws of a Lion receiver in the end zone. "We were definitely remembering last year and giving that extra little bit," Cumming said.
Last season's game-winning play was nearly repeated this year. Down by 5 with 1:20 left and 4.5 yards from the end zone on fourth down, the Concrete tossed the ball to a receiver in the end zone. The ball bounced off the receiver and fell incomplete.
"Things do go in cycles," Ledford said.
Both teams displayed "100 percent sportsmanship" in the contest devoid of a punt or field-goal attempt. "The teams either scored, turned it over or gave it up after it was very close on fourth down," Ledford said. "The only kicking came on kickoffs or PATs."
The game started similar to many other Concrete-Friday Harbor games. On their first possession, Concrete drove to the Friday Harbor 12-yard line. Instead of the Lions punching the ball into the end zone on a fourth down, Friday Harbor defender Jesse Woodruff knocked down a pass. "Jesse made an outstanding play," Ledford said.
Friday Harbor responded with an 88-yard, 13-play drive capped by Winslow Cobos rushing for a touchdown. Dwight Ware booted the extra point and the Wolverines led 7-0 in the first period.
The Wolverines' second score was set up by a fumble recovered by Chad Stoddard. Four plays later quarterback Danny Cumming threaded the ball to Matt Cowell in the end zone. Concrete blocked the PAT but the Wolverines led 13-0 early in the second quarter.
Concrete scored two touchdowns and kicked two PATs to lead 14-13.
Cobos ran in the Wolverines' third touchdown before halftime. A two-point attempt failed.
Friday Harbor tallied 308 yards total offense: 251 rushing and 57 passing. Cobos rushed for 103 yards on 24 attempts and scored two touchdowns. Tyler Roberts gained 110 yards on 19 carries. Cumming picked up 30 yards on four tries and David Ahrenius had eight yards on two rushes.
Cowell accounted for all of Friday Harbor's 57 receiving yards, including the 25-yard touchdown catch.
Roberts picked off two Concrete passes. Woodruff intercepted one pass and deflected another. Stoddard and Britt Banry recovered fumbles.
"Kris Westhoven-Koch made a touchdown-saving tackle," Ledford said. "Timmy Cumming made a great stop from in the last series from his linebacker spot."
Jason Grone also made a crucial play for the Wolverines. In a botched kickoff, the Lions kicker drilled the ball into the chest of a Wolverine on the front line. Grone pounced on the ball and prevented a turnover.
Friday Harbor hosts Darrington at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2003.
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