SPORTS

Related pages

Football Schedule and links to stories

SPORTS PAGE

2003-2004 Season

Scores, photos and stories from 2003-2004 season

Wolverines beat La Conner:
on to the semi-finals

Story and photos by Matt Pranger

posted 11/22/04

Friday Harbor High School's football team continued its record-breaking season by rolling past La Conner 46-28 in the Class 1A State Quarterfinals at Mount Vernon High School Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004.

"That was an extremely important game for our program, our school and our community," Friday Harbor coach Richard Ledford said.

"We made a big step tonight and our kids will be ready to give the effort the next go around," he added.

The Wolverines advance to Washington State's gridiron final four for the first time in school history. No. 4-ranked Friday Harbor (11-0) meets top-rated Royal (12-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 in Lampson Stadium in Kennewick.

"Two undefeated teams facing each other, it's going to be a good game," said senior defensive tackle Joe Burns.

"We're just happy to move on to the next week and that's what we're focused on now," senior running back Tyler Roberts.

"We're looking forward to playing Royal," said sophomore receiver Tyler Hart. "It'll probably be the most important game of our lives."

The Wolverines rushed for 411 yards and finished with 447 yards offense. "Our running game is strong," Ledford said.

Senior running back Winslow Cobos hammered the La Conner defense, rushing for 150 yards on 14 attempts. He broke free for a 56-yard touchdown dash and also scored on a 2-yard run.

"Cobos" big run definitely crushed their hopes," Burns said of the third-quarter TD that gave the Wolverines a two-touchdown lead.

Roberts gained 146 yards on 12 tries and had touchdown runs of 5, 12 and 16 yards.

Hart returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown. Junior David Ahrenius bulled 34 yards for Friday Harbor's final touchdown and finished with 79 yards on 9 carries.

"We finished off with a good note," Burns said.

Friday Harbor's offensive linemen -- seniors Grone, George Myers, juniors Tim Cumming, Pete GrosJacques, Britt Banry and sophomore Mike Fyrqvist -- punched ample holes for their runners.

"I was real proud of our line," Ledford said. "They probably played their best game so far."

"There were a lot of good blocks from the lineman," Cobos said. "Most of my success is due to them."

"When you get that many yards on the ground your line is doing a good job." Ledford said.

Friday Harbor's quarterbacks, junior Chas Lawson and sophomore Cole Franklin, "did a good job of executing our offense," Ledford said. Franklin connected with junior tight end Chad Stoddard on a 37-yard pass for the Wolverines' sole pass completion.

Ahrenius, a linebacker, led the Wolverine defense with 16 tackles. Banry, a defensive lineman, made 11 tackles. Sophomore defensive back Trent Roberts and senior linebacker Tim Cumming contributed 8 tackles apiece.

Before the game started, Ledford told his players: "Our community support is electric." The Wolverine fans lived up to Ledford's statement as several hundred San Juan Islanders made the ferry trip. They were joined by Orcas Island boosters, who remained after their loss to Lind-Ritzville and Friday Harbor's fans filled the home-side stands, out-numbering the La Conner supporters, who came from a dozen miles away.

"It means a lot to have that great support," Ledford said.

On the field, the Braves proved they forgot about the Wolverines' 34-7 victory over them earlier in the season. Friday Harbor led 20-14 at the half before adding 19 more points at the start of the final period.

"I got to give La Conner credit where credit's due," Ledford said. "They came ready to play and they have a class group."

"They came out really ready to play," Burns said.

On their first possession, the Wolverines ran the ball down the field and Cobos punched into the end zone from 2 yards out with 4:08 left in the first quarter. Dwight Ware booted the extra-point.

La Conner's Jake Roth returned the kickoff 80 yards for the BravesÕ first score and Josh Oosterhof kicked the PAT.

Hart responded with his 84-yard touchdown return. The extra-point kick failed but the Wolverines led the rest of the game.

Roberts scored his first touchdown on a 5-yard lunge with 3:46 remaining in the second quarter. A two-point try came up short.

La Conner cut the WolverinesÕ lead to 6 points on Roth's 26-yard run and OosterhofÕs kick with six seconds left in the half.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Cobos burst through a hole, angled to the sidelines and scooted 56 yards. Ware booted the PAT and Friday Harbor led 26-14.

Roberts scored from 16 yards out with 2:11 left in the third quarter and Ware kicked the PAT.

After Ahrenius gained the first down on a 4th-and-short, Roberts ran 12 yards for his third touchdown with 9:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. The PAT went wide but the Wolverines opened up a 39-12 lead.

Roth scored his third touchdown on a 2-yard run with 4:12 left. Oosterhof kicked the PAT.

The Braves recovered the onside kick and Oosterhof hit Roth on a 22-yard touchdown pass. Oosterhof booted the extra-point and the Braves cut the Wolverines lead to 39-28 with 2:38 remaining.

Burns covered the onside kick and Ahrenius sealed the win for the Wolverines with his 34-yard run with 1:14 on the clock.

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

news @sanjuanislander.com

ABOUT US | ADVERTISING INFO | CONTACT INFORMATION |