Another Royal disappointment
Knights again end Wolverines season
Story and photos by Matt Pranger
1 | 2 |
3 | 4 | 5
posted 11/28/05
Friday Harbor led Royal by a touchdown at halftime of a Class 1A state semifinal Saturday, Nov. 26 in the Tacoma Dome, but the defending champs scored 35 unanswered points in the second half for a 42-14 victory. For the second consecutive season, Royal dealt Friday Harbor their only loss, and the Wolverine football team finished third in their class the second year in a row.
"This is not the trophy we went after," Ledford said. "We wanted first place."
"Right now we're feeling the pain of one loss," said Friday Harbor coach Richard Ledford. "It makes us forget the 12 wins.
The Wolverines earned the respect of Washington state's all-time scoring leader -- Royal running back/kicker Jeff Jack. "Friday Harbor was the most dangerous team we played," said Jack, who currently has 712 career points. "The score wasn't representative of the way the game was played. It was close."
Friday Harbor is 23-2 over the past two seasons. "Our graduating seniors won two third-place trophies," Ledford said. "Time will put it (the seasons) into pretty good perspective."
The Knights (13-0) are favored to win their second consecutive championship and third title in six years when they face Tonasket (11-1) in the state final Saturday, Dec. 3. Tonasket advanced after topping Kalama 29-7 in a semifinal Nov. 26. Kalama (11-2) tied for third with Friday Harbor.
Friday Harbor and Royal played a tight game in the first half. Royal scored first on a 17-yard pass from Ray Valle to Daniel Garza with 4:29 to go in the first period. Jack, who upped his point total to 712, booted the first of six extra points.
The Wolverines drew within a point with 90 seconds left in the first quarter after Cole Franklin threaded the ball to Jesse Woodruff for a 27-yard touchdown pass. A fake kick failed.
Tyler Hart ripped off a 39-yard touchdown run a couple minutes into the second quarter. Loch Stimpson ran the ball in for the 2-point conversion and Friday Harbor led 14-7.
The Wolverines missed another scoring opportunity after Chas Lawson intercepted a Valle pass and returned it to the Wolverines 42-yard line. Franklin connected with Stoddard for a 50-yard reception. Friday Harbor was backed up by a holding penalty and sack. Dwight Ware's 43-yard field-goal attempt went just wide.
Trent Roberts preserved the Wolverines' lead by picking off a Valle pass on Friday Harbor's 5-yard line with a minute to go in the first half. He returned it 30 yards.
Friday Harbor became the only team to lead Royal at halftime this season. The Wolverines tallied 228 yards of offense and the Knights compiled 236. Friday Harbor led time of possession by 16 seconds.
The Knights made defensive and offensive changes during halftime and ruled the final 24 minutes. They intercepted four passes and scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and three in the fourth.
"It's a tough way to end the season…. It's a repeat of last year. They made adjustments," said Friday Harbor's David Ahrenius. "We didn't play our type of football."
"That was the best offensive line I've ever gone against," said Wolverine defensive end Pete GrosJacques.
Valle completed 19 of 30 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He used five receivers but Kyle Scroggins was his favorite target: Scroggins caught 9 passes for 172 yards and had one touchdown.
A broken arm in a cast didn't slow down Jack: the senior gained 128 yards on 25 attempts and scored one touchdown. Royal had 156 yards rushing on 36 carries.
Friday Harbor finished with 259 yards of offense. Franklin completed 8 of 9 passes for 149 yards. Hart tossed a 13-yard halfback pass. Stoddard grabbed three passes for 70 yards.
Hart led Wolverine runners with 98 yards on 14 attempts.
Friday Harbor's Tim Cumming won the game's sportsmanship award. The senior also led the Wolverine defense with 11 tackles. Roberts made 9 tackles. Brock McNairy and Woodruff had 7 apiece. Pete GrosJacques recovered a fumble.
Coach Ledford is "extremely, extremely proud" of the 2005 Wolverine football team. "I hurt for them and I hurt with them. I wish we could've met our goal of winning the state championship."
Thirteen Wolverines played their final game in a Friday Harbor football uniform. They are: Tim Cumming, Pete GrosJacque, Jesse Woodruff, Chas Lawson, David Ahrenius, Dwight Ware, Chad Stoddard, Michael Stump, Sierra Stratton, Rory Coyne, Jim Gossom, Andrew Dunn and Jonathan Reedy. "I'm really proud of the seniors," Ledford said.
"It's pretty sad that we lost but it's a good way to end four years," Cumming said.
"Even though we didn't win it was still a great year. The memories and the friendships… it was a good experience," Stoddard said.
"The coaching staff is definitely great," he added.
GrosJacques is expecting the Wolverines to continue the winning tradition. "I can't wait to come back and watch these guys," he said.
"As long as they put the work in in the off-season, they're going to be pretty good," Cumming added.
1 | 2 |
3 | 4 | 5
|
