Oak Harbor’s Tamarik Hollins-Passmore follows his blockers during a game against Arlington on Oct. 20, 2017, at Arlington High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Oak Harbor’s Tamarik Hollins-Passmore follows his blockers during a game against Arlington on Oct. 20, 2017, at Arlington High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Oak Harbor beats Arlington 13-7 in 3OT slugfest

The Wildcats clinch a Wesco 3A North playoff berth with the hard-fought, triple-overtime victory.

ARLINGTON — Defensive battle, offensive eye sore — call it what you will — but Oak Harbor grinded through three overtimes, driving rain and a tenacious Arlington defense to clinch a coveted Wesco 3A North playoff berth.

One week removed from finding themselves on the wrong end of an overtime game, the Wildcats, in coach Jay Turner’s words, “kept pounding, and pounding and pounding away” until Taeson Hardin took a handoff off tackle for a 3-yard touchdown to give No. 9 Oak Harbor a 13-7 walk-off, triple overtime win during a wet Friday night matchup at Arlington High School.

“This is my 22nd year (coaching), and I have never been a part of a game like this,” Turner said. “Both teams played their guts out and laid it all out there. Fighting adversity, weather was bad — we just kept pounding and pounding.”

In a matchup featuring two of the more prolific offenses in the Wesco 3A North, there was little firepower on display thanks in large part to wet and windy conditions and plenty of stingy defense.

Oak Harbor quarterback Jordan Bell and Arlington quarterback Anthony Whitis combined for seven interceptions, and the Wildcats’ high-powered Wing-T rushing attack was limited to 162 yards on 49 carries.

“The weather was a factor for both teams,” Turner said. “Arlington tackled really well. We just had a hard time breaking anything. We haven’t seen a team tackle that well all year. That presented problems for us.”

Arlington defensive back Campbell Hudson recorded three interceptions, and the Eagles defensive line was stout all game. Oak Harbor leading rusher Mackenzie Nuanez finished with 93 yards on 25 carries.

The Eagles offense moved the ball at times, but could never find a rhythm. Four times in regulation Arlington (5-3 overall, 3-2 Wesco 3A North) drove the ball deep into Oak Harbor (7-1, 4-1) territory but only scored once.

“I thought our D played really well,” Turner said. “Our defensive coordinator, Jim Coleman, called a great game. Guys were flying around all over the place making plays.”

Turner and the Wildcats had to dig deep into their playbook to finally open the scoring late in the first half.

Bell looked to his left and completed a lateral out wide to receiver Kyle Nickols for what looked to be a wide receiver screen, but Nickols pulled up and lofted a pass into the back of the end zone, connecting with a wide open Tamarik Hollins-Passmore for a 16-yard score that put Oak Harbor in front 7-0 with 1:30 to play until halftime.

The Eagles had multiple golden opportunities to score in the first half in large part to the secondary work of Hudson.

The senior defensive back picked off two Bell passes, gifting Arlington outstanding field possession. Once Campbell set the Eagles up at Oak Harbor’s 14-yard line, and his second pick was returned to the Wildcats’ 24. The first possession ended in a turnover on downs after Arlington failed to convert a fourth-and-3 on Oak Harbor’s 7. The second possession resulted in an interception after the Eagles moved the ball down the Wildcats’ 10.

A long Arlington second-half opening drive stalled, but the Eagles finally cashed in on their next drive with wide receiver Cooper Cummings doing much of the work.

From Arlington’s own 13-yard line, Whitis connected with Cummings for a 32-yard pass that moved the ball to the Eagles’ 45. Cummings delivered again on the following play, this time hauling in a 30-yard diving reception that moved the ball to Oak Harbor’s 25. Three plays later sophomore back Brayden Whetstone, who finished with 83 yards on 20 carries, took a handoff up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7 with 3:56 to play in the third.

Oak Harbor had a great chance to win the game late in regulation after Arlington’s punter couldn’t get a kick off deep in his own territory and the Wildcats took over on the Eagles’ 23 with 1:53 to go. The Wildcats moved the ball to Arlington’s 7, but Bell took a big sack before throwing an interception on the final play of the fourth quarter.

Neither Oak Harbor nor Arlington moved the ball much in the first two overtime periods. The Wildcats’ defense stuffed Arlington in the third OT, setting up Oak Harbor with 10 yards to win the game.

“As soon as we got the stop in the third overtime, our kids were pretty fired up,” Turner said. “We were like, ‘We got to get it this time. We got 10 yards, four plays,’ and we got after it.”

Nuanez took the first carry 2 yards, the second carry 5 yards down to Arlington’s 3 and Hardin scored the game-winner the following play.

Click here for box score.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.