Third-quarter surge lifts Oak Harbor by Monroe

Published 11:47 pm Friday, September 12, 2008

MONROE — It was a tale of two victories Friday night.

The Oak Harbor Wildcats bounced back from their first home-opening loss last week with a 28-20 Wesco North victory over Monroe at Monroe High School Stadium.

And though it will go as a loss in the standings, the Bearcats picked up a moral victory knowing that, a year after a disappointing 0-10 season, they can play with the big boys in the conference.

“They’re scrappy they played well. They are vastly improved,” Oak Harbor head coach Jay Turner said of the Bearcats.

Donovan Hunt and Stephen Lewis each rushed for two touchdowns and Oak Harbor (1-0 in league, 1-1 overall) used a 14-0 third quarter to pull away from Monroe (0-1, 1-1) in the contest.

Hunt rushed for 41 yards on seven carries and Lewis, one of a few seniors on the team, carried eight times for a game-high 91 yards.

“He played really well last week and had an exceptional game (Friday). He’s one of our leaders,” Turner said of Lewis.

Fifty-nine of Lewis’ 91 yards came on a second-quarter touchdown run just 12 seconds after Monroe had tied the game at 7-7.

Lewis swept right, taking advantage of missed tackles before running straight into the end zone for a 14-7 Wildcat lead.

Dave Telford, coaching his first home game as a Bearcat, believed Lewis’ run was the difference maker in the game.

“If we didn’t give up that run in the first half it’s a totally different ballgame,” Telford said.

Monroe bounced back on the next drive, tying the score at 14 apiece on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Bryan Sonneveldt to receiver Connor Shelford.

A week after passing for 189 yards and two scores, Sonneveldt finished 14-for-27 for 208 passing yards, including two touchdowns.

“What can you say about a kid that maybe hasn’t thrown the ball more than 10 times in his life? He’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s a coachable guy, good talent, competitor, and he’s making good decisions and our guys on the outside are making catches. I was impressed,” Telford said of his senior quarterback.

The Bearcats seemed to wear down in the third quarter as the Wildcats scored 14 unanswered points.

The Wildcats went to a steady dose of run plays that set up both scores in the third quarter.

“We spread it out. The running game started working out in the second half.

I think our QB (James Jordan) settled down and had a lot better game in the second half,” Turner said.

Sonneveldt and the Bearcats got one last score in the fourth after the quarterback found three different receivers for 85 yards and a score — a 19-yard TD pass to Kelen Jensen.

But the Wildcats blocked the point-after attempt and retrieved the ensuing onside kick to finish off the Bearcats.

“We played a much better game than we played last Friday. I’m 100 percent proud of those kids. Every time the bell rang we answered the bell,” Telford said.

Though the loss was difficult to take, the Bearcats can still hold their heads high knowing they played an Oak Harbor team that is expected to make another push at the postseason.

“We can’t let this bitter taste last anymore than Sunday. When we come back on Monday we’ve got get it out, spit it out and let go. We’re too good of a team,” Telford said.

The victory was Turner’s first as head coach of the Wildcats. Turner took over a team that finished 11-1 last season and is two years removed from a 4A state championship.

At Bearcat Stadium

Oak Harbor014140—28

Monroe01406—20

Oak Harbor—Hunt 8 run (Flavin kick)

Monroe—Bray 5 run (Garino kick)

Oak Harbor—Lewis 59 run (Flavin kick)

Monroe—Shelford 12 yard pass from Sonneveldt (Garino kick)

Oak Harbor—Hunt 19 run (Flavin kick)

Oak Harbor—Lewis 6 run (Flavin kick)

Monroe—Jensen 19 yard pass from Sonneveldt (kick blocked)

Records—Oak Harbor 1-0 in league, 1-1 overall. Monroe 0-1 in league, 1-1 overall.