ARLINGTON – For the Oak Harbor football team, the situation was simple.
Win and keep postseason possibilities alive. Lose, and play next week’s season finale against Marysville-Pilchuck for an outcome about as meaningful as plate of ravioli.
With that in mind, the Wildcats handed Arlington its second Western Conference North Division loss of the season, 20-14, Friday night at John C. Larsen Stadium.
“We didn’t doubt ourselves for a second,” said Oak Harbor coach Dave Ward, whose team improved to 5-2 in the division and 5-3 overall. “We beat a team with one loss and we’re right back in the game now.”
Ward’s team began Friday’s game with authority, he said, because the Wildcats knew the contest’s importance.
“This was a playoff game for us – loser-out,” Ward said. “That’s the way we approached it all week. The guys started to realize, ‘Hey, I want to keep my season going.’ “
The Eagles (5-2, 6-2) stumbled on their muddy home field for much of the contest, but managed to tie the score after falling behind 14-0. Trailing by six points when they took possession of the ball at their own 30 with 1:42 remaining, the Eagles nearly pulled off a comeback.
Facing second-and-24 after one of Oak Harbor’s six sacks, the Eagles used a hook-and-ladder play to pick up 29 yards. Kenny Gunter, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 137 yards in the second half after going 0-for-1 in the first, threw a short pass to Taylor Brown. He pitched it to Thomas Payne, who was finally brought down at the Oak Harbor 21. But, the Wildcats’ defensive line that rocked Arlington all game long sacked Gunter twice in the final 22 seconds to keep Oak Harbor’s postseason hopes alive.
“That’s probably the best I’ve ever seen any defensive line play during my three years of varsity,” said senior running back Dan Raymond, who rushed for a game-high 107 yards on 22 carries.
In a sloppy game that featured a combined seven turnovers by the two teams, Oak Harbor cashed in early on Arlington’s mistakes.
Cash Parker recovered a fumble to end Arlington’s first drive. The Wildcats took advantage, using nine plays to drive 41 yards for the game’s first TD with 7:36 to go in the opening quarter. Gabe Vest, who gained 79 yards on 15 carries, scored from three yards out for a 7-0 advantage.
Oak Harbor turned the Eagles’ second turnover into a 14-0 lead. James Blunk recovered an Arlington fumble at the Eagles’ 39. Blunk’s 43-yard catch set up Raymond’s 1-yard TD plunge on the first play of the second quarter.
Payne kick-started the Eagles in the second quarter with a 79-yard kickoff return to the Oak Harbor 16. On third-and-1, Payne, who also had an interception, blasted through the middle for a 7-yard TD to cut Arlington’s lead to 14-7 with 9:40 remaining in the half.
Raymond and Vest put Oak Harbor in prime position during the decisive drive. Tight end Dallas Sullivan nearly dropped a pass in the end zone from quarterback Marshall Lobbestael, but squeezed it against his hip to give the Wildcats 20-14 edge with less two minutes to play.
At Arlington
Oak Harbor7706-20
Arlington0707-14
Oak Harbor-Vest 3 run (Fakkema kick)
Oak Harbor-Raymond 1 run (Fakkema kick)
Arlington-Payne 7 run (Tilton kick)
Arlington-Brown 4 run (Tilton kick)
Oak Harbor-Sullivan 21 pass from Lobbestael (kick blocked)
Records-Oak Harbor 5-2 in division, 5-3 overall. Arlington 5-2, 6-2.
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