By KEVIN BREIWICK
Herald Writer
MARYSVILLE – Marysville-Pilchuck’s Tino Psaradelis’ return to the field made a huge impact Friday.
Psaradelis returned from an injury to lead the Tomahawks to a 23-13 Western Conference 4A homecoming victory over Oak Harbor.
“We knew we could run the ball,” Marysville-Pilchuck coach Dick Abrams said. “We knew Tino was a force so we wanted to get him the ball and I thought we did a good job of that.”
The 6-foot-1, 185 pound running back ran for 116 yards on 13 carries, running for a touchdown and catching another.
Psaradelis’ return worked right into Abrams’ game plan.
“It’s like any game, if you can go out and run the ball we felt we had a change to win,” Abrams said. “We were trying to establish the run game.”
The Tomahawks (2-4 in league, 2-5 overall) passed on occasion, but for the most part, the running game carried the team.
“We threw the ball a little bit when we had to,” Abrams said. “(Quarterback) Ryan Swobody did a nice job of picking his receivers.”
Psaradelis put M-P on the board first after the Tomahawks and the Wildcats (2-4, 2-5) punted on their opening drives. He ran around the right side for a 47-yard touchdown.
The Tomahawks dangled from a slim lead of 10-0 late in the second quarter. As time wore out, Psaradelis caught a 33-yard pass up the middle from Ryan Swobody, giving the Tomahawks a 17-0 halftime lead.
“We should have been in there (the end zone) a few more times and it was nice to pick up that score right before halftime,” Abrams said. “It was a huge play for us just to get that momentum.
“We told the kids it was 0-0 at halftime and they came out and played that way. They played hard in the second half.”
Marysville’s Noah Davis added another touchdown, a 5-yard run, after Psaradelis picked off an Oak Harbor pass and returned it to the Wildcats 20.
Oak Harbor was held scoreless until Nick Garcia ran for a 13-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Running back Tony Hall, who erupted for 164 yards on seven carries and three touchdowns in last week’s 62-6 victory over Shorecrest, struggled against the Tomahawks defense. Hall scored on a 62-yard swing pass from Brent Lang.
“I thought our defense was very good,” Abrams said. “They (Oak Harbor) were coming off a big win against Shorecrest and we were really concerned about their speed. Our guys did a good job of neutralizing their speed.”
Marysville’s defense was so stifling that Oak Harbor was forced to punt five times.
Marysville-Pilchuck-Johnson 31 FG
Marysville-Pilchuck Psaradelis 33 pass from Swobody (Johnson kick)
Marysville-Pilchuck-Davis 5 run (kick failed)
Oak Harbor-Garcia 5 run (Barker kick)
Oak Harbor-Hall 62 pass from Lang (run failed)
Records– Marysville-Pilchuck 2-4 in league, 2-5 overall. Oak Harbor 2-4, 2-5.
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Marysville-Pilchuck-Psaradelis 47 run (Johnson kick)
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