Talk about a Halloween surprise.
The Friday Harbor football team, short-handed and on the road, turned in perhaps its best performance of the year with an electrifying 35-6 victory over Lynden Christian on Halloween night.
While scores of children knocked on doors in quest of candy, the Wolverines were knocking down just about every Lynden Christian player in their path as they chewed up 304 yards on the ground, and another 40 through the air, for 344 yards of total offense on the night.
That’s despite taking the field without several players in the lineup because of a recent disciplinary action. Only 15 players were suited up and available for the game. But the drop in numbers was surpassed by determination of those on the gridiron, Head Coach Darrin Scheffer said.
“It’s that age-old thing of playing against adversity and rising to the occasion,” Scheffer said. “We went into the game with the mindset of, ‘Let’s enjoy every minute of this game,’ and they did just that. Having the kids walk off the field wanting to play more, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the season.”
With the victory, the Wolverines avenged a bitter loss at home in overtime to Lynden Christian earlier in the season. They ended a three-game skid and matched their record, at 4-5, of a year ago. They also notched their first victory of the season over a 1A-caliber opponent.
It took time for the lopsided win to develop. But after taking a 7-0 lead into the locker room at the half, the Wolverines scored two quick touchdowns in the third period and led 21-0 before the Lyncs got on the scoreboard.
But any hope Lynden Christian had of a comeback vanished when senior Michael Knowles chased down a missed snap by the Lyncs early in the final period and raced 81 yards for a touchdown.
Senior running back Mike Short posted the team’s final TD with a long run from scrimmage late in the final quarter. Senior Austin Scheffer gained 111 yards on nine carries and tallied a touchdown in his final game in purple and gold.
“It was neat seeing the seniors all having a chance to score,” Coach Scheffer said.
While the offense feasted, the Friday Harbor defense was more than stingy, limiting the Lyncs to a mere 36 yards rushing, 150 yards of total offense, and a single touchdown over 48 minutes of play.
Lynden Christian struggled offensively after losing leading rusher Niels Brisbane to injury just before the half. The Wolverines’ secondary also picked off two passes.
“The defense really stepped it up,” Scheffer said. “We made some changes defensively from the last game and this time had kids in the right positions.”
Friday Harbor quarterback Roy Taylor had 81 yards on 19 carries and tallied two rushing TDs. He connected on 6-of-11 pass attempts for 40 yards, with one interception. Junior Mike Ausilio led the receiving corps with two catches for a total of 19 yards.
“The kids were just so pumped up,” Scheffer said. “I know everyone would like to be playing again, but that was a great way for it to end.”
