By Mike Martin
Sports reporter
The Wolverines opened conference play against the Lions on Friday, Sept. 29 in Concrete, Washington. The Friday Harbor football team lost, 20-27.
The Lions had been facing a difficult season as they were sitting at a 0-5 season while Friday Harbor 3-1 hadn’t lost a game since their season-opening 1-point loss to South Whidbey.
It looked like the difference would come down to two perfectly placed long touchdown passes from Concrete quarterback Peyton Sanchez to Tyler Nevin but it was Sanchez’s legs that provided the final score of 27-20.
Friday Harbor’s offense struggled early against the Lions’ two massive run-stuffing tackles. The Wolverines only managed 3 yards on their first 3 plays from scrimmage and went three-and-out. The Lions used two long pass plays of 65 yards and 35 yards (unofficially) from Sanchez to Nevin as the Lions took a 14-0 lead.
The Wolverines responded with an 8-play, 44-yard drive of their own. The touchdown was set up by a 27-yard pass completion from Wolverine’s quarterback Jayden Jones to Brian Wolf. Emeron Geiser from two yards out put Friday Harbor onto the scoreboard. The extra point was blocked. The score was 19-6 in favor of Concrete heading into halftime.
After a failed on-sides kick Concrete drove deep into Wolverine territory but were turned away when Brian Wolf picked off Peyton Wolf in the end zone. After spinning their offensive wheels in the first half against the Lions’ defense Wolverines Coach Brock Hauck moved Geiser to fullback and Kyson Jackson to tailback and opened up the passing game a bit more than in previous games.
In the second half, the Wolverines stretched the field horizontally and Jackson repeatedly found cut-back lanes for big gains and the Wolverines began chipping away at the 13-point deficit. The Wolverines converted the Wolf interception into points as they ground out a 14-play and 80-yard drive.
On the drive, the Wolverines twice converted on the fourth down including Jackson’s 7-yard scamper for a TD. With Geiser’s two-point conversion the Wolverines trailed 19-14. Friday Harbor’s defense continually turned away the Lions.
On their next possession, the Wolverine offense mixed power runs by Geiser, stretch plays by Jackson, and passes by Jones to drive 57 yards in just 5 plays. The scoring drive was capped off by a Geiser two-yard touchdown as the Wolverines took the lead 20-19. The two-point conversion was no good.
Concrete reclaimed the lead on a 27-yard run by Sanchez and a two-point conversion to go up 27-20 late in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines used the final minutes of the game to drive down to the Lions’ goal line only to be turned away as the clock expired.
The Wolverines travel to Highline High School in Burien, Oct. 5. Tiny Radio will carry all of the action live beginning at 4:30 p.m. at fhTinyRadio.com at 1460 AM in downtown Friday Harbor.
Contributed photo / John K. Stimpson Wolverine Connor Haines, 29, and others are in on the tackle of a Lion’s ball carrier.
Contributed photo / John k. Stimpson Wolverine Jordan Lawson, 14, is on the run to receive a pass for a much needed yardage gain.
Contributed photo / John K. Stimpson Wolverine Kyson Jackson, 22, slows down a Lion’s ball carrier with additional help coming from Gavin Mason, 53.
Contributed photo / John K. Stimpson Wolverine Emeron Geiser, 41, makes for an opening as Matro Blackmon, 42, blocks the Lion’s defense.
Contributed photo / John K. Stimpson Wolverine Kyson Jackson, 22, drives to within 5 yards of the goal line. The team is watching with anticipation!
Contributed photo / John K. Stimpson Emeron keeps on running with a Lion’s defender hanging on
