By Kaila Olin
Journal Contributor
Friday night under the lights at Highline High School in Burien, the Friday Harbor Wolverines defense will be looking to make a statement. After giving up 26 points total in their first four games of the season the Wolverines’ defense surrendered 27 points to the Concrete Lions last Friday night.
The winless Highline Pirates will host the Wolverines Friday, Oct, 5. Friday Harbor will try to redeem themselves after a tough 27-20 loss against the Concrete Lions on the road.
Coverage of the FHHS Wolverines at Highline Pirates begins at 4:30 p.m. on fhTinyRadio.com. Mike Martin and Kaila Olin will have the play-by-play and John Volk will provide color commentary.
Friday Harbor’s defense gave up 196 yards in the air to go along with 131 yards on the ground for a combined 327 all-purpose yards on Sept. 29.
“100 of those passing yards and 14 points came on two plays in the first half,” says Friday Harbor Tiny Radio’s play-by-play announcer, Mike Martin. “The Wolverines regrouped at the half to take the lead 20-19.”
The Lions reclaimed the lead 27-20 late in the contest. Friday Harbor drove the length of the field only to have the rally fell short as time expired with the ball inside the Concrete 5 yard line.
“Highline is a 2A school and this is a game that where the Wolverines defense can make a statement,” Martin says.
The Pirates average 7 points per game while losing by 20 or more points a game this season. The Friday Harbor defense will have their work cut out for them in facing Highling’s power run game featuring 6-foot, 2-inch, 225-pound Loucas Faletogo. However, in their 64-14 loss to the Steilacoom Sentinels, they were only able to muster 110 yards of total offense including 105 yards rushing.
Against the Lions, Friday Harbor’s quarterback Jaden Jones was sacked three times which is an area of improvement for the offensive line. The Wolverines have started off slowly offensively only averaging in the single digits in the first half. That could change for the Wolverines since they are facing a team 0-5 and gives up an average of 41 points per game.
If leading rusher Emeron Geiser is having a good day, the game could be another line night for the Pirate defense.
To return to their winning ways, the Wolverines will rely on their ground-and-pound offense and vaunted defense to make plays. With running backs Geiser and Kyson Jackson in the backfield and and downfield targets for Jaden Jones like Kaden Perez, Jordan Lawson and Will Leeming downfield, the Wolverines have enough threats make Highline defend the entire field.
It has been quite some time since the Wolverines and the Pirates faced off against each other so both teams will have an even playing field. Neither play common opponents this season nor are they in the same conference since Highline is a 2A school. The only similarity is they wear the same colors of purple and gold.
The biggest difference of the game will be who can get their offense going first and play not just one, two or three quarters, but all four. Find out who is the winner of the purple and gold showdown Friday night in Burien with kickoff at 5 p.m.
