In a big game marked by big plays, none proved any bigger than Jacob Justiniano’s fumble recovery on the 1-yard that kept the Wolverines game-winning touchdown drive alive.
Unless, of course, you’re partial to the defensive side of the ball. Then it would be a sack by Friday Harbor linebacker Nate Steenkolk that dropped Lynden Christian quarterback Issac Reimer for a 6-yard loss and that effectively took the wind out of the sails of what only moments before appeared to be another score-tying drive by the Lyncs.
Either way, those two big plays, combined with several others, like C.J. Woods’ 16-yard TD pass to receiver Donald Galt on fourth-and-eight, added up to win No. 2 of the season for the Wolverines, as they out-dueled Lynden Christian 21-14 in a see-saw battle, Friday, under the lights in Friday Harbor.
“I was blocking ahead and then turned around and I saw it lying there,” Justiniano said of the drive-saving fumble recovery. “So I just grabbed it.”
Along with that all-important fumble recovery, which turned into a go-ahead touchdown when senior Micah Powell plunged into the end zone on the next play, with just three minutes remaining in the game, Justiniano came up with an interception in the first half on a pass deflected by teammate Noah Stone.
In addition to hauling in a touchdown pass that put the Wolverines out in front 14-7 at the half, Galt had a pair of interceptions, including the game-clinching pick on Reimer’s ‘Hail Mary’ pass on fourth down and a mile to go, in the closing seconds of the contest.
With the win, the Wolverines improved to 2-0 on the season, with a 21-0 shutout over Anacortes in the season opener. They also gained a leg up over the Lyncs in the 1A regional playoff race. The two teams will square off one more time this season, Oct. 26, at Lynden Christian, in the regular-season finale.
Next:
Bragging rights will be on the line when the Wolverines host Orcas in the annual inter-island grudge match, the Island Cup, Friday; kick off is 6:45 p.m. at the Friday Harbor football field.
