Wildcats rout Spartans 45-7

Homecoming 2007 was not a pleasant experience at Stanwood High School.

The Spartans were no match for the WesCo North league-leading and

currently fifth-ranked in the class 4A Washington state coaches high school football poll Oak Harbor Wildcats, and were soundly defeated 45-7.

The victory keeps Oak Harbor undefeated at 5-0 in league games and

6-0 overall. Stanwood's WesCo North record fell to 1-5.

Oak Harbor ran and passed the ball almost at will against the

Stanwood defense taking a 14-0 lead after the first quarter of play on a 20-yard Johnny Encinas to Jake Rouser pass at the 5:33 mark and a 3-yard run by Donovan Hunt with 1:03 showing on the clock.

In the second period, Kevin Flavin booted a 30-yard field goal at the 2:32 mark for the only scoring. The kick gave the Wildcats a 17-0 halftime advantage.

In the third quarter, Wildcats scored early on a 45-yard touchdown

strike from Encinas to Rodrick Rumble to make the score 24-0.

Stanwood responded on the ensuing series of downs scoring on a 15-

yard touchdown scamper by C.J. Tolbert.

Undaunted, Oak Harbor mounted an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 25-yard Encinas to Rouser touchdown pass upping the lead to 31-7 at the end of three quarters of play.

Oak Harbor dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball the entire game and put two more touchdowns on the board in the

fourth quarter.

Chris Valencia scored on a 2-yard run on the first play of the final quarter and Encinas hooked up with Michael Bell from 14 yards out

with 8:06 remaining in the game.

Encinas passed for four touchdowns and Bell has now caught a scoring pass in all six games this season.

Oak Harbor faces a test next Friday, hosting Lake Stevens in the

first-ever homecoming game played at the new Wildcat Memorial Stadium.

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