In a game with a wild and unorthodox finish, Arlington defeated the visiting Oak Harbor High School football team 48-42 in overtime Friday, Oct. 5.

The loss was the first in six games for eighth-ranked Oak Harbor, but it is hard to call it an upset.

Arlington was the preseason favorite but suffered injuries to key players and came into the game with a 3-2 record.

One of the losses came a week ago to Marysville Getchell when the Eagles played without starting quarterback Anthony Whitis. How much the talented QBs means to Arlington was evident in its win over the Wildcats.

Whitis completed 22 of 43 passes for 367 yards and six touchdowns; he also threw for a pair of two-points conversions.

In addition, Whitis rushed 17 times for 79 yards. All other Eagles combined for 35 yards on nine carries.

Despite the loss, Oak Harbor can still capture the division title if it wins its final two regular season games. The Wildcats (3-1, 5-1) play at Marysville-Getchell (2-3, 2-4) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, and then finish at home with Squalicum (3-1, 5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19.

Two wins and Oak Harbor takes first; two losses and the Wildcats could drop as far as fifth.

Oak Harbor, Squalicum and Marysville-Pilchuck are all 3-1, Arlington is 3-2 and Marysville Getchell 2-3.

Arlington 48, Oak Harbor 42

The game was close throughout — neither team led by more than one possession all night.

It also featured opposite offensive philosophies. While Air Arlington threw for 367 yards, Oak Harbor passed for only 34 but ran for 413.

Dorian Hardin sliced the Eagle defense for 173 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns, Caden Leckelt ran for 117 on 23 carries for one score, and Aaron Martinez finished with 91 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns.

Leckelt, however, sat out the fourth quarter.

Regulation ended in unusual fashion.

In the final minutes, Oak Harbor, leading 35-34, drove inside the Arlington 10. Arlington then tried to allow the Wildcats to score to get the ball back. The Oak Harbor runner, however, went down on purpose to keep the ball out of the Eagles’ hands. On the next play, the Eagles held up the Oak Harbor runner and pushed him into the end zone.

Jake Mitten kicked his sixth straight extra point and Oak Harbor led 42-34 with 1:09 left.

Arlington then when 80 yards in less than a minute for a TD and two-point conversion, tying the game at 42.

Overtime wasn’t without controversy. Oak Harbor had first possession and appeared to complete a pass for a first down on fourth-and-five. The officials, however, ruled Hardin did not have possession as he went out of bounds.

Whitis then tossed a 22-yard scoring pass in OT for the win.

While Whitis was the obvious star, he had plenty of help at the receiving end. Griffin Gardoski caught 12 passes for 152 yards and five touchdowns. Joey Stretch snagged five passes for 146 yards and a score.

“It was a back and forth game that was very exciting,” Oak Harbor coach Jay Turner said, “Unfortunately, things did not go in our favor, but the kids played their hearts out. We still control out own destiny, so now it’s important to learn from our mistakes and getting ready to play MG.”