Wildcats whip Tomahawks

"The Oak Harbor Wildcats have been waiting all year to put together a complete game, and they did that Friday at Memorial Stadium by blowing away Marysville-Pilchuck 49-7."

“All cylinders.The Oak Harbor Wildcats have been waiting all year to put together a complete game, and they did that Friday at Memorial Stadium by blowing away Marysville-Pilchuck 49-7.“That was as good a game offensively and defensively as we’ve played in a long time,” Oak Harbor coach Dave Ward said.Offense: Count the the ways Oak Harbor cranked it up, such as 1) 21 first-quarter points, as the Wildcats scored a touchdown every time they got the ball; 2) quarterback Jay Hartman went 4-for-4 passing for two touchdowns and 107 yards; 3) Kellen Ward scored four touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards; 4) Garrett Stone turned a simple slant pattern into a 45 yard pass play — just one of many memorable plays on the night.Defense: The Wildcats a) held Marysville-Pilchuck to a grand total of 18 yards rushing, with 16 carries for zero or negative yardage; b) forced two fumbles and picked off a pass, setting up a Wildcat touchdown each time; c) completely shut down the Tomahawks until garbage time, when Marysville-Pilchuck scored with 17 seconds left in the game.All cylinders. Total domination. However you want to put it.“We were fired up,” Kellen Ward said. “We were ready for this game all week.”That was apparent immediately, as the Wildcats forced Marysville-Pilchuck into a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. Stone made two flying tackles from his safety slot, dropping Tomahawk running back Garrett DeBoer for losses both times.When the Wildcats got the ball they marched it downfield quickly. A Ward 31-yard scamper set up a Teo Cheeseboro 1-yard touchdown run. Jesse Barker added the point after — Barker was a perfect 7-for-7 on extra point conversion for the night — and it was off to the races.When Oak Harbor’s Scott Gentry separated Tomahawk quarterback Adam Pyne from the ball on the next series, Mark Cornelius recovered the fumble for the Wildcats. Two plays later, Doug Cann scored on a three yard run.On the next Marysville-Pilchuck possession, a Pyne pass was tipped in the flat by Wildcat linebacker Brent Lang, then picked off by defensive back Brian Lang, who returned it 20 yards to the Tomahawk 10. Four plays later, Hartman connected with Stone on a 6 yard touchdown pass. And so on.Other highlights of the night included Jeremy Morgan runs of 16 and 22 yards; a picture perfect 33-yard screen pass from Hartman to Ward that went for a touchdown; a Brent Lang-to-Morgan 17 yard pass play; a 38-yard Tony Hall kick return; and a Brent Waller sack.It was the last home game of the season. Oak Harbor (5-2 overall, 4-2 in league play) visits Snohomish next Friday and travels to Kamiak the following week. Both are tough opponents, but Stone and his teammates feel like they’re playing their best football of the year.“We’re looking good going into our last two games,” the senior said. “We’re getting stronger.”OAK HARBOR 49, MARYSVILLE-PILCHUCK 7MP 0 0 0 7 — 7OH 21 7 14 7 — 49First quarterOH: Cheeseboro 1 yard run (Barker kick) 6:34OH: Cann 3 yard run (Barker kick) 3:32OH: Stone 6 yard pass from Hartman (Barker kick) 1:14Second quarterOH: Ward 7 yard run (Barker kick) 1:36Third quarterOH: Ward 2 yard run (Barker kick) 7:30OH: Ward 33 yard pass from Hartman (Barker kick) 4:56Fourth quarterOH: Ward 1 yard run (Barker kick) 11:30MP: Kreutz 16 yard pass from Swobody (Johnson kick) :17”