Eagles fly by Wildcats / Football

Taking advantage of good field position all night, the Arlington High School football team defeated Oak Harbor 43-8 Friday, Oct. 11, at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.

The Eagles raised their Wesco North record to 4-1 (5-1 overall) as Oak Harbor fell to 0-4 (1-5).

The Wildcats face another scuffling team, Marysville Getchell (1-3, 1-4), in the final regular season home game at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.

The Chargers have had a tough-luck season, losing by only two points to Wesco South leader Shorecrest in a crossover game and by only one to Arlington a week ago.

While Arlington struggled to get by Getchell, it took it to Oak Harbor, scoring in five of its first six possessions.

The average spot for the start of the Eagles’ drives was their own 46, and the average spot for the beginning of Arlington’s scoring drives was the Oak Harbor 40.

The Eagles earned those opportune starts by recovering two fumbles and a pooch kickoff or by forcing the Wildcats to punt from deep in their own territory.

The Arlington offense rolled all night, averaging more than 10 yards per play (411 total yards on 40 plays). Oak Harbor ran 12 more plays but gathered only 219 yards.

The Eagles ran for 185 yards, led by Jaden Roskelley with 115 on 13 carries; he also ran for three scores and caught a TD pass.

Four Arlington players threw passes, completing 11 of 16 for 226 yards. Trent Nobach connected on eight of 12 for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Of the 10 Eagles who carried the ball or threw a pass, nine are underclassmen.

Oak Harbor, too, had only one senior with a carry or pass.

One positive in the game, according to coach Marcus Hughes, was the Wildcats’ running game.

Oak Harbor rushed for 215 yards. Brenden Andersen had 103 yards on 14 carries and Michael Gomez collected 48 on 10.

The Wildcats’ lone scoring drive came in the fourth quarter when Oak Harbor marched 89 yards on 10 running plays, capped by Gomez’s 2-yard TD. Cameron Asinsin ran for the PAT. Anderson accounted for 57 yards on five carries during the drive.

Oak Harbor’s passing game sputtered. Two quarterbacks combined to complete only two of 11 passes for just 4 yards.

Hughes noted, however, that they did not throw an interception for the first time this season, which he called another positive in the game.

“We ask a lot of our quarterbacks,” he said. “We’re having trouble getting them going.”

Hughes stressed that the Wildcats were “playing one of the best teams in the conference” and the loss was “not because of a lack of effort.”

“We are making mistakes and suffering some growing pains,” he said. “We have four games left, and the goal is to win all four; I know we can do it. We have to be better coaches, we have to be better players.”

Brenden Andersen slips by an Arlington defender. (Photo by John Fisken)

Brenden Andersen slips by an Arlington defender. (Photo by John Fisken)

Landon Cantrell returns a kick for the Wildcats.(Photo by John Fisken)

Landon Cantrell returns a kick for the Wildcats. (Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor’s Luke Golden (11) and Gabriel Daggett (28) haul down Arlington’s Jaden Roskelley.(Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor’s Luke Golden (11) and Gabriel Daggett (28) haul down Arlington’s Jaden Roskelley. (Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor Michael Gomez (52) bulls into the heart of the Arlington defense.(Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor Michael Gomez (52) bulls into the heart of the Arlington defense. (Photo by John Fisken)

Dominic Dean picks up some yardage on a kickoff return.(Photo by John Fisken)

Dominic Dean picks up some yardage on a kickoff return. (Photo by John Fisken)

Caden Leckelt (45) tries to avoid Arlington defenders.(Photo by John Fisken)

Caden Leckelt (45) tries to avoid Arlington defenders. (Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor’s offensive line sets up for a play.(Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor’s offensive line sets up for a play. (Photo by John Fisken)