Zoren Yabao. Michael Corfman. Weston Whitefoot. D’Andre Bellamy. Sam Zook.
Those names – the names of the Oak Harbor High School starting offensive linemen – don’t often pop up in stories covering the Wildcat football games. They should.
For the second consecutive game, Oak Harbor running backs averaged over 10 yards per carry – the latest, a 49-6 thrashing of Stanwood on homecoming night Friday, Oct. 16, at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.
The Wildcats (3-1, 4-2) close out the Wesco North season at Marysville-Pilchuck (3-1, 4-3) at 7 p.m. next Friday. The past three seasons, the conference finale with the Tomahawks determined the division champion. This year’s game mostly likely won’t, but it could have an impact on who qualifies for the postseason.
In addition to the playoff intrigue, the game will stir emotions at a greater level.
Last year’s contest was canceled because of the shooting deaths at Marysville-Pilchuck; this year’s game will be one day before the anniversary of the tragedy.
“I don’t know what to expect with all the emotions surrounding the game,” Oak Harbor head coach Jay Turner said.
The acts of sportsmanship by both schools at that time bonded the teams and brought national recognition.
If Arlington (4-0, 6-1) defeats Everett (1-3, 4-3) next Friday, it will wrap up the North title. If Arlington loses, the winner of the Oak Harbor/M-P game will finish in a tie for first. The Eagles, however, will receive the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs because they defeated both Oak Harbor and Marysville-Pilchuck.
The Wildcats and Tomahawks are most likely playing for second and third place. The second-place team is guaranteed a berth in the play-in round of the state tournament. The third-place team may have to defeat the third-place team from the Wesco South to get in. That all depends on how Ferndale fits into the playoff picture, which won’t be clear for at least another week.
Thanks to gaping holes provided by Yabao, Corfman, Whitefoot, Bellamy and Zook and the will of the running backs, the Wildcats rushed for 469 yards on 32 carries in the win over Stanwood.
The line also provided protection for quarterback Tyler Snavely, who didn’t throw often but had an impressive game. The senior completed four of five passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Six of Oak Harbor’s seven touchdowns covered 37 yards or more.
Much of the night, Stanwood couldn’t get out of its own way. The Spartans mounted several nice drives, but three interceptions (two in the end zone) and major penalties thwarted their offensive efforts.
The Wildcats scored in each of their first five possessions to lead 35-0 at halftime.
It started when Princeton Lollar took a short pass from Snavely, received a bone-crunching block from Fred Miller and ran 37 yards to the end zone. Eric Jensen began his busy kicking night by hitting the point-after to make it 7-0.
On Oak Harbor’s next play, Savion Passmore sprinted 82 yards for a touchdown; he also had an 82-yarder last week.
Lollar then scored twice from long distance on runs of 41 and 37 yards. The second came early in the second quarter and featured a trail of would-be tacklers.
The junior fullback finished with 160 yards on 16 carries.
The next drive took only two plays, rushes of nine and 56 yards by Mac Carr.
Stanwood started the second half with a punt that pinned the Wildcats at their own two-yard line. Oak Harbor ended up punting from its end zone, and Stanwood started its lone scoring drive at the Oak Harbor 30.
After the Spartan score, the Wildcats, who ran only 14 plays in the second half, went back to adding to their lead.
Dyllan Harris scored from the 11 with just over a minute left in the third quarter.
On the third play of Oak Harbor’s next possession, the Wildcats finished the scoring when Mac Nuanez bolted through the line for a 75-yard TD run.
The Oak Harbor defense was led by the interceptions of Harris, Diangelo McKinney and Andrew Miller, and the sacks by Zook and Zane Stein.
Stanwood finished with 283 yards of total offense.
Passmore rushed for 89 yards on five carries, and Harris added 64 yards on five carries.
Coming into the season, one of Turner’s major concerns was the offensive line, which took a big hit from graduation.
The inexperienced line is now one of the team’s strengths.
“There should be two more names added to that list: coaches Peter Esvelt and Jim Coleman,” he said. “They’ve done a nice job with those kids all year long.”
The game was played before a large home crowd, including a impressive and engaged OHHS student section.
After the win, the students rushed the field to join the team, forming a big “O” at the 50-yard line. There the Wildcats continued the tradition of dancing the Hokey Pokey after a homecoming win.
Surely, Yabao, Corfman, Whitefoot, Bellamy and Zook were in the thick of it.
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Below, from top, Sam Zook (73), D’Andre Bellemay (61) and Weston Whitefoot open a hole for an Oak Harbor runner. Second, Diangelo McKinney intercepts a pass. Third, defensive lineman Zoren Yabao gets ready to attack. Fourth, Michael Corfman (57) and Kevin Reyes (66) make a tackle. Photos by John Fisken.
