Prior to the beginning of the 2008 high school football season, Oak

Harbor head coach Jay Turner said Snohomish would have the biggest

linemen of any team the Wildcats would face this year and his

prediction proved to be true.

Friday night, the Panthers brought their huge offensive and defensive lines to a rainy Wildcat Memorial Stadium and defeated Oak Harbor 14-7 in WesCo North football action.

Both squads entered the game with 2-2 season records, the Panthers 1-1 in league games while the Wildcats were 1-0 with a win over Monroe.

Snohomish held the Wildcats to three plays and out on their first

series of downs and took possession of the football at its own 39-yard line after the punt.

Halfback Ray Purviance broke off a 46-yard run on the Panthers first

play from scrimmage and two plays later, quarterback Braden Allen

scored from 14 yards out. Conner Moe added the extra point to give

Snohomish a 7-0 lead with 9:18 showing on the clock.

The Panthers maintained their lead until the 9:44 mark of the second

quarter when Allen hooked up with Cameron Woosley on a 17-yard

touchdown pass and Moe’s extra point made the score 14-0.

Trailing 14-0 at halftime, the Wildcats went to work in the third

quarter surrendering no first downs and forcing the Panthers to punt

the football three times.

Taking possession of the ball at their own 48-yard line, the Wildcats put together an eight-play drive and with 11:07 remaining in the

fourth quarter, quarterback J Jordan scampered in the end zone from 5 yards out and Kevin Flavin’s extra-point kick cut the lead in half.

Oak Harbor’s defense rose to the occasion late in the game giving the Wildcat offense one last chance when Rashaad Smith recovered a fumble at Oak Harbor’s 15-yard line with 3:21 remaining.

The Wildcats managed to get a first down but after a short gain by

Stephen Lewis and two incomplete passes, they were looking at a

fourth and eight situation from their own 27-yard line.

Turner called a time out with 1:10 left in the game to set up a final play, but the snap from center sailed over Jordan’s head and Snohomish took the ball over on downs and ran the clock out.

Oak Harbor (1-1 league, 2-3 overall) travels to Stanwood Oct. 10 to

play the Spartans. Kickoff is set for a 7 p.m.