By Jim Waller
Contributing writer
The Oak Harbor High School football team’s new offensive scheme debuted Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium, but it failed to get a curtain call in the end zone as the Wildcats fell to Cascade 15-0 in the nonconference season opener for both teams.
Two lost fumbles, two interceptions, several errant center snaps, and the lack of a running game (Oak Harbor rushed 8 yards), contributed to the Wildcats’ struggle to mount any consistent offensive push out of its version of the spread offense.
Oak Harbor threatened just once, reaching the Cascade 20 late in the game, but an errant center snap on fourth down doomed the drive and any chance of winning.
Oak Harbor’s second-year head coach Jay Turner said, “We couldn’t get any flow (offensively). There was no rhythm.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Fisher noted that Oak Harbor finally found “some tempo” that final drive.
While the Wildcat offense struggled, the Oak Harbor defense held its own with a generally successful bend-but-not-break effort, three times stopping the Bruins on fourth down plays.
Both Cascade touchdowns came on short-field drives. The first began on the Oak Harbor 37 in the first quarter and the second on the 25 in the fourth. The Bruins had just 22 passing yards, but did grind out 240 on the ground. Seniors Rashaad Smith (nine tackles) and Alec Castillo (six tackles and a fumble recovery) led the Wildcat defense. Turner added that senior Nick Rouser “gave Cascade fits.”
Senior Clarence Lamont, making his first start at quarterback, hit 16 of 29 passes for 112 yards and two interceptions. Fisher praised Lamont’s leadership and said, “Even when things weren’t going great and he was getting hit, he never showed a lot of emotions and kept on trying to rally the guys.”
Turner lauded junior Josh Higbee for his offensive efforts, seven receptions for 46 yards and several hard-hitting returns. Senior Donovan Hunt had six receptions for 52 yards.
Turner said, “We will get better. There’s a few adjustments that we are going to make that we think will help. We have some new faces on the offensive line and they will get better the more they play together.”
Fisher added, “We have to get more aggressive on the offensive line. Right now we are just playing a little too passive.” Fisher said part of the poor showing by the rushing attack was because he got away from the run game. “I should have tried more (running plays) in the third and fourth quarters when I noticed Cascade was getting tired.”
Oak Harbor plays its home and league opener this Friday at Wildcat Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. against Monroe. The Bearcats were picked in the preseason coaches’ poll to finish last in the Wesco North (one spot behind Oak Harbor), but steamrolled Shorewood 50-6 last Friday and amassed 285 rushing yards in the process. Tyler Layson piled up 130 yards on only six carries and scored three touchdowns, one from 51 yards out. Joe Kim added 99 yards on just five carries, one a 50-yard TD.
