When the final story is written about the 2010 Orcas Vikings football team, Oct. 29 will certainly be remembered as one of the most thrilling games of the season. Players and fans will return to game nine to relive the details of the 27-20 victory at Concrete. The game secured an 8-1 season record for the Vikings.
Orcas arrived in Concrete on “Senior Night’ with the prospect of facing Hall of Fame head coach Ron Rood, all star running back Kyler Howell and a powerful Lions team loaded with seniors sporting an undefeated record in league. Howell is on the verge of breaking both the Skagit Valley all-time total yards and touchdown records. The Vikings defense was not about to allow it to happen on their watch!
A win over the Vikings would also lock up the league championship and a number one seed in the state playoffs for the Lions.
“We knew we were going up against great players and a great coaching staff,” said Coach Scott Harris. “As the week progressed our confidence grew and grew. Everyone involved in the team had worked hard all week to get us into a position to win.”
As the game unfolded the defenses dominated on both sides of the ball. The first quarter ended with no score. The battle was clearly on. Early in the second quarter Howell busted loose for a 21 yard TD run and a 7-0 lead for the Lions. The Vikings answered quickly with a long drive of their own culminating in a 34 yard TD run by quarterback Robbie Padbury. The extra point tied the score at 7-7.
Orcas had momentum as they held the Lions on the next two plays after the kickoff. The Lions faced a third down and 18 from their own 15 yard line when Concrete receiver D.J. Mitchell got behind the Orcas secondary for an 85 yard catch and run for the second Concrete touchdown and a 14-7 lead at halftime.
“At halftime the coaching staff realized we needed to turn it up a notch,” Harris said. “But the conviction and passion really came from the kids. We could hardly keep them in the locker room. Senior Jacob Hansen’s words “The third quarter is ours” as the team was about to return to the field was met instantly with cheers from the team.”
The Vikings held true to their halftime vow to each other and came out dominating the bewildered Lion’s defense. A combination of runs and passes lead to an 11 yard TD pass by Padbury to Michael Langworthy to even the score at 14. The Vikings pinned the Lions back after the kickoff, followed by a critical fumble recovery by tackle Tyler Jensen inside the Concrete five-yard line. A one-yard run by Aubrey Schermerhorn made the score 20-14. But a missed extra point gave the Lions hope.
The Lions’ special teams responded on the ensuing kickoff by returning the ball 70 yards to inside the Vikings 10 yard line. Two plays later Howell scored his second TD of the night, but the Lions missed their extra point attempt, leaving the score tied at 20-20.
The Vikings fought back as Padbury finished off a 65 yard drive with a one yard run to pull ahead 27-20. After Devon Stanzione recovered a fumble at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Orcas ground game took over.
“Seniors Michael Langworthy and Jacob Hansen along with the offensive line were workhorses for us on that drive,” Harris said. The Vikings controlled the ball for the next eight minutes of the fourth quarter. Controversy broke out at the end of the drive as what looked like a 22 yard touchdown catch to most observers on the Orcas side by wide receiver Keenan Phalan was ruled incomplete.
“That is a call that could have gone either way,” Harris said. “It was a great individual effort by our quarterback and receiver. That catch would have sealed the victory, but instead created a situation for our defense to step up for the last four minutes and make a critical stop against a very good offense.” The fourth down stop gave the home team one more chance to rally. The experienced Lions wasted no time in methodically moving the ball downfield with a well designed combination of passes and running plays. The Viking defense found themselves with their backs to the goal line, as well as an eerie fog that was suddenly rolling onto the field off the river behind them.
The final drive for Concrete was one that may have easily ended in heartbreak for the Vikings. The Lions seemed to be on the verge of tying and possibly winning the game when, with just 2:15 left to play, cornerback Keenan Phalan emerged from the mist that had now begun to envelop the field to intercept a pass in front of the Concrete bench, killing the Lion’s hopes of a comeback. Padbury and the rest of the Viking offense celebrated as they took a knee, leaving the Lions shocked and dazed as time ran out.
“Controlling both lines of scrimmage was the key to this win,” said Harris after the game. “We told the guys that heart was going to win this game and it proved to be true.”
Orcas finished the game with 330 yards total offense.
Padbury had a career night with 21 rushes for 121 yards and 2 TDs while adding 6-11 passing and one TD pass to his stats.
Michael Langworthy had four catches for 100 yards with one TD and 47 yards rushing
Aubrey Schermerhorn had three carries for 13 yards one TD while Jacob Hansen bulled his way to 31 yards on 10 carries.
The defense was lead by Justin Leidecker’s 16 tackles. Jacob Hansen and Tyler Jensen had nine tackles each.
“Our balanced attack made the difference. Jacob Hansen’s tough work up the middle softened the edges for us. On defense we held a powerful Concrete running game to just 16 yards in the second half,” Harris noted. “As a coach it is always great to put these kinds of wins in the books. All of the off season work has paid dividends. This was a full team effort. Everyone from the coaching staff to the second team guys worked their tails off and was involved in the win. The fan support was huge. The boys are very aware of their family and friends being there for them, especially in such a hostile environment so far from home,” Harris said.
Orcas could wrap up the league title and a number one seed in the state playoffs with a victory against the La Conner Braves Thursday, Nov. 4, a home game at 1 p.m.
