Vikings football traveled to Friday Harbor last week for the Island Cup, the highly anticipated tug-of-war between islands to settle who earns bragging rights and a trophy. Friday Harbor, a class 1A school and touting a strong team, won 41-0 against the class 2B Vikings in a game that demonstrated the toughness of the Orcas players against a massive opponent.

Armed with boisterous fans lining the Orcas sidelines, the undaunted Viking team proudly took the field with only 16 suited players, including three freshmen with minimal football experience, against a 43-plus Wolverine team that included 18 juniors and seniors. This year for the Vikings the game was not for the Island Cup, it was for survival. The diminutive and undersized Orcas team had beat the Wolverines two years in a row with smaller, undersized teams, and Friday Harbor remembered.

At the end of the second half, the Wolverines managed a 20-0 lead from both passing and rushing touchdowns. Despite every Viking playing both defense and offense, the vigilant Vikings still managed strong drives and tight defense. Juniors Joe Kostechko and Keenan O’Brien and freshman Kyle Masters and Pasha Bullock gained true battle experience with the most adverse conditions they had ever played in.

Sophomore starters Demitri Pence, Joey Susol and Jay Zier filled key roles in both offense and defense and displayed the tough demeanor coach Scott Harris instills in his players. Harris was especially proud of his seniors, Danile Briggs, Spencer Crow, Rylan Date, Di Mowrey, Jack Russillo, Devon Stanzione and Jake Zier, who took on leadership and lead them all to battle.