Tyler Nigretto completes a pass from Robbie Padbury in the second quarter
The Vikings held their Friday Harbor rivals, the Wolverines, to a 14-14 tie in the historic Island Cup, but in the overtime drives of the game, the Wolverines scored, while the Vikings did not.
The game was full of drama, from a late start due to the refs being on a slow-going ferry, to a helicopter landing just off the field to transport a Friday Harbor player off the field before the second half started. The player reported a sore neck and tingling in his feet and legs right at the end of the first half.
The Orcas community filled the stands and the sidelines as they cheered on some thrilling passes, fierce tackles and dramatic catches and interceptions.
In an early drive of the first quarter, Friday Harbor scored. The return Orcas drive ended when Robbie Padbury, Orcas quarterback, was sacked.
The second quarter began with Friday Harbor dropping the kick-off return, and Michael Langworthy scored a touchdown for the Vikings.
On a later Orcas drive, the first down was short by inches, and Friday Harbor’s return drive scored a touchdown.
Later that quarter, Padbury threw a long pass to Tyler Nigretto, who carried the ball to the 11-yard line, before he was stopped by an illegal hit to the head. The ref warned the offending player, but in the next play, Friday Harbor intercepted the ball in Orcas’ end zone, and began their drive from the 20 yard line.
After the half, the Wolverine drive was stopped with definitive tackles by Nigretto, Taylor Diepenbrock and Josh Griffin. On fourth down, the pass was intercepted by Diepenbrock for a turnover.
Bredouw evades Wolverine tackles for a first down.
Henri Bredouw then advanced the ball further down the field for another first down.
As the fourth quarter started, the Vikings still trailed 7-14, but on a Friday Harbor drive, Nigretto made a bone-rattling tackle followed by a Josh Griffin interception.
After an impressive pass from Padbury, Diepenbrock ran into the end zone, resulting in a 14-14 tie score with 4:18 minutes to go.
The Wolverines drove for all they were worth, but with 10 yards and 3 seconds to go in regular time, they failed to complete their final pass attempt. The resulting field goal attempt fell short by just enough to ensure overtime play.
Overtime play involves each team having the opportunity to score on the regular four downs. No time is kept, and if a first down is completed, play continues normally.
The bitter truth is that Friday Harbor scored a touchdown on a long diagonal run into the end zone, while Orcas was stopped in their attempt to even the score.
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