The Orcas Kings youth football program kicked off its season last Saturday with a ferry ride to Friday Harbor to face Oak Harbor’s Wildcats.

This year, the Kings are playing in the senior North Cascade Youth Football League with a team of 19, mostly eighth graders and a few seventh graders. They are coached by Justin Frausto and assistant coaches Dave Mierau and Roger Sandwith.

Saturday’s game started with a touchdown pass on the Kings’ first possession to Jordan Randolph 60 yards downfield. The Kings were facing a squad twice their size and numbers.

It was a tough first game. However, the Kings were victorious in the NCYFL Jamboree two weeks ago, beating both Mt. Vernon and Burlington.

The first Orcas home game is on Sept. 15 at 9:30 a.m. The Kings will face Bellingham Blue.