The Orcas Viking football team’s playoff hopes are still alive after they crushed the Concrete Lions 48-27 in a must-win game at home on Oct. 29.
The game was special not only because a Vikings loss would have ended their hopes of returning to post-season play for the third straight year, but it was also the last home game for the seniors as well as “Coach” Dennis Dahl‘s final game on Orcas. After 22 years of coaching, Dahl is retiring.
Concrete started strong with an opening drive resulting in a Tyler Clark 23-yard run and a 7-0 lead just 2 minutes into the game.
The Vikings responded quickly as Robbie Padbury hit Devon Stanzione with a 48-yard touchdown pass just 1:38 minutes later. A fumble by Clark killed the Lions’ next drive. Punishing runs by Padbury and Jake Zier set up a Padbury 28-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Phalan, making the score 12-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Vikings defense stiffened and six minutes later Padbury hit Phalan again, this time with a 5-yard touchdown pass. A two point conversion made the score 20-7 with 6 minutes left in the half.
Concrete responded with a 3-yard run by Clark, but a failed two-point conversion left the score 20-13 with 3:50 to go before halftime.
Any doubts about a Viking victory were silenced as the Orcas quick strike offense lived up to their reputation just 42 seconds later. Stanzione pulled in a 52-yard touchdown pass from Padbury and converted soccer star Jack Russillo kicked the extra point. It was the sophomore’s first ever football game. The crowd cheered a Viking 27-13 lead.
The Vikings were not done; Padbury weaved his way for a 21-yard touchdown run with 1:21 still to play in the half. Another extra point for Russillo left the stunned Lions looking up at a 34-13 halftime deficit.
On their first drive of the third quarter Padbury connected with Phalan for 22 yards and 19 yards to Stanzione. Zier and the offensive line did the rest as the fullback pounded the final three yards into the end zone and a 41-13 lead for Orcas. Three minutes later Padbury scrambled and found Stanzione in the end zone from 10 yards away. Russillo converted again and the Vikings had an insurmountable 48-13 lead.
The crowd celebrated the seniors and the rest of the Orcas varsity who had poured 36 points on the visitors in 18 minutes of play.
The Orcas defense put the final nail in the Concrete coffin when Aubrey Schermerhorn made a diving interception after a great defensive play by Padbury, who had tipped the ball away from Clark in the Lions’ end zone.
In the fourth quarter Lion freshman Jordan Ebbinghausen scooped up a fumble and sped 95 yards with 9 minutes left, while Tyler Kales scored with 2 minutes left, bringing the final score to 48-27.
Di Mowry and Zier had 10 tackles each, and Stanzione had 15.
The Vikings rolled up 550 total yards of offense, with the bulk of it coming in the second and third quarters.
Padbury was 14-21 passing for 301 yards and 5 touchdowns
Zier rumbled for 109 yards on the ground and 1 touchdown while Padbury added 114 yards rushing and one touchdown
Stanzione had 178 receiving and 3 touchdowns while Phalan hauled in 7 passes for 103 yards and two early scores.
“We did not want to miss the chance to perform well in front of the home crowd for the seniors last game on Dahl Field,” said head coach Scott Harris. “I am so proud of their determination and focus. It wasn’t until we pulled them back early in the fourth quarter that the scoring blitz slowed down. This day belonged to the seniors. We were just like everyone else, enjoying watching them do their thing.”
The Vikings play at La Conner on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m. The winner will secure second place in the Northwest/SeaTac League.
