A game for the ages
The Vikings football team just finished a run of glory that will go down in the annals of island history. Before 2010, Orcas football hadn’t won a playoff game in six years.
This year they won two, battling their way through three state playoff games to finish a stunning third place in the state, ending their run with a 28-12 loss to the South Bend Indians.
“Every football team in the state of Washington eyes the Tacoma Dome,” said coach Scott Harris. “If you play at the Tacoma Dome, you’ve had a game for the ages… I love it for the kids; these are moments they will never forget, they’ll be telling their kids about it. I played high school football and know how precious those memories are. They worked hard and they got that gift.”
Harris estimates 500 supportive Orcas Islanders showed up for the Nov. 26 game.
The Indians came out strong off the opening kick, shoving through the Viking line for a touchdown. After the teams traded possessions, South Bend landed a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion for a 14-0 score.
Michael Langworthy caught a 69-yard screen pass for a touchdown, but it was ultimately called back because of a holding penalty.
Hope glimmered in the second quarter as Rylan Date received a 54-yard pass for a touchdown and the score crept to 14-6, but the Indians soon answered back on a long drive, ending the first half at 21-6.
“We found ourselves in a deep hole,” said Harris.
In third quarter the Vikings pushed the ball to the three-yard line, but on third and goal they fumbled, and the Indians swiped it for a drive deep into Orcas territory. At the five-yard line they fumbled, handing possession to the Vikes, and the team scored on a pass to Devon Stanzione, bringing the score to 21-12.
In the fourth quarter Orcas brought the game to the Indians’ 15-yard line, but an interception thwarted the opportunity. Late in the game South Bend scored another touchdown.
“The loss hits you hard because of what might have been,” said Harris. “It was a heartbroken Viking team. They battled, and were bruised, and they left it all out on the field. As a coach that’s what you want. Wins and losses are going to come in life, but really it’s the effort you put in that becomes the great reward, overcoming adversity, giving max effort. The boys represented themselves, their school and their community well in that game.”
