BLAINE – It was a classic battle of old-school versus new-school. Ferndale ran the ball 51 times, and Arlington put the ball in the air 51 times. The Eagles also held the lead for 90% of the game, but it was the Golden Eagles that proved that old-school can still work as they won 27-24 on Saturday night at Blaine High School.
Already without senior fullback/linebacker J.J. Nowak, senior tight end/linebacker Jordan Mason and junior quarterback/safety Conner Walcker to start the game, Ferndale had to dig into the reserves from the get-go.
The Golden Eagles looked to sophomore Talan Bungard to start on both sides where Nowak would be. Junior Jacob Mattingley (who can play offensive line, or running back) was inserted at tight end to replace Mason, and junior Bishop Ootsey, who started game one at quarterback, was ready to take control behind center.
After an even first quarter, Arlington continued to use a quick-strike offense to put up 10 more points in the second quarter.
Senior running back Isaiah Carlson, who scored a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, was going to be relied upon heavily after Bungard went down late in the second quarter after returning an interception 39 yards into Eagle territory.
Bungard’s injury was costly, with Ferndale down two fullbacks, but his heroic play helped set up Carlson, who moved to fullback for a short while, score his second touchdown of the game, this time from 23 yards out.
An injury to Carlson in the third quarter looked to weaken Ferndale’s chances even more. Now down three fullbacks, and behind 17-12, it wasn’t looking good for the Golden Eagles. That was when reserve Kleaveland Atwood entered the game to play fullback, and the 5-foot-7 160-pound junior used every ounce of what he had to spark his team, and keep the backfield warm for when Carlson could re-enter.
Atwood gained 22 yards on four carries, but more importantly, gained the utmost confidence in his coaches to be called upon when needed.
Carlson did enter the game a few possessions later, but by that time Arlington had scored again to take a 24-12 lead going into the fourth quarter.
This was when Carlson showed how much more he had in the tank.
The 220-pound senior blasted through the middle of the line over and over again to set up two touchdown drives late, both of which were ran in by Ootsey. Carlson finished the game with 153 yards on 22 carries.
The Arlington passing game began to struggle late in the contest, and couldn’t connect on 4th down when it was needed most, with little time remaining.
Most of the evening, the Eagle quarterback was being chased around by senior defensive end Jake Mason, who had an incredible night with four sacks, and two passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage.
Also, when he registered his fourth quarterback sack of the game, to an enormous roar of the crowd, he broke the Whatcom County career record for sacks, with 28. He passed Meridian’s Steve Bernardy who’s record stood for 26 years.
It may not have been the same crazy ending that these two teams gave us last fall, but it was still one that will be remembered for quite a while.
The Golden Eagles (2-2) will continue conference play on Friday night at Marysville-Pilchuck (3-1) when they take on the Tomahawks at 7:00.
Ferndale 27 Arlington 24 ARL 7 10 7 0 - 24 FER 6 6 0 15 - 27 ARL - 6 yard touchdown pass (kick good) FER - Carlson 4 run (kick failed) ARL - 27 yard touchdown pass (kick good) ARL - 38 yard field goal FER - Carlson 23 run (run failed) ARL - 18 yard touchdown pass FER - Ootsey 6 run (Finkbonner kick) FER - Ootsey 1 run (Nielsen run) ARL FER 14-74 Rush Att-Yards 51-235 31-51-1 Comp-Att-Int 4-8-1 329 Passing Yards 33 Individual Leaders RUSHING - ARL: N/A. FER: Carlson 22-153, Nielsen 6-39, Atwood 4-22, Smith 3-19, Ootsey 10-11, Moore 2-8, Bungard 3-4, Finkbonner 1-(-21). PASSING - ARL: N/A. FER: Ootsey 4-8-1-33. RECEIVING - ARL: N/A. FER: Carlson 2-17, Toney 1-15, Smith 1-11.
