FERNDALE – In a back and forth game that was up for grabs, senior Aydin O’Tool’s interception in the beginning of the third quarter gave the Golden Eagles the momentum that they needed as they went on to defeat Marysville-Pilchuck 47-28 on Friday night.
Aided by a 57-yard run by senior Conner Walcker on Ferndale’s second drive of the game, the Golden Eagles were able to score two plays later when junior fullback Talan Bungard blasted through the line, following a kick-out block by Kellan LaFave, and scored from six yards out.
The Tomahawks answered quickly by returning the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, and the extra point tied it up at 7-7.
The following Golden Eagle drive moved the chains with first down runs, but they went to the air once they crossed mid-field and Bishop Ootsey’s pass hit Walcker in stride for a 49-yard score.
Marysville-Pilchuck answered once again by scoring a 10-yard touchdown a the end of the first quarter.
Another long pass from Ootsey to Walcker set Ferndale up nicely on the following drive, and as the second quarter arrived, senior running back Phoenyx Finkbonner followed another LaFave block and a block from Wyatt Strait as he powered in for a 19-yard touchdown run.
After trading possessions, the Tomahawks tied the game with a 59-yard touchdown run, and took a 21-20 lead when the extra point was converted.
Ootsey went to the air again on the following drive on 3rd-and-10 and he found Finkbonner out of the backfield after faking an inside handoff. The pass sailed just over the defender and into Finkbonner’s hands who then raced 40 yards for the score. Ferndale went into halftime with a 26-21 lead.
Just two plays from scrimmage into the third quarter, O’Tool’s interception took place, which vaulted the Golden Eagles into a higher state of competition.
Ferndale was able to rattle off two quick touchdown runs, from Bungard and Walcker, and just like that the Golden Eagles held a 40-21 advantage late in the fourth quarter.
Marysville-Pilchuck was able to break out another long touchdown run, this time a 63-yarder, but it would be the last score of the game for the previously unbeaten squad.
Powerful runs up the gut by Bungard controlled the clock for Ferndale, and the junior finished with a game-high 149 yards on 23 carries. Walcker had over 100 yards both rushing and receiving, while also leading his team defensively with 12.5 tackles.
Finkbonner scored his third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter on a 56-yard run. He finished the game with 99 yards on nine carries.
The Golden Eagles (4-1) will travel to Marysville-Getchell (3-2) on Friday to take on the Chargers at 7:00.
Ferndale 47
Marysville-Pilchuck 28
M-P 14 7 7 0 - 28
FER 14 12 14 7 - 47
FER - Bungard 6 run (Finkbonner kick)
M-P - 89 yard kickoff return for a touchdown (kick good)
FER - Walcker 49 pass from Ootsey (Finkbonner kick)
M-P - 10 yard touchdown run (kick good)
FER - Finkbonner 19 run (kick blocked)
M-P - 59 yard touchdown run (kick good)
FER - Finkbonner 40 pass from Ootsey (kick failed)
FER - Bungard 16 run (Eldridge kick)
FER - Walcker 9 run (Eldridge kick)
M-P - 63 yard touchdown run (kick good)
FER - Finkbonner 56 run (Eldridge kick)
M-P FER
34-285 Rush Att-Yards 54-384
7-26-1 Comp-Att-Int 4-6-0
89 Passing Yards 143
Individual Leaders
RUSHING - M-P: N/A. FER: Bungard 23-149, Walcker 11-105, Finkbonner 9-99, Moore 4-15, Ootsey 2-8, Gandy 2-4, Atwood 2-4, Telles 1-0.
PASSING - M-P: N/A. FER: Ootsey 4-6-0-143.
RECEIVING - M-P: N/A. FER: Walcker 3-103, Finkbonner 1-40.
