FERNDALE – Last week, Ferndale and Sedro-Woolley scored just six points each. On Friday night, it was an offensive outburst by both teams with the Golden Eagles coming out on top 49-35.
That’s not to say that the defensive were non-existent, as was proven when the Cubs intercepted a Ferndale pass on the first drive of the game and returned it 47 yards for the opening touchdown.
The Golden Eagles responded with a strong drive that covered 70 yards in eight plays, which ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by senior Jacob Gandy.
Sedro-Woolley broke the early tie just four players later with an eight-yard touchdown run, and the Cubs were up 14-7 after one quarter.
In this game of back-and-forth, Ferndale tied it up when junior quarterback Nolan Boleak found senior fullback Talan Bungard on a quick play-action pass to the right side of the field. The 225-pound bruiser found the end zone from 15 yards out, and it was tied once again.
Moments later, the pattern of each team scoring back and forth was broken up when Ferndale junior Jonathon Stanek sacked the quarterback on a 3rd-and-long situation, which caused a fumble near midfield. Bungard scooped the ball and rumbled 42 yards for the score. Amazingly, it was Ferndale’s first fumble recovery of the season.
The Cubs shook off the lost momentum and scored again, this time on a 30-yard touchdown run, just one play after completing a long pass which got them past midfield.
Ferndale was able to break the tie once again late in the first half as Boleak again found Bungard on the same play-action play that was ran earlier in the quarter. Bungard had scored his third touchdown of the game, and none of them to that point was on a rushing play as the Golden Eagles led 28-21 at the half.
Sedro-Woolley tied the ball game one last time after a 23-yard touchdown run, but Ferndale went run heavy in the second half, and scored three rushing touchdowns to pull away. One by senior Eli Kennerley on a fly sweep to left corner of the end zone, and the other two came by way of Bungard.
The fullback finished with 210 yards rushing on 29 carries. He also totaled five touchdowns and sacked the opposing quarterback twice.
Ferndale also got a pair of sacks from senior defensive tackle Wyatt Strait, while Gandy and freshman defensive end Chance Hatchett were also able to bring the quarterback down behind the line of scrimmage.
The Golden Eagles also got interceptions from Kennerley and sophomore safety Elliott Lenssen, which ended the game.
Ferndale (4-4) will travel to Shorewood (5-3) on Friday to take on the Thunderbirds at Shoreline Stadium at 5:00 for a chance to play in the Round-of-32 the following week.
Ferndale 49 Sedro-Woolley 35 S-W 14 7 7 7 - 35 FER 7 21 7 14 - 49 S-W - 47 yard interception return (kick good) FER - Gandy 6 run (Thomas kick) S-W - 8 yard touchdown run (kick good) FER - Bungard 15 pass from Boleak (Thomas kick) FER - Bungard 42 fumble return (Thomas kick) S-W - 30 yard touchdown run (kick good) FER - Bungard 12 pass from Boleak (Thomas kick) S-W - 23 yard touchdown run (kick good) FER - E. Kennerley 5 run (Thomas kick) FER - Bungard 7 run (Thomas kick) S-W - 3 yard touchdown pass (kick good) FER - Bungard 1 run (Thomas kick) S-W FER 23-91 Rush Att-Yards 54-368 13-24-2 Comp-Att-Int 8-12-1 240 Passing Yards 74 Individual Leaders RUSHING - S-W: N/A. FER: Bungard 29-210, Gandy 10-66, Lenssen 7-53, E. Kennerley 8-39. PASSING - S-W: N/A. FER: Boleak 8-12-1-74. RECEIVING - S-W: N/A. FER: Gandy 3-22, Bungard 2-27, Thomas 2-18, Lenssen 1-7.
