Many questions needed answers for the Mount Si varsity football team following their 37-7 week one loss to Eastlake.

But the answers came in with a dramatic home field win, Friday, Sept. 11, over Issaquah. Senior Chris Clark threw for over 200 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats beat the Eagles, 24-21.

At practice in week two, “We focused a lot of energy on everything,” Coach Charlie Kinune said. “No part of our team went unscathed as far as just trying to improve.”

Among the biggest questions was who would emerge as the starting quarterback for the Wildcats the rest of the season. The answer: Clark.

“I couldn’t have done it without the O-line up front blocking for me,” the senior said. “My receivers just got open when I needed them.”

“We had a running game that forced the defense not to tee off on our run. He’s worked awful hard and he put that all together and did really well,” Kinnune added.

One area continues to be an issue for Mount Si, though: defending the big plays. Issaquah’s first touchdown was scored on such a play. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Eagle quarterback Ryan Bergman threw a slant pass to Evan Peterson, who ran through a wide-open hole 44 yards for the score to make it 7-0.

Mount Si then tied it late in the half, on a big play of their own. Clark threw the ball to Jordin Kinnune, who ran it 36 yards and barely made it into the end zone to knot it at 7-7 going

to halftime. In the third quarter, Mount Si took the lead on their first possession. Mount Si’s freshman kicker, Cameron Van Winkle, kicked a 25-yard chip shot through the uprights and the Wildcats went out in front 10-7. The drive was helped by one of two key plays by tight end Joe Farmer, who caught a Clark pass and went 46 yards.

“I just bounced off guys and went,” Farmer said. “I tried my hardest… just ran as fast as I could.”

On defense

Mount Si’s defense shut down Issaquah on the next series, then Clark and company went back to work and chewed up a lot of clock. This drive ended with another Wildcats score, a Clark touchdown pass to Taylor Mitchell in the back of the end zone. It went for 16 yards, putting Mount Si up 17-7 midway through the fourth quarter. It appeared that the Wildcats were on their way to locking it up, but the Eagles had other ideas.

On the next Issaquah play, Peterson took a Bergman pass for 65 yards. One play and one Eagle score later, and it was 17-14 on the board. But this did not faze the ‘Cats.

The offense again used a combination of strong running from Matt Bankston — who ran for more than 100 yards on the night — and lucky plays.

Mount Si was able to find paydirt one more time, courtesy of Rossco Castagno, who reeled in a four-yard pass from Clark for another touchdown. Peterson scored another touchdown late for the Eagles, but the ensuing onside kick attempt went for naught. The Wildcats finished off the clock and sealed the win.

• The Wildcats play Thursday, Sept. 17 at Interlake. Game time is 7 p.m.