‘Cats tamed by Totems
Published 10:08 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
Fall is finally here, and with it came sheets of torrential rain as
the Mount Si Wildcat football team traveled to Sammamish to take on the
3- and-1 Totems. Unfortunately, the rain didn’t dampen the Totem offense,
as they ran all over the Wildcat defense to notch their fourth win, 35-3.
Initially the game looked as though it would be close. Behind the
running of Mike Dollinter, the `Cats were able to pound the middle, gaining
yardage on their first drive. However, without a balance of passing and running,
the attack stalled, forcing a punt.
Sammamish had little success on their opening drive as well, and
they, too, were forced to punt, as did Mount Si on their next drive. Both
defenses were playing tough, and the lack of points reflected their efforts.
The Totems drew first blood as quarterback Geoffrey Schock lofted
a pass to the end zone for the touchdown. The point after was good,
making the score 7-0 with 4:36 left in the first quarter.
Despite the apparent ease by which the Totems scored, the
Wildcats didn’t give up. On their next possession, they immediately went to
the ground game, using Dollinter as the workhorse. His efforts, along with
a courageous dive by quarterback Jon Odom on fourth and a foot,
allowed Mount Si to get into scoring range at the 15-yard line. With four seconds
left in the first quarter, Brett Bergstrom pierced the uprights with a field
goal, making the score 7-3.
Unfortunately for Mount Si, it would be the only points they
would score in the entire game.
The next Sammamish drive would have them starting at their own
38-yard line. Schock would drive the length of the field, getting his team
to the 10-yard line but the `Cat defense would dig in with their backs to
their own goal line. On fourth down Sammamish attempted a field
goal which missed, giving the ball back to the `Cat offense.
The next highlight came as Sammamish moved into Wildcat
territory. On a first-and-10 run up the middle, a `Cat defender knocked
the ball loose and Mount Si recovered on their own 20 with 4:27 left in the
first half.
The `Cats would have a turnover of their own, though. On second
and nine, Odom – throwing across the middle _ threw an interception at
the Mount Si 41 with 3:30 left in the first half. Sammamish would capitalize
on the turnover, taking the ball into the end zone from 12 yards out with
1:51 left in the half. The extra point made the score 14-3 as the teams headed
to the locker room.
The Totems opened up the second half with another scoring drive.
This time, four plays ended with a pass across the middle to tight end
Matt Gross for the touchdown. The point-after kick was good, making the
score 21-3 at the 9:45 mark of the third quarter.
Mount Si’s next drive showed some up-and-coming talent as runs
by Dollinter and junior Austin Bachelder moved the ball into Sammamish
territory. Additional runs by veterans David Cole and Jeff Beckman gave
the offense a glimmer of hope. But a sack and failed screen pass stunted
the drive, forcing a punt, which flew into the Totem end zone.
The Totems scored again in the fourth quarter. Schock drove his
team down the field to the Mount Si 16. On fourth and ten, the Totems faked
the field goal and ran to the Wildcat four for a first down. From there
they scored, and with the extra point, led Mount Si, 28-3 with 10:32 left in
the game.
The Totems’ final damage would come with 7:43 left in the game as
a run up the middle tacked on another touchdown. With the extra point
came the final score of 35-3.
On the plus side, late in the game, Byron Dill took the helm for
Mount Si at quarterback and showed some impressive poise. He and the rest
of the `Cats will meet their next challenge this Friday, when Mount Si takes
on Bellevue at home at 7:30 p.m.
