Wildcats get first win
Published 10:10 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
The 1999 football season hasn’t started out with the bang of past
seasons, but this week the Mount Si Wildcats were able to ride the bus
home from an away game as winners, defeating the Interlake Saints 34-21
and moving to a record of one win, two losses.
The win by Mount Si left only two teams winless in KingCo 3A,
Interlake and Cedarcrest.
As rain pelted the field for the opening kickoff, one player
would kickstart his team. Fielding the kickoff at his own 10-yard line,
Tyler Osborn, razzle-dazzled his way to the Saints end zone for a touchdown.
The extra point kick was added by Brett Bergstrom and with only 13
seconds off the clock, Mount Si led 7-0.
Defensively, Mount Si has struggled and – initially – it looked
as though the Saints may be a challenge as well. On their initial drive,
Interlake drove down the field starting from deep in their own territory. A
combination of runs and passes moved the ball to the Mount Si 4-yard line.
The Wildcat defense hung close, almost sacking the Saints’ Justin
Bird. But, as the curtain was drawing to a close, Bird found a receiver in
J.B. Baird, in the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point tied the game.
Mount Si would answer with points of their own, though. The
running attack of Mike Dollinter, the 5’10” junior, and senior David
Cole was too much for the Saints’ defense. Throw in a swing pass from
John Odom to Dan Thompson, a tipped-ball catch by Eddie Horstman, and
the `Cats clawed their way to the Interlake 23. But this time they would have
to settle for a Bergstrom field goal and the lead, 10-7, with 2:49 left in the
first quarter.
In the second quarter, the lead would change hands as
Interlake scored a touchdown. It came after a bad pitch from Odom to Jeff
Beckman which resulted in a fumble. The Saints capitalized on the `Cat mistake, as
a scrambling Bird found a receiver in the end zone. The score, with the
extra point, gave the Saints a short-lived lead.
On the next Mount Si drive, it was all Dollinter and Cole as Mount
Si moved the ball down the field from their own 35, scoring on a 36-yard
run up the middle by Cole. Bergstrom added the extra point, making
the score 17-14 with 3:47 left in the first half.
Then it was the Wildcats’ defense that stepped up to the challenge.
Jeremy Johanson would sack the Saints’ quarterback, stinting their next
drive. Going for the first down on fourth and inches, the Saints came up short,
handing the ball over to Mount Si on downs with 1:22 left in the half.
Normally 1:22 doesn’t seem like enough time to rally the troops, but
it was obvious coach Charlie Kinnune wanted more points on the
scoreboard. Who better to provide those points than Cole, who ran it in from 29
yards out for the score. The point after was the last score of the half, with
Mount Si leading, 24-14.
Interlake fielded the ball after the Mount Si kick to start the second
half but neither team did much on their opening drives. Interlake’s
defense seemed to pick up the tempo a bit and held the Mount Si ground game
to shorter yardage.
Mount Si would score again, late in the third after a series of runs
by Dollinter moved the ball to the Interlake 10. Bergstrom booted a
field goal with 38 seconds left in the third for a 27-14 ball game.
The Saints looked as though their offensive machine might have a
spark of life as a series of passes moved them to the Mount Si 48-yard line. But
outstanding defensive pressure by Thompson allowed him to pick off a
Bird pass for an interception early in the fourth quarter.
The turnover would be costly for the Saints, as Mount Si moved the
ball down the field using their workhorse running back Cole. Then, from
three yards out, Cole rambled up the middle for the Wildcats’ final touchdown
of the game. Bergstrom added the extra point and with 8:03 left in the
game, Mount Si had a commanding 34-14 lead.
But coach Kinnune still had a lot to be nervous about, as Interlake’s
5’6″ running back, Michael Eav, took the kickoff on his own 3-yard line
and powered down the right sideline 97 yards for a touchdown. With the
extra point, the Saints were within two touchdowns at the 7:46 mark of
the fourth quarter, plenty of time to take the game.
The Wildcat defense, showing they can maintain a lead, held the
Saints scoreless on two ensuing drives, assuring the `Cats’ first win of the
season.
“We really need this a lot,” said coach Kinnune.
“We’ve worked hard. I wish we would have had a better off
season, but we worked hard.
“I’m glad for my assistant coaches, he added. “They are a great group of
guys who really work hard for our kids. I’m happy for our seniors,
especially for the ones that really worked hard.
“David Cole had a great game,” Kinnune touted. “Just a gutty
performance, and this football season means everything to him and the other
seniors. Now we have something to build on so we can go 2-2 after four.
“On any night, anyone can win or lose in this league,” the coach
concluded..
Mount Si will face Liberty at home this Friday night. Kickoff is at
7:30 p.m.
