FERNDALE – The Golden Eagles moved to 2-0 in the WesCo 3A North with a 22-6 win over Oak Harbor at home on Friday night.
The Wildcats struck first as they moved the ball down the field with relative ease, behind a strong running game and crisp play-action passes. Their opening drive resulted in a 17-yard touchdown pass, but that would be all the scoring that Oak Harbor could come up with as senior Braeden Hendrickson broke through the line to block the extra point.
Ferndale countered its opponents opening drive with a ground and pound drive of its own that saw senior Wyatt Broyles cross midfield on a powerful run. The 200-pound fullback then scored a few plays later on a 12-yard touchdown run.
The snap was high on the ensuing extra point try, but senior kicker Parker McManus gathered it at about the 25-yard line and turned on the jets towards the near side of the goal line. He scooted through to give give the Golden Eagles an 8-6 lead.
Ferndale then forced a punt, and got deep into Wildcat territory once again, but Oak Harbor’s defense turned the home team away on 4th-and-goal, and was able to take over possession of the football.
The Wildcats wouldn’t hang on to it for very long as senior defensive end Trevor Kudsk forced a fumble, and it was recovered by senior strong safety Elliot Lenssen. Three plays later, Lenssen mowed over a would-be tackler near the goal line and scored from two yards out, and Ferndale led 15-6 at the half.
The Golden Eagles received the second-half kick off and used up nearly five minutes of gametime before Lenssen ripped off a 51-yard touchdown run up the middle. Lenssen finished with 192 yards on 22 carries, and he moved past his Offensive Coordinator, Jake Locker, for ninth on the school’s career rushing list with 2,860 yards.
It wound up as the last scoring play of the game, as the Ferndale defense continued to play strong the rest of the way. It was led by junior linebacker Chance Hatchett who finished with 7.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Senior defensive back Brock Heuck also posted 8.5 tackles.
Ferndale (5-1) will travel to Stanwood (6-0) on Friday to take on the Spartans at 7:00.
Ferndale 22 Oak Harbor 6 OH 6 0 0 0 - 6 FER 8 7 7 0 - 22 OH - 17 yard touchdown pass (kick blocked) FER - Broyles 12 run (McManus run) FER - Lenssen 2 run (McManus kick) FER - Lenssen 51 run (McManus kick)
OH FER 38-111 Rush Att-Yards 43-310 8-9-0 Comp-Att-Int 1-4-0 85 Passing Yards 11 Individual Leaders RUSHING - GP: N/A. FER: Lenssen 22-192, Broyles 12-103, Mahaffey 2-10, Heuck 1-10, Hatchett 1-3, Saab 5-(-8). PASSING - GP: N/A. FER: Saab 1-4-0-11. RECEIVING - GP: N/A. FER: Hatchett 1-11.
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