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Wolves nip Wolverines 13-12 in final 90 seconds

Friday Harbor's defense mustered several big stops during an opening-round playoff game at Coupeville Thursday, Nov. 1, but the Wolves slipped into the end zone with a minute, 20 seconds to in the Wolverines' 13-12 season-ending loss.

"One play -- on offense, defense, the kicking game -- could've made the difference," said Friday Harbor coach Richard Ledford of the Wolverines continuing in the postseason.

"Our kids played hard," said Ledford. "I'm really pleased with their effort."

Coupeville (5-5) advances to a Bi-District Playoff game against Orting Tuesday, Nov. 6 in Oak Harbor.

Friday Harbor (4-5) lost three of its final four games by a total of six points. "Three games could've gone the other way… Unfortunately, we came up on the short end of the stick," Ledford said.

"They rebounded after a big loss," Ledford said of the Wolverines 56-14 loss to Cascade Christian the week before.

Friday Harbor led from their first possession until Coupeville quarterback James Smith hit Steven McDonald on a 14-yard pass to end zone with 1:20 to go.

"When they needed to make the plays, they made them," Ledford said of the Wolves' late rally.

The Wolverines marched down the field and Austin Scheffer scored on an 18-yard run.

Erik Wells sacked Smith at the start of the second quarter, forcing a Coupeville field-goal attempt that goes wide.

Defensive back Miguel Medina set up the Wolverines' second touchdown by tipping a Smith pass a couple of times before pulling it down. Facing a fourth-and-goal on the 5-yard line, Michael Ausilio flipped a perfect pitch to Eddie Nash, who zipped into the end zone with about two minutes to go in the second period. A two-point conversion try failed.

"Our offense played well in the first half and we played good defense all the way," Ledford said.

Coupeville advanced to the Wolverines' 25-yard line on the ensuing possession. Scheffer snuffed the drive by knocking down a pass. The Wolves' field-goal try with six seconds remaining failed.

Early in the third period the Wolves had the ball on the Wolverines' 11-yard line thanks to a Friday Harbor fumble and a couple of penalties. Parker Lawson sacked Smith on the first down and the Wolverines backed the Wolves up to the 20-yard line on the second down. The Wolves threw incomplete on the next play and Jordyn Taylor broke up a pass in the end zone on the fourth down.

Friday Harbor made a miscue on a pitch on the next play and Coupeville took over on the 20-yard line. Medina broke up a pass in the end zone as the Wolverine defense shut out the Wolves once more.

The Wolverines forced the Wolves into a four-and-out early in the fourth quarter but Coupeville's Kyle Wilcox picked off a pass and returned the ball 38 yards to Friday Harbor's 5-yard line.

"Wilcox made a big difference in the game," Ledford said of the defensive back and wing back.

McDonald scored on a 1-yard run three plays later and the Wolves were on the board with 6:27 remaining. Gary Manker booted the PAT.

Friday Harbor punted after three downs and Coupeville started their game-winning drive on their 29-yard line. Smith slipped away from several would-be-sackers on a couple of downs, including during the game-winning play. The Wolverines thwarted the two-pointed conversion attempt.

Wilcox picked off a deep throw with 23 seconds left, clinching Coupeville's victory.

Ledford was pleased with his players' progress during what should've been "a rebuilding year" marked by the departure of six three-year starters from the 2006 season.

"We came a long way as a team," Ledford said.

Nine seniors -- Medina, Wells, Michael GrosJacques, Brock Polda, Jacob Gustafson, Erik Nash, Josh Christensen, Louis Paul and Justin Browne -- will move on from this year's squad. GrosJacues, Wells, Gustafson and Polda anchored the line this season.

"We need four linemen to step up," Ledford said. "That's going to be key next year."

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