Eastlake loses in OT
September 23, 2008
By Christopher Huber
Woodinville capitalizes on mis-queues
They had the offensive production. They had the defensive strength.
What Eastlake didn’t have was the last-minute overtime push they needed to come out on top against the Falcons of Woodinville Saturday at Qwest Field.
Quarterback Drake Furcini scrambles for yardage, ahead of the ensuing Woodinville defenders. Photo by Christopher Huber.
The Wolves (2-1) lost 10-7 after holding Woodinville (3-0) all game and failing to convert a 32-yard field goal attempt in its overtime possession at the Best of the West High School Football Classic.It was a back-and-forth game of costly penalties, a few big plays and scrambling quarterbacks. It came down to two missed field goals for the Wolves and a nice overtime break on defense for the Falcons.
Although its offense produced exactly 100 yards more than Woodinville, Eastlake lost it on a 27-yard field goal from Falcon kicker Connor Jones.
“[Woodinville] does a nice job of preparing their team,” Eastlake head coach Gene Dales said. “They put us in situations where we couldn’t convert. We still had opportunities, but unfortunately tonight was not our night.”
The Wolves came out confident and strong on defense, forcing Woodinville to punt after a three-and-out possession. The scene would be repeated throughout the contest for both teams.
Offensively, Eastlake moved the ball well from the beginning and quickly fired up the crowd when senior running back Stephen Nasca broke free for 20 yards. Eastlake controlled the first quarter and marched down the field into the second.
They finished off the long drive 10 seconds into the quarter when quarterback Drake Furcini kept the ball for a 3-yard touchdown.
Eastlake was up 7-0, but it only took a couple of big plays for Woodinville to get back into it.
With the defense stifling any Woodinville progress for most of the first half, things looked good for the Wolves until the Falcons tied things up on a 35-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tim Ip with 50 seconds left in the second quarter.
The second half was all a defensive battle. Both teams saw an uncharacteristic amount of punting.
“Offensively, both teams weren’t used to running the punt team out there,” Dales said.
The Wolves’ defense continued to assert its prowess by stuffing Woodinville on a couple of red zone trips.
In the third, the Falcons drove to the 15 after a bomb from Ip to receiver Trevor Kelly.
But Eastlake held them back, eventually forcing a turnover on a failed field goal attempt.
In the end, Furcini led rushers for Eastlake with 18 carries for 75 yards and the team’s only touchdown.
He also completed 12 of 22 passes for 115 yards.
Nasca rushed for 65 yards on 13 carries, with 44 of those coming on two huge 20-yard-plus plays.
Furcini connected with senior receiver Jeffrey Grotjahn four times for 53 yards. He had the game’s only interception, which came on a diving grab in the fourth.
Eastlake finished with 275 total offense and allowed 175 on defense.
“We battled, they battled, and both teams made some costly mistakes,” Woodinville head coach Wayne Maxwell said. “But I compliment both teams on how hard they played and the sportsmanship they showed in such a great venue.”
Eastlake plays Redmond at 7 p.m., Friday at home.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, Ext. 242, or at chuber@isspress.com.
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