Ferris Breaks Semifinal Barrier

Third time proves to be charm, as Saxons finished Saturday’s game on the right end of a semifinal thriller  

by Ryan Minnerly

Triumphant at last! After two years of knocking on the semifinals door, this year’s Ferris football team has finally broken down the door. The championship-bound Saxons beat the now 10-3 Skyview Storm in high scoring battle of high powered offensive juggernauts. The final score of Saturday’s game was 46-41 in favor of the Scarlet and Silver. The two teams combined for thirteen (yes, THIRTEEN) touchdowns and over 900 yards of offense (Skyview with 464 yards, and Ferris with 442). Ferris had the advantage in the back-and-forth scoring match thanks to a balanced offensive attack of pass and run, as well as some big time plays that put them over the top.

The first points on the scoreboard went to the home team at Joe Albi Stadium on Saturday. With a few minutes left in the first quarter, Ferris had the ball and was marching down field, led by quarterback Connor Halliday. From ten yards out, Connor struck senior wide receiver Jason Bates in the end zone. This is far from the first time they have connected, and if you were at Albi on Saturday, you already know that it is not the last time either. After the Alex Belling extra point, Ferris was up 7-0. This would be all the scoring in the first quarter. Ferris looked like they were going to take a 14 point advantage when junior safety Riley Stockton read Skyview QB Austin Dodge like a book and picked off his pass inside the Skyview 40 yard line. However, Ferris was not able to plunge it into the end zone, and the score remained 7-0.

The story of the game Saturday can be described with one word: “answer.” Skyview kept their composure after the early deficit, and early in the second quarter posted a “7” on the scoreboard as well. The Storm score came from a 1 yard run by running back Johnny Barrett. Knotted up at 7 points, Ferris did some answering of their own, this time by foot. Senior running back Gage Orosco forced his way into the end zone and onto the scoreboard by taking the ball in from two yards out. Another Belling kick put Ferris up 14-7. But, as you might imagine, Skyview responded. This time however, it was from their own territory. Storm quarterback Austin Dodge dumped it off to wide receiver Elliis Henderson on a screen play. Henderson followed a few blocks and turned on the wheels en route to a 59 yard score, tying the game right back up.

Now it was Ferris’ turn. With just about 3 minutes left in the half, Halliday and the Ferris offense amassed quite the drive.  From the Skyview 24 yard line, Halliday threw a strike to Jason Bates once again, as Jason streaked down the sideline and into the end zone. The extra points this game proved to be not so automatic. This particular one was blocked, leaving the score at 20-14 with just 14 seconds left in the half. And this is where it got interesting. Skyview got the ball back with just enough time to get a play or two off. From deep in their own territory, the Storm decided to try and answer the Ferris score. A seemingly risky play call did not pay off by any means for the Storm. Quarterback Austin Dodge dropped back and tried to dump it off to a Skyview receiver in what looked like a developing screen pass. But junior linebacker Grant Livingston had other plans. Grant stepped in front of the pass and picked it off. But he still wasn’t done. Livingston took off with the ball and didn’t stop until the score was 27-14. That’s right, Grant took it all the way to the house, a 36 yard interception return for a touchdown. This would be the halftime score. Also, Grant’s touchdown was the only consecutive touchdown for Ferris – that is, every score of the game by either team was answered by the opponent, except for these two scores in a row at the end of the half for the good guys.

The third quarter opened with another big play for Skyview, and again it was Henderson. This time from 41 yards out, Henderson took another reception for a touchdown. The score was now 27-21. And guess what folks – another Saxon response. From 15 yards out, Jason Bates ran a beautifully executed post corner route to the corner of the end zone. A patient Halliday waited on it, and delivered another spiral right to Bates. This was Jason’s third touchdown connection with Connor on the night. Good job boys! Yet again, the PAT by Belling was blocked, and the score was left at 33-21. This would be the score going into the fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth, Skyview came back to within 5. They marched all the way down to the Ferris 1 yard line, and from there, Matt Spears punched it in, making the game score 33-28, Ferris was ahead by less than a touchdown. But, not to worry, Ferris regained an 11 point advantage. It was Orosco’s turn again. From the Skyview 49 yard line, Gage took a handoff and went to work. He made multiple defenders miss on his way to a 49 yard touchdown run, his second TD of the night! Ferris went for the two point conversion, trying to make up for the failed PATs, but they did not convert. After Gage’s TD dash, the score was 39-28. When the Storm got the ball back with still sufficient time to mount a comeback, they made the most of it. They marched down field to the Saxons 5 yard line, where Austin Dodge dished it to Karl Graves for a 5 yard touchdown score. They also went for two, trying to keep the game within a field goal, but the Saxon D came up with a big stop and kept the Storm at their 5 point deficit. After a few defensive stops, Ferris stuck a dagger in the heart of every Skyview faithful fan. Halliday connected with Jordan Tonani from 9 yards out, and after an Alex Belling extra point attempt that was successful, the score was 46-34.

There was about 4 minutes left in the game when Skyview got the ball back. Ferris slowed their pace down field. The Storm put another TD on the board with just 2 seconds left in the game. They attempted an onside kick, but when Ferris recovered and the clock struck zero, it was nothing but celebration for the Ferris team and fans. The final score was 46-41.

It was a beautiful thing, seeing the Saxon players erupt as the clock expired. The mood was euphoric. It seemed that the fans, players, and coaches were not only happy and triumphant, but even slightly relieved. The semifinal curse, so to speak, was snapped. Truly unbelievable how a team that had odds stacked highly against to even make playoffs is now renting a bus to Tacoma for the championship game. This goes to show you the fight that Ferris has displayed, knocking off two unbeaten teams, two GSL teams in a mini tie breaker, and now Skyview. Way to go boys!

Next for the Saxons is Skyline. Ferris has a history with Skyline (who knocked off Bothell in the other semifinals game) and surely looks to get a championship under its belt. Congratulations to Coach Sharkey as well, who has taken his teams to semis for three straight years and now has a chance to play for a championship trophy! Good luck next week to the team! Everyone needs to buckle up and get down to the Dome next Saturday to support the boys!

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OLD MAN MINN NOTES:  What a great game and to get over the hump and make it to the championship, great accomplishment Saxons...Play of the game in my opinion, was the pick-six by Grant Livingston at the end of the first half - turned out to be the difference in the game... Spokesman Review reporter Mike Vlahovich accurately described the game as an "arena football like" game - quick scores, back and forth and lots of offense....Give credit to the Saxons for barely getting into the playoffs, but once they made it they have taken full advantage of the opportunity before them....OMM doesn't try to second guess coaches, however, I would love to know why the Skyview coach did not use his timeouts down the final stretch when his team was marching down the field - didn't make sense...