Saxons Win in Wenatchee

          Story by Ryan Minnerly

In the past two weeks, the ball has been rolling in favor of the Saxons. Fighting for the last spot in the playoffs  (and getting a touch of luck along the way as LC beat Gonzaga Prep in the last regular season game) the boys defeated both G Prep and U-High in back-to-back mini-game tiebreakers last Tuesday. They earned their spot in the state playoffs, receiving the number 3 seed coming out of the GSL. Along with clinching a spot in the postseason, the boys also secured an opportunity, a fighting chance at making a run in the playoffs. Last Friday, with the support of a number of die-hard Saxon student and parent fans, Ferris seized their opportunity by traveling 3 hours west to Wenatchee and defeating the undefeated 1-seed from the CBBN.

Coach Sharkey and the Saxons wasted no time in the process of defeating the undefeated. Wenatchee got the ball first, and on just the third play of their drive, a Saxon defender by the name of Gage Orosco picked off the Wenatchee quarterback and returned it all the way down to the Wenatchee 6 yard line. From there, the Ferris offense, under the guidance of senior quarterback Connor Halliday, went to work. An unfortunate penalty sent Ferris back to the Wenatchee 24 with a fourth-and-goal situation ensuing. However, Halliday showed poise as he hit wide receiver Jason Bates on a strike in the end zone. After an Alex Belling extra point was tacked on, the score was 7-0 in favor of the good guys.

The Saxons kept the ball rolling as they surprised the Panthers with an onsides kick after the first score. Recovering the kick, the Ferris offense again wasted no time. On the fifth play of the drive, a seven yard strike was delivered from Halliday to Bates once again, putting the Saxons up 14-0 in a matter of minutes from the initial kickoff. The Panthers got the ball after the score, and began their march down field. However, a stout Saxon defense put an end to the drive as they forced and recovered a fumble by Wenatchee running back Noah Fenhaus. With just over a minute left in the first quarter, Ferris extended its lead even further. And no shocker as to how – another Halliday-Bates connection, this time from five yards out. At this point, the frustration of the Panthers’ defense was visible from the stands. On Jason’s out route in the end zone, Connor delivered yet another perfect ball, and as the defensive back witnessed the ball in air, he merely stopped covering Bates, perhaps knowing that his defense would be to no avail as Bates had burned him once again. Naturally, Jason made the catch wide open in the endzone, and the Ferris Saxons ended the first quarter up 21-0 on the undefeated Wenatchee Panthers.

Unfortunately, this is all the scoring that Ferris would end up doing. Although the offense moved the ball pretty well throughout the rest of the game, a couple unfortunate penalties or turnovers ended the drives without points. But the Ferris D was solid and held its own against the rather large offensive line and quick running back on the other side of the ball. A 45-yard run was the only touchdown the Panthers would earn off the Saxons defense. They tacked on a field goal from 24 yards out early in the fourth quarter, and those points would be the last of the game. The final score was 21-10. Ferris is the only team remaining in the playoffs from the GSL, as both Mead and CV lost in their play-in games.

The next stop for the Saxons is right in their own back yard. Ferris plays Kamiakin at home (Joe Albi Stadium) on Friday. Kamiakin beat Central Valley by a stunning margin of 21 points on Saturday. Should Ferris continue scoring like they did in the first quarter against Wenatchee, and continue to hold tough on D, then they might just capitalize on this postseason opportunity they have created for themselves. Good job boys and good luck next week!

Coming up for the Saxons is the 8-2 Kamiakin Braves.

Click here for a little information about the Braves.