MOUNT VERNON – The defending 2B state champion Napavine Tigers ignited in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns to eliminate the Orcas Island Vikings 27-8 in the opening round of the WIAA high school football tournament Saturday afternoon at Mount Vernon High School.
Napavine’s senior quarterback Marty Cozart completed all seven of his passes to wideout Matthew Waltenberg – two for fourth quarter touchdowns of 29 and 12 yards. Cozart was 7-of-11 for 112 yards passing, all to Waltenberg, and ran a pair of short-yardage keepers for Napavine’s other two scores.
Orcas Island (7-3) ended their season, but switched their offensive strategies to the passing game, which led them to their only touchdown – a 10-yard touchdown run by Robbie Padbury late in the fourth quarter. The Vikings were ineffective in establishing the run in the first half, but their defense stepped up to stop Napavine drives twice in the first half.
Padbury was 4-of-11 with only 54 yards passing and three interceptions, while also leading the Vikings in rushing with 23 yards on eight carries.
The loss marks the end of a very tenured high school football coaching career for Dennis Dahl, who will retire as the head coach of the Vikings. Dahl, a former Burlington-Edison Tiger player, wraps up his 35 years of teaching and coaching football.
You can listen to the replay of the call featuring Kaleb Hart and Bud Ashe below:
You can also download your own copy of the game below by “right clicking” the link and selecting “Save Link As:”
2B State Playoffs - Napavine vs Orcas Island - Download File (104)
