Wide receiver Nick Tenuta was the sparkplug that ignited the South

Whidbey Falcons to a 24-14 victory over the 3A Mount Vernon Bulldogs

Friday night.

With the Falcons behind 7-0 late in the first quarter, Tenuta — playing as a defensive back — hit Bulldog running back Tim

Olivariz so hard it could be heard as far north as, well, Mount Vernon.

A quick hand-off from quarterback Hunter Rawls to Luke Hodson with 2:33 left in the first half led to a touchdown and the two-point conversion put the Falcons ahead for good, 8-7.

Henry Mead and Danny Zuver’s running and Lucas Yale’s two interceptions kept Mount Vernon off balance the rest of the night.

Though Mount Vernon attempted a valiant rally in the last quarter,

sharp defense kept the Bulldogs from the goal line, forcing several turnovers.

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

“We fully expected to win this game,” said Bulldog coach Jaxon

Schweikert. “We turned the ball over too much. They outplayed us at

every turn and deserve the win.”

The normally calm Falcon coach, Mark Hodson, could not contain his

excitement over the outcome.

“God bless you guys,” he told his players after the game. “This is just fabulous and you did it.”

At 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 the 2-0 Falcons welcome the Lakewood Cougars to Waterman Field as Cascade Conference action begins in earnest.