They did it.

They really did it — the South Whidbey High School football team beat Port Townsend 22-7 Saturday in a come-from-behind contest that had Waterman Field rocking.

It was the Falcons first win since October, 2004.

“We all think this is the beginning of a very good season,” junior linebacker Kyle Hoch said after the game.

They won with style and grace.

Wait — make that hard hitting, toughness, flexibility, intensity and focus.

Clichés? You bet, and well-deserved. Down 7-0 at the half, the Falcons re-grouped and emerged with a new attitude. A winning attitude.

“In the first half, everyone was a little shook up from last week (a loss to North Mason),” said tailback Rob Knight. “We realized we needed to get our heads straight.”

For Knight, that translated to carrying the ball for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion, a total of 171 yards.

“Most of that was straight up the middle and I can only thank the guys on the front line for making it possible: Steve Moore, Trapper Rawls, Patrick McLean, James Jones and Darrin Britton,” he said.

The Redskins game plan featured a standard ground attack for most of the first half, behind senior quarterback Aaron Cavette.

Though suffering a severe case of fumbleitis (Cavette dropped the ball five times with a little help from Falcon sophomore David Monell), Port Townsend finally scored with 1:13 left in the half on a straight-ahead run by junior Aaron Glaspell.

In the third quarter, Danny Parra and Nick Tenuta combined to stop a crucial pass play but Parra couldn’t get the offense to click.

But the bigger, heftier Redskins were getting tired and Coach Mark Hodson, perched on the bleacher roof, saw something he liked.

The coach showed his confidence twice by going for downs on fourth and it paid off.

Hoch kept Port Townsend off guard by blasting through the defense and blocking a crucial Port Townsend’s kick attempt which he recovered for the Falcons.

“We have cut-back rules; I just went in and got him,” Hoch recalled.

Then, Parra and Knight went to work — nothing fancy — just superlative ground execution.

Though he’d thrown 13 times with five completions for 25 yards, Parra was getting frustrated passing. As the fourth got underway he seized the chance to tie the game, running 12 yards for a TD.

Knight dashed in for the two points and suddenly, the Falcons led 8-7.

Knight added a 43-yard run into the end zone, and another for 20 yards as the Redskin defense collapsed.

Boenish picked up another two pointer and the contest ended with a big South Whidbey victory.

“This was a huge weight off my chest,” Parra admitted later. “I’m sure everyone doubted us, maybe we did ourselves at the start. But not now.”

Late in the game with the contest decided, announcer Michael McInerney asked the fortunate fans attending: “How do you like us now?”

The resulting screams and cheers washed over the team as they sang the Falcon fight song.

Yeah, they really did it.

James Jones (7), Hoch (5), and Levi Sawyers (5) led the defense in tackles on the day. The team is 1-1 in non-conference action.

Friday night, Cascade Conference play opens at 7 p.m. as the team travels to Lakewood. South Whidbey welcomes the Tigers of Granite Falls

Sept. 22.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or e-mail sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.