The South Whidbey Falcons outscored the Grandview Greyhounds 15-3 in the second quarter of the season opener Friday night, and led at the half 15-10.

That was the good news.

The bad news is that Grandview scored 13 points while keeping the Falcons scoreless in the second half.

Grandview won, 23-15.

“We had three costly turnovers, and the Greyhounds fielded a superstar named Josue Oros,” said Falcon coach Andy Davis. “But the guys played well, we learned a few things and we will be getting ready for Mount Vernon this week.”

Greyhound quarterback Oros ran for two touchdowns, ran an interception back for a score and kicked a 32-yard field goal on the night.

South Whidbey ran a few spectacular plays as well.

Down by seven early in the second period, quarterback Hunter Rawls took the team down to the 10-yard line.

Playing in his first varsity game, tight end Tyler Norris told the tale.

“Hunter rolled to the left and I came across the middle on a slant route,” he recalled. “The receivers couldn’t get free; Hunter did a great job scanning the field, saw me and threw a laser pass to my chest. I took two steps in and scored.”

Rawls then faked a point-after kick and threw to Austin Bennett.

“I ran a flag route — 10 yards to the corner of the end zone — then jumped up and made the catch,” Bennett said.

That put the score at 8-7 in favor of the Falcons.

Grandview managed a field goal, but Rawls was able to score again on a one-yard keeper and kicker TJ Russell got the extra point. The Falcons led 15-10.

It was pretty much downhill from there.

Rawls said Oros, a free safety on defense, was making the same play all night, when suddenly he switched and went the opposite direction for an interception and a score in the third quarter to make it 16-15.

“Oros made a great play and I was caught off-guard,” Rawls admitted.

But Davis was quick to take the blame.

“I sent in the play and we didn’t read it right when Oros changed his pattern, so it was my fault,” the coach said. “We threw well, but struggled a bit trying to run the ball. On the other hand, our guys were in great physical shape.”

Oros picked up another touchdown in the fourth. The Falcons’ only other chance came in the game’s final moments. After Joe Kinser blocked a punt, South Whidbey was poised to score at the one-yard line — six points and a conversion would have tied the score. But the Greyhounds managed a solid goal-line stand, and the contest ended at 23-15.

Davis, who grew up a few miles down the road in Prosser, said Grandview was his high school’s most hated rival.

“Yeah, it would have been a sweet victory,” he said. “We had 15 of 25 passes caught for a total 170 yards, and I’m pleased with that. Bennett, Norris, Jon Poolman and Duck Hanna had a great game, as did Kinser for the defense.”

Rawls said he was happy the younger guys stepped it up.

“Tyler and Austin were real playmakers, and Tyler caught every ball thrown to him,” he said. “All of us felt the seven-hour bus trip over the mountains made us a little lethargic, and we weren’t at our best.”

Running back Danny Zuver agreed.

“Maybe we had a little trip lag,” he said. “But no excuses. We need to tighten the defensive alignment and work on our running schemes to be ready for the rest of the season. Playing a tough competitor like Grandview was a wake-up call for some of us.”

Bennett said that, overall, the team played well, but a lot of improvement is needed.

“It was fun, even after that long ride over the mountains,” he said. “But I know I have work to do; I need to get off the ball quicker and make better reads on both sides of the line. We’re in good shape and ready to play against anyone.”

That’s good to hear, because at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, the team travels to Mount Vernon to play the Bulldogs, a big 3A team.

Rawls completed 15-of-25 for 160 yards. Bennett led receivers with four catches and 53 yards. Henry Mead led rushers with 11 runs for 31 yards, followed by Zuver who had 10 for 29 yards.