The South Whidbey High School football team will head into conference play with plenty of momentum after edging host Concrete 14-13 Friday, Sept. 21.

The Falcons are now 3-1 and proved they can handle the pressure of close games. The win over the Lions was South Whidbey’s second one-point victory this season.

Next up is the Falcons first game in the newly formed North Sound Conference. South Whidbey will travel to Sultan for a 7 p.m. game Friday, Sept. 28.

The Turks, preseason favorites, are off to an unexpected tough start, going 1-3 through their non-league schedule. Sultan dropped its third straight when it fell to Friday Harbor 8-6 Friday.

South Whidbey defeated Friday Harbor 20-19 in the season opener.

The Falcons’ success comes from coaching, according to quarterback Kody Newman.

“Our coaches are doing a great job,” he said. “We listen to what they tell us; we just trust them.”

South Whidbey 14, Concrete 13

A whole-lotta Newman and a stout defense carried the Falcons to the win at Concrete.

Rain, penalties and the respective defenses made it a rough night for both offenses.

Newman scored all 14 points while running for 85 yards and passing for 33. He also intercepted two passes, one a pick-six.

Concrete scored first and took a 7-0 lead into the break.

Newman scrambled out of an aborted pass play and raced 40 yards for a third-quarter TD. The PAT attempt failed.

The Lions extended their lead to 13-6 in the third quarter.

Newman’s 60-yard interception return came with 4 minutes left in the game, getting the Falcons within one, 13-12. He then ran for the two-point conversion on a bootleg to put the winning points on the board.

After taking the lead, South Whidbey stopped Concrete’s comeback attempt when Aiden Coleman stuffed the Lion QB on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one.

The Falcons then were able to run for a first down, and then run out the clock.

Newman was aided on offense by CH Chapman and Clay O’Brien —each finished with 35 rushing yards.

Alex Black was one of the defensive stars with four pass knockdowns, two in the end zone.

Newman was quick to point out that special teams were another key to the win, noting that several long returns helped South Whidbey maintain an edge in field position.