Having reclaimed “The Bucket,” Coupeville players bask in the afterglow of their huge win over dastardly South Whidbey. (Drew Chan photo)
Wolf quarterback Josh Bayne, seen here with CHS cheerleader Madeline Roberts, has led his team to two wins in the last three games. (Lisa Roberts-Edlin photo)
CHS running back Jake Tumblin, who scored Coupeville’s first touchdown, gets some quality time with big sister Ashlyn Cronin. (Shannon Tumblin photo)
The Wolves are going to the playoffs!
Using a pounding ground attack Friday night, Coupeville High School dodged the rain drops (and a late round of lightning) and rushed past that most dastardly of arch-rivals, South Whidbey, and then celebrated both the reclaiming of “The Bucket” and a berth in the postseason.
The Wolves’ 18-13 win in the all-Island grudge match eliminated the host Falcons from playoff contention and guaranteed Coupeville will get at least a chance to participate in a three-team playoff the day before Halloween with the second and third-seeded teams from the Northwest Conference.
If the Wolves (2-5 overall, 1-1 in league play) can stun unbeaten King’s at home next Friday, Oct. 19, however, they will be the top 1A school in the Cascade Conference and get an automatic berth to tri-districts.
Talk of King’s (7-0) and all-everything quarterback Billy Green, who decimated Granite Falls 57-7 Friday, can wait for a moment, however. Now is the time to bask in the afterglow of the defining win of Tony Maggio’s short tenure as Wolf head coach.
He got something from everyone, with Jake Tumblin, Josh Bayne and Bryce Fleming each busting through the Falcon defense for touchdowns. Tumblin, who led the Wolves with 114 yards on the ground — including a 55-yard sprint to daylight — and Bayne each bulled in on the ground in the first half, before Fleming hauled in an eight-yard scoring pass in the third quarter.
Coupeville’s running attack was on point all night, with Brett Arnold (76 yards), Bayne (72), Fleming (11) and Danny Savalza (11) all chipping in on a strong group effort.
The Wolves stepped up on “d” and special teams in the game’s final moments, effectively blunting South Whidbey’s best efforts to get back in the game with a late charge. Bayne booted an awe-inspiring 62-yard punt late in the game, with Wade Schaef beating the mob to down the ball, pinning South Whidbey deep in its own territory.
Sophomore linebacker Korbin Korzan made off with his first high school interception, while Carson Risner forced a key fumble, which he recovered. Caleb Valko was everywhere, figuring in on 18 tackles, two for lost yardage.
The Falcons had one last gasp effort, attempting an onside kick with three seconds on the clock, but Jared Dickson wrapped up the ball and the game for Coupeville.
The celebration went late into the night, as 4,287 photos of the Wolves hoisting “The Bucket” — which features a Wolf logo on one side and a Falcon logo on the other and had been held in captivity in Langley for six long years — flooded Facebook.
“What do we eat? Falcon meat!!!!!” screamed CHS cheerleader Amanda Fabrizi in a very popular post.
Valko, the heart and soul of Coupeville’s line, spent part of his evening in Whidbey General after the game with a separated shoulder. Even in pain, however, he had nothing but happy thoughts.
“All we broke is the Falcons’ wings!!,” Valko said.
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