The Wolves bask in the glow of a stunning come-from-behind win. (Jeff Porter photo)
“It was unreal, they never quit battling and did not give up. It was crazy!”
Proud pops Jeff Porter was over the moon Saturday, after the Coupeville High School football team pulled off one of the most stunning wins in program history.
Trailing Cedar Park Christian-Bothell 49-28, the Wolves stormed back to score the game’s final 27 points to claim an improbable, and very satisfying, 55-49 non-conference victory.
And those final six points to decide things and lift CHS to 3-1 on the season?
They came when Wolf senior Johnny Porter blocked a field goal attempt on the game’s final play, followed by sophomore Davin Houston plucking the ball out of the air and taking the recovery 70+ yards for a walk-off touchdown.
Or run-off touchdown, if you will.
Coupeville, which has opened with four straight games against 1A schools, finally gets a chance to square off with a fellow 2B squad next week.
That will come Friday, Oct. 4, when the Wolves host Friday Harbor (2-2) for Homecoming.
Kickoff is 6:00 PM and the rumble will be the first of two meetings this season between the only Northwest 2B/1B League teams to currently be playing 11-man football.
While that tussle will have major playoff implications, the Wolves will come in on a major high.
Coupeville got back several players who weren’t available for their loss to Granite Falls a week ago, and the returning stars meshed perfectly with their teammates.
Back under center after a week of pacing the sidelines in street clothes, starting quarterback Chase Anderson both ran and threw for multiple touchdowns.
The junior gunslinger connected with Jack Porter, Hunter Bronec, and Houston on scoring strikes, with his hookup with Houston going for 60+ yards.
Jack Porter heads out to be awesome. (David Somes photo)
And yet, at least in the early going, Cedar Park seemed to have an answer for everything Coupeville threw at it, responding with its own offensive explosions.
Wolf fab frosh Liam Blas picked off an Eagle pass and returned it for a touchdown to knot things up at 14-14, but CPC rebounded to lead 21-14 at the half.
The Anderson to Houston pass play forced another tie early in the second half, but then Cedar Park started to pull away with three straight touchdowns to go up 42-21.
The teams exchanged scoring drives, but that still left things at 49-28 in favor of the private school gridiron warriors.
Things looked bleak, at least on the scoreboard, but CHS coach Bennett Richter and his team made Journey proud by living up to the mantra of “don’t stop believin’.”
Hunter Bronec hauled in his first touchdown pass of the season to make it 49-35, and the Wolves recovered an onside kick and drove for a rushing touchdown from Anderson to tighten things up.
A missed PAT left CHS trailing 49-41, however, forcing the Wolves to find some major mojo in the waning moments.
Cue the Steve Perry.
Not only did Coupeville punch in another touchdown, but the Wolves also pulled off a two-point conversion pass from Anderson to Houston to get all the way back at 49-49.
Davin Houston came up huge and can now go brag to his older brothers Dawson and Daylon, who both starred for the Wolves. (David Somes photo)
That set up the frantic final moments, with CPC getting in position to escape with a win in front of its home fans, only to have Coupeville play spoiler in epic fashion.
Which left Richter, like his players and their parents, sky high as the group headed back to Whidbey.
“Our boys showed extreme resilience today and never quit!!” Richter said.
“I tell them every week that we have everything we need in this locker room! And every week they believe in that more and more!
“Today is a testament to that hard work and belief!”
With the spotlight at its hottest, and the action at its most tense, the Wolves rose to the moment.
“We had big games from everyone today,” Richter said. “Chase was outstanding late.
“Every time we really needed a big play someone stepped up! Couldn’t be more of a team win and I’m so proud of these young men!!”
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