The first game of the Vashon Pirates’ football season was a nail-biting, come-from-behind 12-7 victory in front of a packed home grandstand Friday.
It was a 43-minute defensive brawl with the Forks Spartans until the Pirates’ offense showed some signs of life late in the last minutes of the game and mounted a thrilling drive down the field to win the opener.
There was a palpable energy in the air as the Pirates took the ball for their final drive, down 7-6, with five minutes left in the game. The crowd became raucous and the team responded, executing smart running to the sidelines to stop the clock and making a critical gain on third and long, to set up the subsequent fourth down conversion.
The game got off to a slow start until mid-way through the first quarter when back-to-back stops for big losses on the Spartans part fired up the team and the crowd. Senior Clyde Pruett recorded the first sack of the season, forcing a third and 37 situation. Senior Anthony Gateman hit the Spartans for another loss on the very next play, making it fourth and 40, forcing a punt.
The game continued to be a defensive showcase for the Pirates, with sound heads-up play across the board. Standouts on defense were Gateman, Pruett, freshman Adrian St. Germain and senior lineman Jackson Bard. Pruett led the team in tackles, and first-time player Simon Perrin snagged an interception and a good return.
The defense continued to shine as the first score of the game came with five minutes to go in the third quarter. St. Germain recovered a fumble and ran it in for the touchdown. The Pirates failed to make the extra point conversion, but were on the board 6-0.
Offensively, the Pirates ran the ball well, amassing a total of 270 total yards, but could not string enough downs together to make much headway before turning the ball over five times through the course of the match. Key for offense was the running of junior Bryce Hoisington, with just over 100 total yards, and St. Germain with 95 yards. Forks could not mount much of a defense against the two.
But turnovers proved costly for the Pirates, and the Spartans scored late in the fourth quarter. The extra point was good, and they took the lead 7-6 with 5:03 to go.
Taking over on the Pirates’ 34-yard line, sophomore quarterback Connor Hoisington started the 66-yard push down the field. St. Germain and Bryce Hoisington tag-teamed the Spartans, grinding out short yardage carries to the sidelines. Crossing mid-field, Forks had a costly off-side penalty, followed by another penalty two plays later. The extra yardage put the Pirates at second and 10, but their own costly penalty drove them back to second and 20.
St. Germain took the ball 11 yards and to the sidelines, with Bryce Hoisington getting the next carry to the 12- yard line and the first down.
With less than 30 seconds on the clock, Bryce Hoisington took the ball up the gut and scored the go- ahead touchdown. The extra point conversion was again no good, but the Pirates reclaimed the lead 12-7.
On the subsequent kick- off, Vashon’s Luis Villa-Senor drilled a beauty to the 1-yard line with Forks bringing it out for short yardage before being swarmed by Pirates. Pruett then forced the fumble with Vashon recovering the ball. The Pirates took a knee and let the clock run down for the victory.
The team travels to Port Angeles for another non-league game on Friday. The next home game will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Watch for the Jolly Rogers, and participate in the travelcade to the stadium. Line up is at 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce parking lot, and the parade will leave at 6:20 p.m.
— Cheryl Pruett is the parent of two VHS football players
