Vashon High School’s Pirate football team defeated the Sultan Turks last Friday 24-21 in a tense duel that was not decided until the final seconds.

Coach Clay Eastly said the Sultan game was a great start. He said that the team made mistakes, with early penalties including three offsides and a “roughing the passer” near the end of the game that allowed Sultan one more shot at the goal, but Matt Kerns intercepted Sultan’s final pass to stave off a possible defeat with 14 seconds remaining.

In fact, Sultan had four tries at the end: Quinn Holert came up with a great tackle, Austin Franks broke up a pass, and Kerns stopped another pass before his interception.

In the first quarter, the teams went back and forth, with Vashon punting twice and then losing the ball on a Sultan interception.

Vashon had the ball on second and 7 at its own 21-yard line when the interception occurred, leading to Sultan’s first score. The Turks hit the PAT to make it 7-0 as the quarter ended.

Eastly decided to go with the running game in the second quarter.

He said that the Vashon offensive line was doing a good job of pushing back the Sultan defense, and the team used the legs of running back Nathan Betz to get within range for Alex Sohl, who ran the ball in for Vashon’s first score.

Nick Fox Edele, the second string kicker who was filling in for the starter, kicked a perfect PAT — a sweet moment for this high schooler, new to the Island.

Vashon scored again when Michael Stoffer forced the Sultan quarterback to fumble, with Kyle York recovering.

The Pirates went back to the run, with Betz again doing much of the work, joined by Sohl and then Holert, who ran the ball in. Fox Edele’s kick was good again, and Vashon led 14-7 going into the third period.

The third quarter was scoreless, with Jeff Rauma contributing a crucial tackle to stop Sultan from scoring as the period ended.

The game began to tighten when Sultan scored on two plays at the start of the fourth period to tie the game at 14-14.

Vashon took possession and drove the ball slowly downfield to the Sultan 12, where Fox Edele kicked a field goal to put Vashon ahead 17-14.

Sultan gained field advantage from an offsides call on the Pirates and went on to score with 5:55 remaining and Sultan ahead 21-17.

The scoring ended with Betz again running steadily downfield and Holert running it in for the winning score, accompanied by another successful Fox Edele PAT.

— This article was compiled and edited by sports editor Eric Horsting from information supplied by Mary Kay Rauma and coach Clay Eastly.

Vashon High School’s Pirate football team defeated the Sultan Turks last Friday 24-21 in a tense duel that was not decided until the final seconds.

Coach Clay Eastly said the Sultan game was a great start. He said that the team made mistakes, with early penalties including three offsides and a “roughing the passer” near the end of the game that allowed Sultan one more shot at the goal, but Matt Kerns intercepted Sultan’s final pass to stave off a possible defeat with 14 seconds remaining.

In fact, Sultan had four tries at the end: Quinn Holert came up with a great tackle, Austin Franks broke up a pass, and Kerns stopped another pass before his interception.

In the first quarter, the teams went back and forth, with Vashon punting twice and then losing the ball on a Sultan interception.

Vashon had the ball on second and 7 at its own 21-yard line when the interception occurred, leading to Sultan’s first score. The Turks hit the PAT to make it 7-0 as the quarter ended.

Eastly decided to go with the running game in the second quarter.

He said that the Vashon offensive line was doing a good job of pushing back the Sultan defense, and the team used the legs of running back Nathan Betz to get within range for Alex Sohl, who ran the ball in for Vashon’s first score.

Nick Fox Edele, the second string kicker who was filling in for the starter, kicked a perfect PAT — a sweet moment for this high schooler, new to the Island.

Vashon scored again when Michael Stoffer forced the Sultan quarterback to fumble, with Kyle York recovering.

The Pirates went back to the run, with Betz again doing much of the work, joined by Sohl and then Holert, who ran the ball in. Fox Edele’s kick was good again, and Vashon led 14-7 going into the third period.

The third quarter was scoreless, with Jeff Rauma contributing a crucial tackle to stop Sultan from scoring as the period ended.

The game began to tighten when Sultan scored on two plays at the start of the fourth period to tie the game at 14-14.

Vashon took possession and drove the ball slowly downfield to the Sultan 12, where Fox Edele kicked a field goal to put Vashon ahead 17-14.

Sultan gained field advantage from an offsides call on the Pirates and went on to score with 5:55 remaining and Sultan ahead 21-17.

The scoring ended with Betz again running steadily downfield and Holert running it in for the winning score, accompanied by another successful Fox Edele PAT.

— This article was compiled and edited by sports editor Eric Horsting from information supplied by Mary Kay Rauma and coach Clay Eastly.