The Mount Si Wildcats looked solemnly at the skies as torrents of

rain pelted the field and lightning crashed all around. The weather seemed

perfect for an upset of powerhouse Mercer Island. But despite a Wildcat

defense that held the Islander game in check most of the night, the

offense failed to capitalize on several opportunities, allowing the Islanders to

win, 17-0.

In the beginning, it looked as though it would be a defensive

battle. Offensively for the `Cats, Mike Dollinter made several

short-yardage runs, but came up short of any first downs. Midway through the first

quarter, the Islanders made a drive beginning from their own 20. Runs

by David Kirtman pushed Mercer Island down the field. Two pass plays

and two rushing plays later put the Islanders in the red zone, appearing

ready to score. But a heads-up play by No. 40, which caused a fumble,

stopped the drive with 3:14 left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats took over the ball on their own 12 but were later forced

to punt, setting up the Islanders first scoring drive. Starting from the 50,

Mercer Island put together a lackluster set of four plays. On fourth down,

with the first quarter having just ended, a pass across the middle put them at

the 38 of Mount Si.

Again the Wildcat defense dug in and again the Islanders found

themselves at fourth down, and again, a pass play pulled out the first

down. Finally on fourth and 10, at the Mount Si 26, a pass from the Islander’s

Justin Hogan to Justin McCullum notched points on the scoreboard. With

the point-after attempt, the score was 7-0 in favor of Mercer Island with 8:28

left in the second quarter.

Mount Si would answer with an impressive offensive effort of its

own, led by big rushing plays from Dollinter and a beautiful pass reception by

Tyler Osborn. But with 4:49 left in the second quarter and on the Mercer

Island 34-yard line, the Wildcats fumbled and the Islanders recovered.

They then marched down to the Mount Si 22-yard line in the face

of tremendous defensive pressure from the `Cats and booted a field goal

as the buzzer sounded to end the half. Heading to the locker room, the

Islanders had a 10-0 advantage.

Defensive standouts Steve Botulinski and Brad Connor did

their share of damage in the second half, sacking the quarterback multiple

times and stuffing the Islander rushing game. Offensively, the Wildcats took to

the field looking refreshed in the second half. Runs by Dollinter and

Austin Bachelder, combined with a pass to Osborn, put the Wildcats at the

Islander 11-yard line. On fourth and seven, with 20 seconds left in the

third, Brett Bergstrom attempted a field goal, but it was blocked by a lone

Mercer Island hand, thwarting an impressive drive by Mount Si.

With only one exception, both teams went four and out through

most of the fourth quarter. With less than two minutes to go, Odom went to

the air, looking for a receiver. The ball bounced off a Wildcat helmet and

into the hands of the Islanders’ Jon Pollock, who ran to the Mount Si 19. That

set up David Kirtman for an 11-yard rushing touchdown with 58 seconds

left in the game. The PAT was good, making the final score, 17-0.

“It’s kind of the same old thing right now; we just aren’t able to

put the ball in the end zone,” said coach Charlie Kinnune. “The last 10

games we just haven’t been able to come up with big plays. You have to come

up with interceptions and make them; receivers need to make catches

when they can.

“Other than that freebie at the end, to hold that team to 10 points isn’t

bad. I think we contained them pretty well,” he continued.

With their next opponent, Skyline, looming on the horizon, the

Wildcats have some tough decisions to make.

“We are going to have to make some necessary changes and see if

we are getting the leadership we need,” said Kinnune. “We have to be able

to control the ball, march down the field and make an 80-yard drive. When

we get to a point where we have to make a field goal, we make the field

goal. We had it blocked tonight, and that’s not execution. We are going to

have to get better as coaches and execute better.”

Mount Si travels to Skyline this Friday to take on the Spartans.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.