Oak Harbor Wildcats sweep home games, sit 3-0 in Northern Conference

The Oak Harbor Wildcats used a pair of home wins Friday to maintain an unbeaten start to their inaugural varsity flag football season, edging closer to a strong conference position while contending with a disrupted schedule that has affected the island community.

Oak Harbor beat the Everett Seagulls 34-14 before mounting a late comeback to defeat the Cascade Bruins 14-7, leaving the Wildcats 3-0-0 and second in the Northern Conference standings behind the undefeated Lynden Lions. Senior Reagan Syring scored three touchdowns against Everett while senior Annalise Wesley and junior Macy Schmall each added one; senior Mia McGaha accounted for both Wildcat touchdowns in the win over Cascade.

These were the Wildcats’ only two home games of the regular season after a storm on Dec. 17 knocked out power across much of Island County, forcing cancellations of two road games and several basketball contests. The interrupted schedule left the team without game action for nearly a month, a disruption coach Mike Lonborg acknowledged can influence rhythm and preparedness.

“It was just nonstop,” Lonborg said. “It was five, 10-yard chunks at a time, and (senior quarterback Layla) Suto was hitting the spots, and so that’s where it worked.” He framed the Cascade game as the first significant test, describing a slow first half and a tight defensive battle after halftime.

Freshmen players reported pregame nerves after the layoff. “It was crazy … I thought it was a pick,” Ellie Johnson said about the game-winning sequence against Cascade, describing the final play as a blur until McGaha secured possession and teammates began celebrating.

The storm that disrupted schedules also reverberated through the local economy and community engagement. Canceled games remove opportunities for booster fundraising, concession revenue, and the neighborhood activity that accompanies home events. For a new program building support, fewer home dates mean fewer chances to draw families and prospective players to the field.

From a competitive standpoint, the Wildcats’ 3-0 start is statistically strong but based on a small sample of games. Lynden’s 4-0 mark, including a 33-7 win over Sehome, remains the benchmark in the conference and sets up a pivotal road matchup for Oak Harbor at Lakewood High School on Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m. That game will be a clearer indicator of how the Wildcats stack up against top conference competition and whether their early success can translate into sustainable standings and playoff positioning.

The takeaway? Oak Harbor is building momentum despite weather setbacks and a compressed schedule. Our two cents? Get to the Lynden game if you can support the Wildcats in person, home dates have been scarce, and each outing matters for team development and the small businesses and boosters that rely on them.