“The trip was successful, the game was not,” according to South Whidbey High School football coach Mark Hodson after the Falcons lost 41-6 at Chelan Friday, Sept. 20.

Hodson likes to take his team on a long journey each season to “get them off the island” and to build team chemistry.

“The weather was great, the food was really good,” Hodson said.

The Chelan football team was also plenty good.

“They were ready to play; they are a physical and athletic team,” Hodson said by the Mountain Goats. “They played a really good game. They are the best Chelan team I have ever played against.”

This was the fourth meeting between the schools.

The game featured two teams with 2-0 records. While the Goats played like an unbeaten team, the Falcons did not. South Whidbey surrendered several defensive touchdowns, made multiple mistakes and had difficulty containing Chelan’s talented running back, according to Hodson.

Now the Falcons (2-1) host Concrete (0-3) in the final non-league contest at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, before North Sound Conference play begins. The 2B Lions have lost by at least two touchdowns in all three games this season, but Hodson expects them to be “physical and tough” as usual.

Concrete also entered last year’s game with South Whidbey with three lopsided losses but nearly knocked off the Falcons. South Whidbey needed a 60-yard pick-6 by Kody Newman and a two-point conversion with four minutes remaining to edge the Lions 14-13.