“Falcon Justin Shelton heads for more yardage against Blaine.Jim Larsen/staff photoHomecoming football fans this Friday night should see an exciting battle between two evenly matched teams.While neither South Whidbey nor Nooksack Valley is a threat to win the title in the highly competitive North Cascades 2A Conference, both are desperate for a win after a rough early season.South Whidbey won its first game of the year, then dropped three straight, the latest a 21-7 defeat Friday night to Blaine at rain-drenched Waterman Field.Nooksack Valley will bring a 0-4 record into South Whidbey’s homecoming game, but that record could be deceiving. The Pioneers have played some tough teams and will, no doubt, see South Whidbey as their best chance to win a game so far this year.The Falcons will desperately want to impress their homecoming crowd by beating the Pioneers, so there should be a royal battle to go with the royal festivities that will occur at halftime.On Sept. 29, the visiting Blaine Borderites held South Whidbey to a sole 4th quarter touchdown to go home with a 27-7 win. The Falcons were at times their own worst enemy, coughing up the ball in Blaine territory on several occasions.Conditions dictated that both teams stay mainly on the ground, which Blaine did, mounting touchdown drives culminating in scoring runs of 5, 2, 2, and 3 yards. Three of those short drives started with South Whidbey turnovers. That was the game right there, said Falcon coach Mick Heggenes.South Whidbey managed to grind out 211 yards on the ground, but couldn’t overcome self-inflicted wounds that killed drives. In the second period, for example, a fake punt on 4th and 12 resulted in a big gain as Bryan Wenker passed to Brady Switzer, then an end around by Tim Jackson on 4th and 10 produced an apparent score. All that creative play calling went for naught, however, when the touchdown was called back due to a penalty.Blaine was also error-prone, fumbling six times, but they managed to recover four of them.Finally, in the fourth period, Justin Shelton cracked the goal line from 11 yards out, and Aaron McCabe’s kick finished out the home team’s scoring. Shelton was South Whidbey’s leading ground gainer, totalling 78 yards on 14 carries.This Friday’s homecoming game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Waterman Field. Halftime will feature the parade of class floats culminated with the crowning of the 2000 homecoming king and queen. “