Fans had barely found their seats Friday night when sophomore Nick Tenuta took the opening kick-off and ran the ball 85 yards for a Falcon touchdown. Elated onlookers prepared to celebrate a major South Whidbey gridiron victory.

“It was a line-drive kick,” Tenuta recalled.

“I was skeptical but I yelled ‘me—me—me!’ I ran through their rush until there only two guys left. Trapper (Rawls) took them out and only the kicker was left, but he headed the wrong direction. They didn’t kick it my way for the rest of the game,” he added.

When Falcon freshman Hunter Rawls faked a pass, started to run, then threw to Parker Bennett for two more points, it looked like this would be a homecoming game to remember.

Alas, four quarters later, it was the Cedarcrest Red Wolves taking away a sweet 28-14 memory.

With the Falcon defense playing their best game — a season-high 63 tackles, 13 of which forced a loss, four quarterback sacks and five fumbles recovered — it seemed the night would be theirs.

But just two series later, Red Wolves quarterback Ernie Child faked a pass and ran 40 yards for a Cedarcrest touchdown. The point after failed, but the score was 8-7 with the Falcons still in front.

With 5:09 left in the first quarter, however, Cedarcrest jumped in front 14-8 with a sweep to the left, and never lost the lead.

They tried again, but junior Kyle Hoch dashed in for a sack and a fumble which the Falcons recovered. But Danny Parra was intercepted and a potential score went south.

Shortly into the second period, South Whidbey forced and recovered a fumble but then turned it over.

A failed Cedarcrest field goal attempt and a loose ball recovered by the Falcons at their two-yard line gave the crowd hope. But Parra and company couldn’t get the Big Mo’ going — not at all helped by three defensive offsides calls against South Whidbey — and Cedarcrest ground out their third TD just before the half.

The defense went into high gear in the third quarter — Rawls recovered a fumble and Matt Long blasted through to sack Cedarcrest’s quarterback — and Parra’s short pass to Barnett for a TD with two minutes left brought the score to 21-14.

Though Cedarcrest suffered a series of bad snaps and fumbles, the Falcon offense didn’t take advantage.

Finally, Brady Paxman scored for the Red Wolves, the kick was perfect and Cedarcrest pulled ahead 28-14.

For the Falcons, Parker Barnett scored a TD, Rob Boenish had eight carries for 35 yards while Rob Knight was kept to 10 yards.

“They zeroed in on both,” Falcon Coach Mark Hodson said.

Parra had six carries for 15 yards, and went seven-for-11 and 91 yards in the air, one TD and one interception.

Parra said his injured knee felt OK, “Especially once the game got going,” he said.

Overall, Hodson thinks the team competed on the field.

“We had a serious chance to tie things up in the fourth but couldn’t do it,” he said.

The Falcons head into Friday’s contest at Archbishop Murphy (6-0, 8-0) with a 2-4 record in the Cascade Conference, 3-5 overall.

“You can call me crazy but we match up pretty well offensively with Archbishop Murphy,” the coach said. “We’ll give them a run for their money.”

Hodson singled out Knight as the year’s biggest surprise and Tenuta as most improved.

“And Kyle (Hoch) exceeded all my expectations,” he said.

Senior linebacker Matt Long led the defense with 12 tackles, four for a loss, and two QB sacks. Defensive end Hoch had 10 tackles, one for a loss, one fumble caused, and one fumble recovered. Tenuta made eight tackles, two for a loss and two fumbles recovered.

“Senior James Jones is still the leading tackler now at 43 after adding five more tackles, one QB sack, and one fumble caused,” noted defensive coordinator Damian Greene. “Their defensive effort Friday was just awesome, in my opinion.”

Tenuta admitted there were times during the season when he was open and wanted the ball.

“But I understand Danny has his job and I need to be patient. We’ve had a good year, a stepping-stone for next season,” he said.

Tenuta added that the coach listens when players “see something on the field we think he needs to know about. There’s a lot of mutual respect.”

The team visits ATM at 7 p.m. Friday for their final home game. They’ll play a crossover game against a Northwest League team Nov. 4, time and location to be determined.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.