MARYSVILLE — It was feast or famine for the Eagles so it’s a good thing there were plenty of yards to go around.

In a matchup that will go far in determining the Wesco North champion this season, Arlington simply had more big plays and came away with a 45-28 win over Marysville-Pilchuck Sept. 23.

“We would either look terrible or look awesome on offense,” said Arlington coach Greg Dailer, whose Eagle offense piled up 448 total yards. “Fortunately we got more of those big plays and settled down a little.”

Of course, in a game where the score was 14-7 inside the first three minutes, the fans in the nearly packed stands at Quil Ceda Stadium must have had a few cramps in their necks from watching the ball go so quickly from one side of the field to the other with both teams combining for 15 plays of 20 yards or more.

With offense clicking so well in the first half, it was Arlington’s defense that earned 27-14 lead at halftime. A 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown by junior Nathan Kehler and a key touchdown-saving pass breakup by Jayden Jira made the difference early on.

Offensively, the Eagles got the Tommies out of their comfort zone in the first half by sending quarterback Blake McPherson outside the pocket with time to throw. The result was touchdown passes on both of their first two drives (Skylor Elgarico, 24 yards and Bo Brummel, 38 yards).

“We knew their defense was very aggressive so we went with the play action to take advantage of that, and I think we did a good job there,” said Dailer.

The Eagles kept more than a one score advantage for most of the game, but M-P did make it interesting opening the second half with a touchdown to make the score 27-21 and an onside kick recovery. Then Arlington’s Adam Roehl recovered an M-P fumble on the ensuing possession to turn the ball over and let senior halfback Colton Hordyk run out the game.

Hordyk, who also acted as kicker, finished the game with 173 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns after having just two rushes in the first half.”

“They were doubling me a lot in the first half, and I think we were both just figuring each other out,” he said. “Then we just decided to pound it out in the second half.” One of Hordyk’s scores was a 46-yard punt return. His other was a 60-yard, tackle-breaking sprint.

M-P actually outgained Arlington 499 yards to 448, but having better field position and creating turnovers in the right spots is what put the game away for Arlington, and Dailer was happy with his defense’s effort.

“I think before, Marysville would just grind it out, running the ball for eight minutes and then score,” he said. “But we were able to keep them from grinding it out, and we gave up some big plays, but that’s a good way to play against them.”

McPherson finished the game completing 11 of 21 pass attempts for 264 yards.