SNOHOMISH — The Arlington football team has plenty to look forward to next season, even after losing a heart-breaker to Snohomish 37-33 Nov. 1 in a Wesco 3A district game.
Snohomish—ranked third in the 3A South—scored with 25 seconds left in the game for the come-from-behind win.
One of the young players that stood out in the game was Arlington sophomore quarterback Anthony Whitis, who finished the game 24-for-40 with 280 passing yards and three touchdowns. He was named the starter after they rotated previous quarterback and junior Hudson Campbell to wide receiver a few games into the season. Hudson came up with a few impressive catches, including a 5-yard TD in the third quarter.
“Campbell is such a great football player,” Arlington coach Greg Dailer said. “He has no problem being our starting quarterback. We needed a go-to receiver and he was our guy.”
Whitis showed he had an arm connecting on a 54-yard TD to sophomore receiver Griffin Gardoski in response to a Snohomish touchdown in the first quarter. Whitis’ final TD completion was a 12-yard pass to sophomore receiver Dylan Simmons.
Arlington finished its season 3-7. With just eight seniors, Dailer was proud how his team stuck it out.
“We’re really young. We knew that going in, and it was a tough start,” Dailer said. “But we made a turn about halfway through the season, we got better every week, and that’s all you can really ask for out of the kids.”
Arlington will miss senior Devon Nutter at running back but sophomore Tallen Williams could be the next man up. Williams returned a 78-yard kickoff for a TD after Arlington fell behind 14-6 in the first quarter. He also ran in a 5-yard TD in the fourth quarter when the Panthers and Eagles were trading leads.
Arlington’s defense was also strong.
It kept Snohomish scoreless in the second quarter while making a crucial goal line stop to stay within 14-12 at halftime.
“We made some good stops, but we just ended up with the last team with the ball scored,” Dailer said. “Both offenses got going there, and the guys got tired.”
After a halftime adjustment, the Eagles’ offense took flight. Whitis hit Hudson for a TD and then converted two points to Gardoski. The Eagles led for the first time 20-14.
“We just had to execute better,” Dailer said. “They had a tough time covering us all game. So once we fixed our pass protection, we took care of business.”
But the Panther defense took advantage of a deep punt that pinned Arlington inside its one. Whitis grounded the ball from the endzone resulting in a safety. Snohomish then followed with a TD to take back the lead 23-20.
In the fourth quarter, Arlington got back on top with a 5-yard TD on a shovel pass from Whitis to Williams. The lead changed three more times with another Whitis TD pass to Simmons. After another Panthers TD, Arlington ran out of time.
SHORELINE — The Eagles will play the 3A district championship game against Snohomish at Shoreline Stadium Saturday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.
The top-seeded Arlington girls soccer team advanced to the game by defeating Shorecrest 3-2 in a penalty shootout Nov. 1.
Arlington senior Courtney Arnold kicked the game-winning goal to win the shootout 5-4.
The Eagles converted on all five penalty kicks and their junior goalkeeper, Brielle Schrader, blocked one.
Seniors Kristin Phillips and McKenzie Buell recorded the two goals in regulation for Arlington.
ARLINGTON — The top-seeded Arlington girls volleyball team won a first-round 3A district match against Edmonds-Woodway 3-0 (25-14, 25-13 and 25-15) Nov. 1.
The girls played their second match against Ferndale Nov. 3. If they won, they would advance to the championship round against Squalicum or Shorewood scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5, at Marysville-Pilchuck High School at 1 p.m.
