PREP FOOTBALL: Valiant effort falls just short for Forks (with video highlights)

FORKS — One first down away from running out the clock and icing a crucial Evergreen League victory, Forks was left to think about what could have been — and what may be possible in the future — after a 27-24 heartbreaker of a loss to Elma on Friday at Spartan Stadium.

“Really proud of our guys and for us to be able to play so well as such a young team against a team with 16 seniors,” Spartans head coach Trevor Highfield said. “It’s tough to play that well and that hard.”

The loss dims Forks’ district playoff chances, but doesn’t doom the Spartans. Forks (1-2, 4-4) must win on the road at Hoquiam (2-1, 5-3) next Friday to earn a playoff berth.

Highfield was as enthused as a coach could be in defeat.

“I told them we are going to win a state championship together,” Highfield said. “[Tonight’s result] should hurt, but I am so impressed with how we fight and how hard we play. Nothing gets us down, we don’t care about the score, we just fight. So when I see five freshmen that are starting for us and I see all the sophomores and one senior [on the roster], I firmly believe we are building something that in the future all this will pay off.”

The Spartans rallied from a 14-0 second quarter deficit to knot the game up at 14-all at halftime on a 35-yard touchdown strike from Carter Windle to Logan Olson and a 7-yard option keeper by Windle with 34 seconds left in the second quarter.

I’ll never get a better highlight. Windle with the great read option and he strolls in w 34 sec left in 2Q. Forks ties it up at 14-all w Elma. W/Firework celebration. #wafbscores pic.twitter.com/WEyqI6cMFD
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) October 26, 2019

At times, the officiating in Friday’s contest seemed a little one-sided — in Forks’ favor. Elma was flagged 13 times for 140 yards while the Spartans received seven penalties for 55 yards. And these were painful penalties for the Eagles — three explosive plays, two touchdowns of more than 50 yards and another 80-yard run inside the Forks 5-yard line were called back due to flags.

“Hats go off to Elma, to their coaching staff and their players. They are a classy group that played extremely hard and played through it,” Highfield said.

“There were some big plays that got erased for them, but you and I both know that there have been some big plays erased on our side this year.

[When you get a penalty], it’s next play, no matter what happens.”

The Spartans tied the game up again at 21 as Carter Windle was chased out of the pocket, rolled to his left and heaved a deep ball to Hayden Queen who hauled it in and took off for a 70-yard catch-and-run play.

Forks’ defense was stout through much of the fourth quarter, highlighted by Queen’s play at linebacker and some strong tackling by Windle.

Queen, the Spartans’ standout, only left the field for one play. And it wasn’t for a breather.

“He didn’t get lined up fast enough and he pissed me off,” Highfield said. “I pulled him to tell him he needs to line up faster. That’s the only reason I’d take him off the field — to coach him up a bit. He’s a phenomenal player, a tremendous leader— he was a team captain as a sophomore [in 2018]. That’s why I say the future is bright for the Spartans. We’ve got a guy like that with the want and the will.”

An Antonio Farias interception and 25-yard return set Forks up in Elma territory with 9:47 left in the fourth quarter and the Spartans took the lead with 6:36 to go on a 29-yard field goal by Ethan Bello.

Bello 29 FG puts Forks up 24-21 on Elma 6:36 4Q #wafbscores pic.twitter.com/SVkTF8zQW2
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) October 26, 2019

After a defensive stop following Bello’s boot, Forks managed to trim three minutes off the clock as Elma burned all of its timeouts to save time before the Spartans punted to the Elma 45.

But Forks couldn’t stop the Eagles aerial attack on Elma’s game-winning drive. Quarterback Cody Vollan was 4 of 5 for 5 for 51 yards and the game-winning touchdown on the drive — a 7-yard strike to Tysen Richardson with 39 seconds left.

Elma takes 27-24 lead on Forks w 39 sec left. #wafbscores pic.twitter.com/uooGgYwPx4
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) October 26, 2019

Forks had a chance in the final seconds as the Eagles squib kick bounced off a Spartan and was recovered near midfield. But Windle’s deep bomb to Farias in double coverage appeared to be touched by all three players, eventually winding up in Elma’s hands inside the Eagles’ 10-yard line with 20 seconds to go.

“We say football truly is a game of inches and that play showed it,” Highfield said.

Injuries sidelined a number of Forks players, including starters Tyler Ellis and running back/linebacker Hayden Baker.

Tony Flores stepped in for Baker at running back and made some nifty moves in rushing for 52 yards on 14 carries.

“Tony Flores is coming along,” Highfield said. “He’s a hard runner, he’s dynamite. He makes quick cuts and I’m proud of how he’s battling.

“The unfortunate thing is we didn’t have Hayden Baker. When I look at a game like this, how close it is, Hayden Baker is a difference maker. He makes a huge difference for us on defense as far as getting guys lined up, and he makes a huge impact on offense.

“And our goal was to have a thunder/lightning combination at running back. That was the goal coming into this week, a big league game, getting that going. The Tony part happened, but with Hayden’s injury that hasn’t happened.”

Nobody likes a moral victory over an actual victory, but the Spartans can take solace in their efforts.

“This hurts right now but there’s a lot we can take away,” Highfield said.

“It shows our guys that we can play with everybody.”

Elma 27, Forks 24

Elma 7 7 7 6— 27

Forks 0 14 7 3— 24

First Quarter

E—Richardson 4 pass from Vollan (Garcia kick)

Second Quarter

E—Huttula 25 pass from Vollan (Garcia kick)

F—Olson 35 pass from Windle (Bello kick)

F—Windle 7 run (Bello kick)