Mercer Island Football Rallies Big But Falls in OT to Seattle Prep

Seattle Prep blocked Alex Woods' extra-point attempt in overtime and the Panthers escaped with a 36-35 win over on Saturday night at Century Link Field in Seattle.

After Seattle Prep's Tere Calloway scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to open the first overtime, Mercer Island wide receiver Eric Stefanchik caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Lindquist on fourth down in overtime to seemingly tie the game. But a Seattle Prep player got his hand on Woods' extra-point attempt and the ball hit the crossbar, bounced in the air and fell no good in the middle of the end zone.

"We stopped ourselves," Mercer Island head coach Brett Ogata said. "Mercer Island beat Mercer Island tonight. I give credit to Prep because they took advantage of the mistakes we made, but if we could control what we're supposed to do, we probably come out on top of this game."

The unpredictable ending seemed fitting for a game that turned into a wild contest in the final six minutes of the game. Mercer Island quarterback Jeff had rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with five seconds remaining on the clock to tie the game in regulation. The rush was Lindquists' fourth rushing touchdown of the night and third in the final 6:10 of regulation after it seemed the Islanders were doomed to a blowout loss.

"We just kind of rallied around the goal," Lindquist said. "We knew that we needed to go score, so everyone dialed in and that's what we had to do."

Seattle Prep had taken a 29-9 lead with just over nine minutes left in the game. With the Islanders offense looking at just two total yards in the second half up to that point, it seemed a certainly the Panthers would leave with an easy win.

But Lindquist, who finished with 461 yards of total offense (333 passing, 128 rushing) and the offense came to life on the next possession. Lindquist connected with three different receivers for 80 yards on the ensuing drive, capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 29-16.

After holding Seattle Prep on the next drive, the Islanders put together a a quick, 36 second scoring drive to cut the deficit to seven. Lindquist finished that one in impressive fashion, breaking free from two tacklers when it looked as if he was down, spinning twice, breaking a third tackle and scampering 22 yards for the score.

After Woods' extra-point attempt sailed wide left, the Islanders gambled with an onside kick. The ball took several bounces and ended in Kyle Reitinger's hands just before it went out of bounds. Eight plays later, Lindquist again took it himself, scoring from two yards out to tie the score.

"That's really what we can do all the time," Ogata said of the fourth quarter flurry. "But we've got to be confident and calm and play the game."

Mercer Island was hurt early in the game by a seemingly nervous style of play, personified by its quarterback leader. Lindquist threw an interception on the opening drive, and followed that with a second pick on the Islanders next drive. After Seattle Prep capitalized on both of those turnovers to take a 14-0 lead, Lindquist then fumbled on the following possession. The Islanders receivers dropped six passes in the first half.

"I take responsibility for those first two interceptions," Lindquist said. "I was a little bit jittery and didn't calm down. But the team picked me up." 

Seattle Prep took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter before Mercer Island staged a mini-comeback. The Islanders got on the board with Lindquist's first touchdown run midway through the second quarter and then added a safety after a bad snap on a Seattle Prep punt attempt to make it 21-9 going into halftime.

Ogata said before the season that he was not putting much emphasis on the opening game of the season. After the loss, he reiterated much of the same, saying his team lost not because of getting outplayed, but because of its own mistakes.

"It's just a learning experience," Ogata said. "Of course we want to win, but...tonight was a great learning experience. We had four turnovers, we missed two PAT's...even with the four turnovers, we make the two PAT's, we have a win."

Notes: Mercer Island wide receiver Brent Tsang had a monster day, catching eight passes for 125 yards...Stefanchik had a 97-yard kickoff return called back in the second quarter due to a holding penalty...Seattle Prep attempted just four passes all game, three were complete and two went for touchdowns.