On a night where they honored one of their fallen brethren, Aberdeen came up short in a 20-6 loss to Olympic on Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

Facing a bigger, more senior-heavy team in the Trojans, Aberdeen (0-1 overall) found a way to hang in the game until late in the fourth quarter.

After a scoreless first quarter that saw Aberdeen have a long touchdown run by senior running back Micah Schroeder called back due to a penalty, Olympic broke the scoreless tie when running back Riley McCoy scored on a 7-yard run. Luke Silva completed the 2-point conversion to stake the Trojans to an 8-0 lead with 4:33 left in the first half.

Olympic missed a 43-yard field goal attempt at the conclusion of the second quarter, leading the Bobcats 8-0 at the break.

After a first half filled with Trojans penalties and both team leaving points on the field, Aberdeen finally broke through.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD The Aberdeen defense celebrates after Adonis Hammonds (4) comes up with an interception during a 20-6 loss to Olympic on Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

On 1st-and-10 from the 50, Aberdeen sophomore linebacker Sam Schreiber recovered a fumble on Olympic’s first play of the drive. One play later, Aberdeen sophomore quarterback Mason Hill found junior wide receiver Adonis Hammonds wide open down the right sideline for a 53-yard touchdown. A pass fell incomplete on the 2-point conversion, as Aberdeen trailed 8-6 with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter.

But on its ensuing drive, Olympic charged downfield and answered when McCoy broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run. Aberdeen broke through to block the extra-point attempt and keep the game within one score at 14-6.

In the fourth quarter, Aberdeen’s defense came up with a clutch play on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line when senior linebacker Legend Vessey stuffed Silva in the backfield to force a turnover on downs with just under seven minutes to play.

Needing a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie the game, Aberdeen moved inside the red zone and had a 1st-and-goal at the 7-yard line.

But a costly false-start penalty followed by three incomplete passes put Bobcat hopes on the brink with a 4th-and-goal from the 13.

Hill dropped back to pass and hit a leaping Schroeder in the middle of the end zone, but the ball squirted out of the Cats receiver’s grasp as he hit the ground for an incomplete pass and turnover on downs.

Olympic then secured the game when McCoy broke free for a 74-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left to play.

“Our effort level was top shelf all the way,” said Aberdeen head coach Todd Bridge, who was inspired by how his young team performed against the older, more experienced Trojans. “Sometimes, even when you give effort, things don’t work out. We’re young and we know that.”

Bridge, who also took over the role as offensive coordinator this season, took some of the blame.

“I’m young as an offensive coordinator,” he said. “I made two bonehead calls tonight and we paid the price for it. … I’ve got to get better and be patient. We did see a quarterback (Hill) step up tonight. We were two dropped passes away from a 99-yard drive that ties the football game. … Score says 20-6, it didn’t feel like a 14-point game to me. We’re going to get better, the effort level is there and the kids that have bought in are bought in.”

Hill completed 11-of-25 passes for 166 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his debut under center.

Aberdeen had 174 yards of offense – six via the running game – while Olympic gained 365 total yards, 219 of those coming via the ground game in the second half.

Each team had two turnovers apiece – with Hammonds recording an interception for the Bobcats – and Olympic had 13 penalties for 135 yards while Aberdeen committed 10 infractions for 65 yards.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD The Aberdeen Bobcats take a knee while surrounding members of Bob Delahanty family after the longtime Aberdeen chain crew organizer was remembered with a moment of silence before a game against Olympic on Friday in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen honored Bob Delahanty before the game with a moment of silence as his family was surrounded by Aberdeen players and coaches at midfield. His widow, Catalina, performed the honorary coin toss to start the game.

Delahanty was a fixture at Bobcats games as the Chain Crew Organizer for the past 20 years before passing away in July.

Aberdeen plays at Steliacoom High School at 7 p.m. on Friday.

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Olympic 0 8 6 6 – 20

Aberdeen 0 0 6 0 – 6

Scoring

Second quarter

Olympic – McCoy 7 run (Silva run), 4:33

Third quarter

Aberdeen – Hammonds 53 pass from Hill (pass fail), 9:17

O – McCoy 31 run (kick blocked), 7:14

Fourth quarter

O – McCoy 74 run (pass fail), 2:18

Passing leaders: Olympic – Castorena 6-12-1-65. Aberdeen – Hill 11-25-2-166; Martin 1-4-0-8.

Rushing leaders: O – McCoy 14-138; Silva 16-130; Wright 6-48; Wells 2-10; Castorena 6-0; 4 1-(-26). A – Schroeder 8-15; Vessey 8-12; Hill 1-(-8); Martin 3-(-13).

Receiving leaders: O – Silva 4-23; Wells 1-24; Wright 1-7. A – Hammonds 3-82; Schroeder 6-75; Muniz 1-13; Creamer 1-8; Schreiber 1-(-4).

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Catalina Delahanty (middle), widow of beloved Aberdeen chain crew organizer Bob Delahanty, participates in the coin toss ahead of Aberdeen’s game against Olympic on Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Family members of veteran Aberdeen crew chief organizer Bob Delahanty pose with a photo of Bob ahead of Aberdeen’s game against Olympic on Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.