The 2003 high school football season opens this weekend around the North Olympic Peninsula as well as the state.
Following are capsules of opening games for Peninsula teams.
Shorewood at Port Angeles, 6 p.m., Saturday
The Class 4A Roughriders open the year in a nonleague battle against powerhouse Shorewood of North Seattle.
Port Angeles coach Dan Novick is expecting a strong contest from the Thunderbirds, who return 17 starters from a team that went 6-3 last year and missed the playoffs by one game.
“They are the best wing-T football team we could find to schedule on our first day,”‘ Novick said.
The Riders want experience against a wing-T offense because many Narrows League teams run the same offense, which emphasizes the run.
New senior quarterback Dane Caldwell will debut for the Riders in this game. Caldwell, a veteran receiver, moved to the quarterback position “because he is the best option we have at quarterback,” Novick said.
Washington at Sequim, 7 p.m., Friday
The Wolves, a Class 3A team, will host Washington of the Pierce County Seamount League in a nonleague contest.
Fourth-year Sequim head coach Bill Anderson is expecting a good test from the Patriots.
Washington hails from Tacoma.
The Wolves will jump right out of the frying pan with the Patriots into the fire the next three weeks in the Nisqually League.
Sequim plays Washington, Orting, Eatonville and Steilacoom, in that order. Steilacoom is considered one of the top 2A teams in the state.
Port Townsend
at South Whidbey, 1 p.m., Saturday
The 2A Redskins of the Nisqually League will be on the road in the first weekend of action for a nonleague game.
Both teams got a look at each other last year in a scrimmage.
“We got to look at them a little bit,” said Port Townsend coach James Fleisher. “We may have to make adjustments, and very quickly, against them but they may have to adjust quickly to us, too.”
Chimacum at Rochester, 1 p.m., Saturday
Chimacum starts the season against the Warriors of the Southwest Washington League.
The 2A Cowboys, a Nisqually League team, went 4-5 overall last season. They begin this fall without a full-time quarterback.
Sophomore Brad Martin and freshman Arlo Evasick will split time under center, second-year coach Brian Anderson said.
“They’ll both see a lot of action,” Anderson said. “We’re going to be a young team, basically.”
Forks at Klahowya, 1 p.m., Saturday
Todd Fraker takes the helm of the 2A Spartans, the team’s fourth head coach in as many seasons.
Forks, a Southwest Washington League team, was 3-6 overall last season and has less than 30 players out for varsity and junior varsity combined this year.
Klahowya (7-2 last season) won’t be an easy team to start against.
“That’s going to be a very good indicator for us,” Fraker said. “I’m looking forward to getting that game played so I have an idea of where we are, what we need to improve at.”
Klahowya belongs to the Nisqually League.
Wishkah Valley at Clallam Bay 7 p.m. Friday
The Bruins open their season against the Loggers in a nonleague contest as they get ready for another big season.
Clallam Bay, a North Olympic League team, finished 9-2 last season and made it to the state quarterfinals.
The Bruins are being picked to finish high in state again.
Neah Bay at Taholah 7 p.m., Friday
The Red Devils start out on the road against the Chitwhin in a nonleague contest as they go back to playing B-8 after two seasons as a B-11 team.
Neah Bay plays as an independent and finished at 2-3 last season. Taholah made it to the first round of the 2002 B-8 state championships.
The Red Devils will feature Tim Greene under center as the sophmore gets ready for his second season at quarterback.
Crescent and Quilcene will open their seasons next week with Quilcene playing at Taholah on Friday at 7 p.m. and Crescent facing Thorpe High School on Saturday at 1 p.m.
