LAST WEEK WAS a tough one for most North Olympic Peninsula high school football teams.
Neah Bay beat Clallam Bay 56-14, and Forks shut out Toledo 19-0, but the area’s other seven teams had to swallow tough losses.
The Peninsula’s seven losing teams (including Clallam Bay) were outscored 319 to 97 on Friday and Saturday.
It was a gloomy weekend, but each team has something to look forward to.
So, let’s put some lipstick on their pigskins.
■ Sequim (0-1, 0-3). Lost to Bremerton 41-35.
This was actually a great loss because of the way the Wolves came back from a 34-0 halftime deficit and put themselves in a position to actually win the game in the final minute.
In a game like that, the losing team leaves with better vibes than the winning team.
So, looking on the bright side, Sequim probably can’t have a worse half than it did in the first half against the Knights.
And as the Wolves play their first road game of the season at North Kitsap on Friday, they can have hope that they will play more halves similar to last week’s second half.
■ Port Angeles (0-1, 0-3). Lost to North Mason 42-6.
Like last year, the Roughriders find themselves 0-3.
And while they have struggled to score this season (26 points in three games, statistically they are moving the ball better than last year.
Miki Andrus has 280 yards this season (including 138 last week) and is averaging 6 yards per carry. Matt Robbins is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
Quarterback Nate Angevine and running back Robbins have hooked up for a long touchdown pass in each of the three games.
This week, Port Angeles hosts Olympic (1-2) at Civic Field on Friday night.
■ Port Townsend (0-1, 2-1). Lost to Eatonville 16-0.
The Redskins had a tough end to their hot start, getting shut out by the Cruisers.
However, while the offense struggled, the Port Townsend defense kept the Redskins in the game until the fourth quarter.
That’s good news for a team that has struggled defensively the last few years.
This wee, Port Townsend plays Bellevue Christian (1-0, 2-1) at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland on Saturday.
■ Chimacum (0-1, 0-2). Lost to Bellevue Christian 28-6.
The Cowboys are the toughest team on the Peninsula to read. Not only are they inexperience, but they have only played two games so far.
But, their roster is bigger than usual, and they are getting offensive and defensive contributions from players who will be around beyond this season.
By the end of this season, Chimacum should be much improved.
■ Clallam Bay (1-2). Lost to Neah Bay.
The Bruins lost to the Red Devils by a lot, but almost everybody does.
Clallam Bay also added a couple of new weapons to its offense: Casey Randall and Brian Smith both played well in their first games of the season, and quarterback Kelly Gregory is becoming a good leader on the field.
The Bruins play at Quilcene (1-1) on Saturday afternoon.
■ Quilcene (1-1). Lost to Lopez 68-30.
Too many turnovers doomed the Rangers, but in the loss, quarterback Jacob Pleines and J.J. Smith were a formidable pass-catch combination, hooking up for three scores and over 200 yards.
Pleines miss the first half of last season, and wasn’t able to develop great timing with his receivers. This season, time is on Quilcene’s side.
The Rangers host Clallam Bay on Saturday.
■ Crescent (0-3). Lost to Evergreen Lutheran 68-6.
The Loggers, already overloaded with youth, had to play without their top player so far this season, Travis Walker.
But Walker, along with lineman Dane Kjerulf, should be back when Crescent host Rainier Christian (0-3) on Saturday afternoon.
As for the winners . . .
Neah Bay (3-0) is off this week before renewing its long-distant rivalry with Lummi on Friday, Oct. 4.
Forks (1-2) hosts Tenino (0-3) in the Spartans’ homecoming game Friday night.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
