(Updated with more Port Angeles Roughrider information)
PORT TOWNSEND — The East Jefferson Rivals got plenty of offense from a corral of running backs, but lost by one point in their season opener at Memorial Field against Granite Falls on Friday 20-19.
The Rivals had 170 yards rushing and another 104 yards passing against the Tigers. It was a back-and-forth game with several lead changes in the fourth quarter.
Granite Falls took a 14-13 lead on a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 7 minutes left. The Rivals responded by marching down the field and getting a 13-yard run from Josiah Pennington for a touchdown with 3 minutes left to make it 19-14. The two-point conversion on a pass failed, however.
The Tigers were able to score a short touchdown in the final minute to pull off the 20-19 road victory.
“The team looked great as far as overall performance,” said coach Tony Haddenham. “There are some things we’re going to have to work out. One is conditioning. We’re down some linemen from last year.”
Pennington led the team with 53 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries. Anson Jones had 41 yards rushing one eight carries, while Trevor Wilson had 34 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.
Quarterback Cash Holmes went 6-for-14 with 104 yards passing and an interception. He also scored a touchdown on a 10-yard run.
Micajah Shifflet had a 45-yard reception and Saiumau Auseuga caught two passes for 47 yards.
The Rivals are combined Chimacum-Port Townsend team. This is the second year the two schools have combined for joint sports teams and this year they adopted the name “Rivals” to their squad.
The Rivals will next play at Port Angeles at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Granite Falls 20, East Jefferson 19
GF 0 6 0 14 — 20
EJ 7 0 0 6 — 19
First Quarter
EJ — Holmes 10 run (Zambor kick)
Second Quarter
GF — Gonzales 3 run (2-point failed)
Third Quarter
EJ — Wilson 11 run (kick missed
Fourth Quarter
GF — No. 6 43 run (pass good)
EJ — Pennington 20 run (pass failed)
GF — Gonzales 3 run (run failed)
Rushing
EJ — Jones 8-41; Wilson 11-34, Homes 9-17, Pennington 13-53, Massie 5-27.
Receptions
EJ — Jones 2-7; Shifflet 1-45; Pennington 1-5; Auseuga 2-47.
Passing
EJ — Holmes 6-14-14, 1 INT.
Blaine 36, Port Angeles 28
BLAINE — The Roughriders had a chance to tie the game late on the road against Blaine, but came up just short in a season-opening 36-28 loss to the Borderites.
The Riders down a touchdown, were deep in Blaine territory but had a pass tipped and intercepted at the end of the game, according to coach Dustin Clark.
“We have a lot of kinks to work out,
Clark pointed the finger at himself for the loss and said he needs to work on his play-calling.
“We have some kinks to work out. We put the kids in a bad position,” Clark said.
“Our defensive line [Jaziel Livingston, Joseph Ritchie, Cole Johnson, Tanner Flores] played awesome. The entire game our D-line played very well,” Clark said.
“There’s little details we’ll clean up. Me being better calling plays offensive. Putting kids in better positions,” Clark said.
The Riders scored touchdowns on an Izaac Coppage 20-yard interception return and an 85-yard interception return by speedster Daniel Cable. Cable scored another touchdown on a rushing play, as well as a two-point conversion, while Livingston also had a rushing touchdown.
The Riders had 215 yards rushing on 39 attempts. Cable ran for 109 yards and Livingston 93. Ty Bradow had two receptions for 60 yards and Brantlyn Fizler had one catch for 31 yards.
Quarterback Parker Nickerson was 10-for-21 for 138 yards.
The Riders next host the East Jefferson Rivals at Civic Field at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
