KINGSTON — The Port Angeles football team put a loud exclamation point on guaranteeing their first regular-season winning season since 2011, locking up a district playoff berth, by scoring nine touchdowns in a 63-0 rout over Kingston.
The win puts the Roughriders’ record at 5-3 (4-2 in the Olympic League) and guarantees third place among the Class 2A schools in the Olympic League. Port Angeles has one regular season game left at home Friday against 1-6 North Mason with hopes of improving their playoff position, provided Bremerton lost late last night and Thursday against Sequim in the Knights’ regular season finale.
Ironically, because Kingston is struggling this year at 1-7, Port Angeles’ Ratings Percentage Index actually dropped, from 18 to 19, by the Riders simply stepping on the field against the Buccaneers. But being in the top 20 statewide is still good for district playoff positioning. North Kitsap is No. 3 and Bremerton is No. 8. Bainbridge, who the Riders crushed, is No. 14 among 3A schools.
Remarkably, eight different players scored for the Riders as they poured 42 points on the scoreboard in the second quarter alone and 56 in the first half. The second half went to a running clock with backups getting the chance to play.
Port Angeles finished with 259 yards rushing on just 26 carries.
It was simply domination in all facets as the Riders’ defense only allowed Kingston one serious scoring chance at the end of the first half. The Bucs missed a field goal attempt at the end of the half.
“They’re playing hard on every play,” said coach Dustin Clark. “They’re really putting in the work and that hard work is paying off.”
The team’s turnaround came about after Port Angeles lost three games to three top 10-ranked squads in Anacortes, North Kitsap and Bremerton. “We learned from those tough games. Playing three of the top 10 teams in the state, we got better,” Clark said.
Jordan Shumway had a huge game on defense, with an interception that helped lead to one of Port Angeles’ quick drives and a fumble recovery that led to another touchdown. Shumway said this year has helped wiped away some of the recent tough seasons the Roughriders have had.
“We’re good this year,” he said. “We’re a great team. We can go far.”
Tanner Flores has been having a spectacular season all year for the Riders on defense. He’s been with the program for four years.
“It’s been fun, watching this program built from my freshman year to this year. Everything is working,” he said.
Nine touchdowns
Kaiden Point had an 8-yard touchdown reception on a three-play drive set up by a partially blocked punt. Quarterback Parker Nickerson hit Blake Sohlberg with a 25-yard touchdown pass later in the first quarter.
The Riders truly exploded in the second quarter with 42 points in 10½ minutes. Jason Hawes had touchdown runs of 3 and 10 yards, Kason Albaugh had a 5-yard TD run, James Browning scored on a 1-yard run for his first score of the year, Nickerson got his second touchdown pass, this one a 30-yarder to Ezra Townsend and Landyn Jones finished off the first half with a big 40-yard run for a touchdown.
Dylan Mann finished off the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Hawes led the team with 66 yards rushing on six carries. Lane Wilson had three carries for 51 yards, Jones 48 on two carries, Albaugh 41 on eight carries and Browning 33 on four carries. Sohlberg had a 30-yard reception in addition to his touchdown catch.
The last time the Riders had a winning record was at 7-4 in 2011. They have had a couple of four-win seasons in the past 12 years.
Port Angeles completes its regular season at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Civic Field. A meeting for postseason seeding will be held Oct. 29 with 12 teams in the Bi-District (Olympic, South Puget Sound KingCo 2A) making the postseason. The Riders will be the No. 3 team out of the Olympic and at the moment, they have the seventh-best RPI in the bi-district.
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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
