FORKS — Forks scored seven first-half touchdowns, triggering the 40-point mercy rule before halftime in a 49-6 rout of Ilwaco at home Friday.
“Our guys were amped up from the week before [a tough loss at Morton/White Pass.
“Our guys were excited about playing their game and they were revved up for our first home game.”
Nate Dahlgren opened the scoring with a 72-yard touchdown run on Forks’ first offensive play from scrimmage. He also added a 1-yard TD plunge later in the game.
Quarterback Gunner Rogers was head coach Trevor Highfield’s Spartan of the Week after running for touchdowns of 10, 44 and 14 yards, while also tossing a 68-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Rancourt and a 42-yarder to Walker Wheeler.
Wheeler also kicked 5 of 6 on point-after touchdown attempts.
“We were working on our passing game throughout the week and we had some success with it,” Highfield said.
“Everybody got into play at the start of the secoind half, so this one was a really good team victory,” Highfield said.
The No. 6 ranked Raymond-South Bend Ravens (1-0, 4-0) visit Forks (1-1, 2-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Chief Leschi 70, Crescent 24
PUYALLUP — Crescent had plenty of offense, but mistakes and a quick-strike Chief Leschi offense was the Loggers’ undoing in a 70-24 road loss Friday night.
The Loggers had two 100-yard rushers and over 100 yards passing. Coach Brian Shimko said it was his plan to grind the clock and keep the ball away from Chief Leschi, a 2B school that had a good quarterback and an effective passing game.
The plan worked to begin with as the Loggers actually held an 8-6 lead at one point. “I was feeling pretty goo. I thought we were hanging with them,” Shimko said.
But Crescent failed to convert some fourth-down plays and had a couple of bad fumbles that cost the Loggers possible scores. Chief Leschi responded with some quick two-play drives that buried the Loggers in a deep hole on the scoreboard.
Tommy Leonard led the Loggers with 145 yards rushing on 33 carries. Shimko said Leonard’s biggest rush was for just 10 yards, but that he effectively ground up yardage and controlled the clock at times.
“That was the first time I had thrown him in to the running back role. I liked what I saw,” Shimko said.
Conner Bauers added 107 yards on 15 carries.
Meanwhile, quarterback Henry Bourm threw 8-for-12 for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Lukas Love had three catches for 86 yards, including two touchdown catches. Conner Ferro-May had four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown, while Bauers had an 11-yard catch. Bourm also had 24 yards rushing on four carries.
It won’t get easier for the Loggers (1-3) next week as they play unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Neah Bay (3-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Joyce.
Cascade Christian 43, East Jefferson 8
PORT TOWNSEND — The Rivals dropped their Nisqually League opener to the Cougars at Memorial Field on Friday.
