SEQUIM — Senior recognition, military appreciation and … oh yeah a little thing called the Rainshadow Rumble are on the agenda tonight when Sequim hosts Port Angeles in the annual rivalry football game.
With his team riding high and controlling its own playoff destiny after a 48-26 win over Olympic on Monday, Wolves coach Erik Wiker said it’s “business as usual” at practice this week in the Dungeness Valley.
“We’re excited for PA, for senior night and military appreciation night,” Wiker said.
“The approach is very businesslike [for a rivalry game], where you try to minimize distractions like a homecoming week.
“Of course you do want to emphasize that it does mean something and you better throw out the records because [Port Angeles] will be motivated.”
Sequim (3-1, 5-2) can earn the Olympic League 2A Division’s second seed to the district playoffs by winning its final two regular season contests.
The first step: keeping the Rainshadow Rumble trophy for another season. Sequim won 49-6 last season.
The Roughriders (0-4, 0-7) will be playing for pride — and a chance to knock the Wolves down a peg. After a couple of encouraging games in close losses to North Mason and Kingston, Port Angeles has taken a few steps back in recent defeats against Renton (33-6) and 51-0 to Bremerton on Monday.
Senior night festivities will be held before the game to honor Sequim football players and cheerleaders.
Military veterans are invited to the game and will be honored at halftime.
A flyover from a Coast Guard helicopter also is planned.
All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise listed.
Prediction: Sequim 52, Port Angeles 6
Forks at Elma
ELMA — A Spartans’ win and Forks (1-1, 3-3) will make the postseason for the first time since a 2008 trip to the 1A state tournament.
A loss won’t eliminate the Spartans, but it would make next week’s home game with Hoquiam (2-1, 4-3) effectively a loser-out contest for Forks.
So the Spartans will need to do what they do best tonight: utilize their power running game to chew up yards and clock in a bid to keep the ball out of Eagles running back Ira Hartford’s hands.
Hartford has 1,105 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Prediction: Forks 22, Elma 19
Vashon at Port Townsend
PORT TOWNSEND — The Redhawks moved closer to their second straight 1A state tournament appearance with a 27-19 win against Klahowya on Monday.
Tonight is Port Townsend’s (4-0, 5-2) homecoming game, and while the Redhawks can’t clinch that state berth with a win, any combination of a Port Townsend win and a Charles Wright loss over the next three weeks will put the Redhawks through to the playoffs.
But Port Townsend will focus on the Pirates and homecoming festivities this weekend.
Prediction: Port Townsend 48, Vashon 14
Chimacum at Charles Wright
UNIVERSITY PLACE — The Cowboys could really do rival Port Townsend a favor with a victory.
A Chimacum win and a Redhawks win and Port Townsend heads to state.
To get a win, the Cowboys will have to stop junior receiver Alex Meadowcraft who leads the Tarriers with 365 yards on 41 catches, as well as senior running back James Vogelgesgang who has rushed for 358 yards this season.
Prediction: Charles Wright 27, Chimacum 14
Tulalip Heritage at Neah Bay
NEAH BAY — The Hawks have had trouble fielding enough players this year and have only played two games, both of them six-man contests against Clallam Bay.
Neah Bay should have no trouble in tonight’s contest.
Forks Radio 1490 am and Forks1490.com will broadcast the game live, beginning with a 4:15 p.m. pregame show before the 5 p.m. kickoff.
Oly Archibald and Eric Johnson will call the game.
Prediction: Neah Bay 58, Tulalip 0
Quilcene at Seattle Lutheran
SEATTLE — A pivotal 1B SeaTac League tilt between the Saints (2-1, 3-3) and Rangers (2-1, 5-1) will likely decide the league’s second playoff berth and an automatic state tournament berth.
Quilcene has split with Seattle Lutheran in recent seasons, falling 48-12 last year and beating the Saints 34-6 in 2014 in a mud bowl.
Just as in those contests, the Rangers will have to stop Seattle Lutheran quarterback Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht and his favorite receiving target, 6-foot-7-inch Josh Meyer.
A tall task, indeed.
This game will be held at West Seattle Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Prediction: Quilcene 34, Seattle Lutheran 26
Last Week: 4-2
Season to Date: 40-7.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
