SEQUIM — Known more for a strong arm and his aptitude as a play caller, Sequim’s junior quarterback Riley Cowan has increasingly used his feet as a weapon for the district playoff-bound Wolves (6-3).
Cowan, Sequim’s starting signal-caller since his freshman season, has become more of a “chain-mover” this season, according to Wolves coach Erik Wiker.
“I think he’s improved a whole bunch as a runner,” Wiker said. “He didn’t start running with the ball until the end of last season when he started to really see the benefits of that — when to run and not force passes, be a chain mover [for first downs] and don’t throw an empty pass. It’s all about making better decisions with the ball and getting us more opportunities to move the ball and that’s what we want all the time.”
“It’s just a point of emphasis that we did [during film study],” Wiker said. “He’s a passing QB and should think pass first all the time, but we would let him know specific plays he should have ran with it.”
Nobody is going to confuse Cowan’s running ability with the likes of the Seattle Seahawks’ magician-in-cleats Russell Wilson.
Cowan is more like another former Seahawks QB, a Matt Hasselbeck-type, able to confuse unsuspecting defenses when he takes off with a well-timed scramble or tucks the ball away when nothing is going on downfield on rollout pass plays.
His Wolves are on a four-game winning streak heading into Friday night’s game at Fife (8-1), rallying from an 0-2 start in Olympic League 2A Division play to clinch the league’s third and final playoff berth in that stretch.
In those four wins, Cowan has totaled 145 rushing yards on 33 attempts, and scored a rushing touchdown in all four victories.
His best totals came in Sequim’s 29-14 rivalry win over Port Angeles, when he ran for 63 yards on 15 attempts as the Wolves controlled the ball and the clock to seal a playoff spot.
“The safest play is to run the ball,” Cowan said. “But If I run or not it depends on down and distance, it depends on if we need to take a shot or not, depends on pre-snap if they force on me or not. Port Angeles didn’t have that force gap, I was able to decipher that and take advantage.”
Wiker also pointed to Sequim’s home opener, a 23-22 come-from-behind win against Centralia, for more good decision making.
“The Centralia game I complimented him on a fourth-and-2 play late in the game where he rolled out and got three yards,” Wiker said. “It would have been game over with an incomplete pass in that situation, and that shows he understands it now, it’s more important to go for the first down than to force something.”
Cowan said he didn’t have his mind made up to run the ball on that play, but it wasn’t a difficult decision.
“I looked at the chains, it was fourth-and-2 and coach called a rollout,” Cowan said. “The easiest way to pick up the first down is to run and get it, and the defense knows that. If my guys [receivers] were wide open I could have thrown it, but I put my shoulder down and got the three yards.”
Cowan credited his offensive line for their efforts.
After moving some pieces around in the season’s early going, tackles Michael Larsen and Johnnie Young, guards Adam DeFillipo and Cody Bell and freshman center Brandon Barnett, have all started the last three games, according to Wiker.
“I think the line has done fantastic in pass protection and on designed runs, getting a good push and getting running backs and me to the next level [of the defense],” Cowan said. said.
And Wiker is enjoying seeing his quarterback add to his abilities.
“He’s been an excellent drop-back passer, but adding good decisions on when to run, or if guys are covered, running, has made us a better team.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
