PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend advanced to the 1A Tri-District playoffs by beating Life Christian Academy for the second time in three weeks.
The Redskins put the Eagles away with a 18-point fourth quarter to win 38-6 at Memorial Field on Saturday night.
With the win, the Redskins are one win away from reaching the state playoffs for the first time since 2004.
“Make it to the state playoffs, that’s been our goal all along,” Port Townsend coach Nick Snyder said Sunday.
But first, the Redskins must beat Blaine (4-5) of the Northwest Conference at Civic Field in Bellingham on Friday night.
Snyder had watched film of the Borderites by Sunday afternoon.
They’re a tough team to figure out.
“That’s a tough league up there,” Snyder said.
“Blaine has played some real tough teams. They beat Meridian, and they’re a really good team.”
However, the Borderites also are coming off a big loss to Nooksack Valley (3-6).
“I’m trying to figure out if [Blaine] is missing some key personnel,” Snyder said.
The Borderites offense is employing a different look than they have in recent years.
“They were an I-back, smashmouth, off-tackle team, now they’re spreading it out and throwing the ball a little more,” Snyder said.
When Port Townsend and Life Christian faced off on Oct. 19 in Tacoma, the Redskins won 63-12.
This time, the Eagles defense keyed on stopping Port Townsend’s counter plays and slowing its three-headed rushing attack of quarterback Jacob King and running backs Matt Cain and Tim Russell.
Enter fullback David Sua and an improved passing game.
Sua ran 11 times for 85 yards.
“Not bad for a rumbling, tumbling ex-quarterback,” Snyder said of the sophomore.
“He’s getting better and better at being a north-and-south runner.”
King completed 5 of 8 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Four of those completions went to Skyler Coppenrath. The other was a 76-yard dime to Cain.
“Matt Cain made a beautiful catch; Jacob put it right on the money,” Snyder said.
King, Cain and Russell still had productive rushing numbers, despite the Eagles’ defensive efforts.
King ran for 128 yards and a score. He now has 1,354 yards on the season, which is 322 yards shy of surpassing Rich Staph’s school record of 1,675.
Russell had 10 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and Cain ran for 71 yards and a pair of scores.
Russell now has 878 yards rushing this season and Cain has 831.
On defense, Sua led Port Townsend by getting in on 10 tackles and recording one sack.
Cain had nine tackles, and King picked of two passes.
The Redskins (7-2) enter the postseason in good health.
“We haven’t had any injuries, knock on wood,” Snyder said.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
