PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend’s playoff run was stopped before it could even begin in a stunning 24-14 upset at the hands of Charles Wright Friday at Memorial Field.
A week after blitzing Charles Wright 49-6 in the nonleague, regular season finale for each team, the Redhawks committed four second-half turnovers, five total, and could not find an answer for the Tarriers’ junior quarterback Henry Cheney.
Cheney took Charles Wright’s opening offensive play 72 yards to the end zone on a quarterback keeper and found Rahsaan Mills for a 15-yard score to go ahead 12-0 with 10:15 left in the second quarter.
Port Townsend rallied to take a 14-12 lead, putting together a long drive capped by a Wesley Wheeler plunge from 1-yard out, and then scoring on a 7-yard screen pass from senior Jeff Seton to Wheeler with 22 second until halftime.
Cheney found Mills on a 45-yard go route to get the Tarriers to the 10-yard line with 10 seconds to play and found Mills again on a 10-yard crossing route as the first half expired to put the Tarriers ahead 18-14 at halftime.
Low snaps and bumbled handoffs led to three third quarter fumbles for the Redhawks, and the fourth came at midfield with 8:52 to play.
Charles Wright put together a nine-play, 52-yard drive capped by Cheney scoring from 1-yard out with 6:52 to play.
Port Townsend’s last drive stalled at midfield and the Tarriers were able to run out the clock and prime the celebration for the team’s first playoff victory since 1991.
The Redhawks season ends with a 7-3 record and the Olympic League’s 1A division title.
