PORT TOWNSEND — The Olympic League 1A title may be on the line tonight at Memorial Field in a meeting between Port Townsend and Klahowya.
Whichever team wins, the victor will assume the upper hand in the first of two league contests between the schools this season.
“I was telling the kids after the game [last Friday] that Klahowya is very talented and really athletic,” Redhawks coach Nick Snyder said.
“I know the quarterback [Konner Langholf] is really good. He’s a legit presence.
“They have a pretty good set of running backs.”
Snyder agrees that there’s plenty of meaning in tonight’s matchup.
“This could be for our league championship,” Snyder said.
Pinpoint passing accuracy has been an emerging story line in each of Port Townsend’s opening contests.
Quarterback Jeff Seton has put up outstanding numbers (18 of 23 for 323 yards, two touchdowns and one interception) and it appears the Redhawks (1-1) can go to the air when it needs a big play this season. But the best way to beat tonight’s opponent, Klahowya (0-2), appears to be on the ground.
Bremerton senior running back Calvin Cardwell gashed the Eagles for 331 yards on
31 carries and four second-half touchdowns last week, as the Knights rolled 35-7.
Port Townsend’s pistol-wing offense uses more of a running back-by-committee approach, but did pound out 32 carries for 176 total yards in last week’s 48-7 win against Bellevue Christian.
Kingston at Sequim
SEQUIM — The Wolves (2-0) look to remain unbeaten against a Buccaneers roster depleted by graduation.
Kingston (0-2) lost Olympic League MVP fullback/linebacker Aaron Dickson, first-team all-league quarterback Bobby Reece, halfback Nick Tabanera and five other first-team players from last season’s state playoff team.
Port Angeles at North Mason
BELFAIR — Stop two in the Roughriders’ (2-0) three-game road trip is a trip down Hood Canal to face the Bulldogs’ (1-1) triple option offense.
“North Mason is always a tough one; not a real complex scheme, but they run a true triple option,” Port Angeles offensive coordinator Vic Reykdal said.
“We will have to maintain discipline so we will practice without a ball on defense so the kids stay true to their reads and assignments.”
Quilcene at Clallam Bay
CLALLAM BAY — Bruins head coach Cal Ritter isn’t shocked by his team’s 2-0 start.
“I expected the games to be a little closer, but I figured we would be able to compete,” Ritter said.
The shorthanded Clallam Bay squad has won 48-0 against Crescent and 56-26 against Rainier Christian to start the season.
Ritter expects a more-balanced matchup against the Rangers (1-1).
“The are, normally, a quick and fast team, and we should match up with them real well, considering our speed,” Ritter said.
Montesano at Forks
FORKS — The Bulldogs will look for revenge after falling to the Spartans (1-1) 14-12 last season.
Montesano (0-2), coached by former Forks head coach Terry Jensen, has had a tough-luck start to 2014, losing last week to Nooksack Valley 40-34 and 33-7 to a resurgent Black Hills.
The game can be heard live on Forks 1490 AM or online at www.forks1490.com.
Chimacum at Coupeville
COUPEVILLE — The Cowboys take the Port Townsend ferry across for both teams’ first Olympic League 1A Division game.
Game time is 5:30 p.m.
The two teams share a common opponent: Sequim beat Chimacum (0-2) 47-21 in the season opener and toppled Coupeville (1-1) 40-17 last week.
Taholah at Neah Bay
NEAH BAY — The Chitwins travel up the coast for a showdown with the top-ranked Red Devils tonight at 6 p.m.
Taholah (1-1) lost to Evergreen Lutheran 58-44 in the season opener before routing Oakville 58-14 last week.
Neah Bay (2-0) is coming off a big win over No. 5 Lummi, but coach Tony McCaulley said the Red Devils still have a lot of room for improvement.
Oakville at Crescent
JOYCE — Crescent picked up its first victory in more than a year last week against Muckleshoot.
They’ll aim to put together a winning streak against the Acorns at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Oakville opened its season last week with a 58-14 loss to Taholah.
