PORT TOWNSEND — In a spirited rivalry contest, the team that can contain its emotions and maintain focus throughout stands the best chance of victory.
Port Townsend did just that, playing in an aggressive but relatively controlled fashion in a 37-7 Rhody Bowl demolition of rival Chimacum on Friday at Memorial Field.
“We’ve been trying to come out strong with a high level of excitement and I felt we were pretty dialed in this week,” Redhawks coach Alex Heilig said. “Playing composed is something we preach every day. We are a team that can’t afford to make mistakes and get away with it, so we need to stay composed at all times and that’s part of the creed we preach.”
Tied at 7-all after first quarter touchdowns by both teams, the Redhawks ran off 30 unanswered points to win their sixth straight game in the rivalry, all of them blowouts.
Port Townsend’s steady play rattled its Cowboy counterparts into four turnovers, a defensive touchdown and safety, a player ejection and multiple personal foul penalties.
“Chimacum, the refs are pretty sensitive, they throw everything [flags],” the Redhawks sophomore quarterback Noa Apker-Montoya said. “Everytime someone [on Chimacum] talked to one of our players, we talked to our guys and told them to shut up, play football and play the [score on the] scoreboard.
“If we don’t have anybody doing anything back we’re fine. If you respond, it makes you look weak. We just needed to stay in our own little lane.”
That was another spot Port Townsend exceled at Friday night. The Redhawks’ offensive line opened up crater-sized running lanes for sophomore running back Dylan Tracer and Apker-Montoya.
“We lost contain a lot of times,” Chimacum coach Mike Dowling said. “And Montoya has quick feet, we had to contain him, and we didn’t do a good job of that for him and for Tracer. We gave him cutback lanes because our edge was getting too far upfield.”
Tracer has become the Redhawks’ workhorse in the offensive backfield this season and totaled 24 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown in the game.
“I’ve been waiting for him to step up and play running back and when Cole [Crawford] got hurt in Port Angeles, Dylan had back-to-back 90-yard running games [against Mount Baker and Bellevue Christian]. “And tonight he was great, so pretty good for a sophomore.
“Now he’s starting to get used to it, he’s starting to run the ball he’s seeing the holes, he’s seeing the lineman blocking down and he’s getting yards.”
Apker-Montoya also got yards, 82 of them on 12 carries, and touchdowns from 28, 3 and 1-yard out. He also completed 7 of 9 passes for 109 yards, including deep strikes on a 39-yard connection with Jacob Boucher and a 32-yard pass to Nico Winegar early in the contest to set up TDs.
Apker-Montoya also pulled down an interception, his third of the season. He now has 16 career interceptions a little under halfway to the state 11-man record of 33.
“Tonight, Noa played probably a more complete game this week,” Heilig said. “And the offensive line absolutely stepped up and dominated for us. Dylan had some great runs but the holes were opened up by the offensive line and you have to give them credit.”
Apker-Montoya was quick to point out the time his linemen gave him in the pocket on his long pass connections to Boucher and Winegar.
“To get those points it’s on the linemen” Apker-Montoya said. I’ve been told multiple times to step up in the pocket, I love to scramble a lot, it’s my favorite thing to do, but it’s on the linemen to give me time and they did that.”
Port Townsend took the opening kickoff 84 yards on 10 plays, converting three third down opportunities before Tracer ran in from a yard out for a 7-0 lead.
Chimacum answered with a 9-yard score from Logan Shaw, but the Redhawks responded just 20 seconds later with a two-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Apker-Montoya found Winegar down the left sideline for 32 yards and then sped right for 28 yards and a TD.
Apker-Montoya ran hard on a 3-yard QB keeper to the left pylon, pushing through Chimacum defenders to cross the goal line for a 21-7 lead.
The Cowboys never responded as Port Townsend’s defense took over for the remainder of the game. Boucher, Jackson Foster, Tracer all played well on that side of the ball,
“The defense did another great job. If we can hold a team to seven points I’m a happy guy,” Heilig said.
It was another difficult loss for Chimacum against the Redhawks.
“After halftime we had lost our QB [to ejection], lost our wide receiver, had four turnovers, and made more mistakes than we’ve had all season,” Dowling said.
“It’s frustrating because …we can play with those guys. But tsivelyhey can flow so well [defensively], especially Foster. There were a couple of plays where he was in the backfield before we knew it.”
Port Townsend (2-0, 2-3) hosts Coupeville (1-1, 3-2) at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Chimacum (0-2, 2-3) visits Bellevue Christian Saturday.
Port Townsend 37, Chimacum 7
Chimacum 7 0 0 0— 7
Port Townsend 15 6 8 8— 37
First Quarter
PT—Tracer 1 run (Winegar kick)
C—Shaw 9 run (Purser kick)
PT—Apker-Montoya 28 run (Apker-Montoya)
Second Quarter
PT—Apker-Montoya 3 run (pass failed)
Third Quarter
PT—Crawford sacks Hundley for Safety
PT—Montoya 1 run (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
PT—Crawford fumble recovery in end zone (Crawford pass from Apker-Montoya)
Individual Stats
Rushing—C: Hundley 15-61, Shaw 7-41,Bainbridge 2-6, Storm 4-5, Dotson 3-4, Glanz 1-1, Purser 1-(-6) PT: Tracer 24-134, Apker-Montoya 12-82, Boucher 3-15, Crawford 3-(-2).
Passing—C: Dotson 3-5-0, 25; Hundley 2-8-1, 14; Pennington 1-2-0, 7. PT: Apker-Montoya 7-9-0, 109.
Receiving—C: Storm 1-15, Bainbridge 1-13, Hundley 2-10, McConnell 2-7. PT: Boucher 3-63, Winegar 1-32, Crawford 1-12, Tracer 1-2.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
