TACOMA — Port Townsend has locked up a league title and its spot in the postseason.
Now it’s time to get some revenge.
The undefeated Redhawks travel to face Charles Wright tonight. The Tarriers (2-5) only have two wins this season, but Port Townsend probably won’t look past them towards next week’s West Central District playoffs.
The Redhawks overlooked Charles Wright last year, and it brought a shocking end their season.
Port Townsend and Charles Wright faced off at Memorial Field two consecutive weeks in 2014 — the last week of the regular season and in the district playoffs.
The Redhawks easily won the first game 49-6 and had every reason to expect another victory the following week.
Instead, Charles Wright won 24-14, and sent Port Townsend into an offseason filled with regret.
“Last year, we kind of took it easy. We thought we were going to make it far, but we took it easy on Charles Wright, and that didn’t end well,” Redhawks senior David Sua said before this season started.
“I’m never going to get over that.
“We didn’t take it like it was a playoff game, that last game. That whole week of practice, we took it like we were playing a very easy team.
“But they made it to the playoffs for a reason, and they beat us for a reason, because they practiced harder than us and played harder than us.”
Port Townsend coach Nick Snyder said earlier this season that he often reminds the Redhawks about the Charles Wright as a means of motivation, especially as they rolled through their reason with blowout win after blowout win (their closest game was a 43-6 victory over Klahowya two weeks ago).
Barring an upset of sixth-ranked Cascade Christian by Bellevue Christian on Saturday, tonight will be Port Townsend’s only shot at Charles Wright this season.
The Redhawks likely will play Bellevue Christian next week, while Charles Wright will face Klahowya.
In his first full game since moving from quarterback to fullback in last week’s 63-12 win over Chimacum, Sua ran for 145 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns.
New starting quarterback Berkley Hill was 4 for 6 for 38 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. He also ran three times for 21 yards.
Charles Wright will test Port Townsend’s pass defense, as the Tarriers average 267 yards per game through the air.
Senior quarterback Henry Cheney is completing only 49 percent of his throws, but he has 1,691 yards passing with 18 TDs and eight interceptions.
Charles Wright also can run the ball, averaging 137.9 yards a game.
Vashon at Chimacum
PORT TOWNSEND — The Cowboys go for their second win of the season when they face the Pirates at Memorial Field.
However, tonight’s game has limited meaning because Chimacum must play a half-game tiebreaker against Coupeville on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Sequim High School.
The winner of the tiebreaker advances to face defending Class 1A state champion Cascade Christian later next week.
The tiebreaker’s loser has a date to play Vashon again next week in an Olympic League 1A-Nisqually League crossover.
Clallam Bay at Neah Bay
NEAH BAY — Tonight will be the final game the Red Devils play until they open the state playoffs Friday or Saturday, Nov. 13-14.
Second-ranked Neah Bay (3-0, 7-0) has claimed the Northwest Football League championship, and that gives it a bye through the Quad-District playoffs.
The Bruins (1-2, 2-5) are locked into fourth place in the league, and will go on the road for Quad-Districts next week.
If Taholah beats Oakville tonight, then it will host Clallam Bay next week.
Crescent at Quilcene
QUILCENE — The Loggers were one of the few teams lucky enough to find a replacement for Lopez on their schedule.
Fortunately for Crescent (0-4, 2-6), the Rangers also had an opening the final week of the regular season.
Quilcene (2-2, 5-2) defeated the Loggers 50-8 in their first meeting of the season in late September. But Saturday’s game could be completely different if Eli Harrison, the Rangers’ starting quarterback and All-State defensive back, is still out with injury.
Crescent will end its season next Friday, Nov. 6, on the road against Darrington.
Darrington is normally a Class 2B 11-man team that was forced to drop its varsity program this season due to a lack of players, and has instead played a few 8-man games.
Quilcene will play on the road in the Quad-District playoffs next week, likely against Tulalip Heritage.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
