This week, most of the football teams on the North Olympic Peninsula have some tough tests coming up on the road.
Six out of the nine prep games this weekend are on the road, with only Chimacum, Forks and Sequim hosting games this week.
Sequim vs. Kingston
This will be an interesting test for the Wolves, fighting to stay in second place in the Olympic League 2A Division.
Kingston is 1-1 in league and 2-1 overall, but both of those wins were against struggling teams. They got pancaked last week by Olympic.
Sequim is 1-1 in league (3-1 overall) and coming off a tough road win over North Mason after a close road loss to North Kitsap.
Kingston is pretty one-dimensional. In a win over the Roughriders, the Buccaneers only threw two passes all game, and one of those was an interception. Their offense revolves heavily around huge running back Garrett Sitting Dog.
Meanwhile, the Wolves can run it with Walker Ward and can throw it with either Kobe Applegate or Taig Wiker. Wiker has an ankle injury and might not play tonight. Applegate in a fill-in role went 18 for 23 for 255 yards against North Mason.
Regardless of whether Wiker or Applegate play, if you give Sequim head coach Erik Wiker a one-dimensional offense to defend against, you’re giving him and the Wolves a big advantage. Wolves win.
Port Angeles at Olympic
This is going to be a tough road test for a young Roughriders team. Olympic looks really, really good. Like, scary good. The Trojans (2-0, 3-1) have crushed 3A Bainbridge and league opponents North Mason and Kingston by a combined score of 130-33. The Riders (0-2, 0-4) are still looking for their first win of the year. Olympic win.
Port Townsend at Vashon
This is an important Nisqually League game for the Redhawks (0-1, 1-2) and they will get a better idea of where they stand with the rest of the league. Port Townsend’s two losses were against very good teams from Forks and Charles Wright. Vashon is 0-4 and ripe for a Nisqually road win for the Redhawks. Port Townsend win.
Montesano at Forks
Forks has looked really good so far this season, building up a 3-1 nonleague season. Now, they start league play with the big bully of the Evergreen 1A League, Montesano.
Montesano looks truly scary so far. The Bulldogs are 4-0 and have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 238-26.
But, there’s a reason they play the game. Are the Spartans for real? Their defense in particular has been great with a shutout in one game and just 7 points allowed against Granite Falls. Even Sequim, a very solid 2A team, beat Forks by just two scores. Here is the Spartans’ chance to show if they are for real, but they are still underdogs in our book. Montesano win.
Charles Wright at Chimacum
Chimacum (1-0, 1-3) got its first win of the year last week against Klahowya. Charles Wright (1-0, 4-0) is a very good Nisqually opponent that has already handled Port Townsend. It looks like Charles Wright might give league power Cascade Christian a run for its money this year. Charles Wright win.
Neah Bay at Naselle
This is going to be a huge test for Neah Bay (3-0). Both teams are undefeated and have scored in bunches all season. The Red Devils come into the game averaging 59 points a game, while Naselle (4-0) is averaging 64 points a game. Last year, Naselle handled Neah Bay pretty easily, but this year, the Red Devils are pretty healthy. We’re going out on a big limb here and predicting a Neah Bay upset on the road.
Quilcene at Rainier Christian
Quilcene’s (2-1) a bit harder to figure out this year than past years, in which the Rangers were pretty dominant. They’re a little more vulnerable this year with a loss to Neah Bay and a very close win over Crescent. Rainier Christian (2-2) has a win over Mary Knight by a similar score that Quilcene beat the same team by. Still, until someone proves otherwise, Quilcene remains the team to beat in the SeaTac 1B League. Quilcene win.
Saturday’s Games Crescent at Taholah
Crescent (2-2) looks pretty good this year with 118 points scored in the Loggers’ past two games and a very close loss to Quilcene on its resume (2-2). Taholah is 1-3. Crescent win.
Clallam Bay at Lake Quinault
Don’t look now, but the 6-man Clallam Bay Bruins are 2-0. Last week, Ryan Strid had an insane game, rushing for 500 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns in a win over the Quilcene JV. Clallam Bay win.
