SEQUIM — Sequim will need to clean up some facets of its play in its home opener tonight against Montesano, the Wolves’ second straight contest against a Class 1A opponent to open the season.
Last week, Sequim built leads of 14, 12 and 13 points against a plucky Port Townsend team that kept fighting back, eventually holding off the Redhawks 27-26.
Improving defensively is at the top of the improvements needed list for Wolves coach Erik Wiker.
“Little fundamental things like not wrapping up on tackles,” Wiker said after the Port Townsend game.
“It’s first game stuff, it always happens. It’s a little different tempo than practice. The guys are going 100 miles per hour.”
Wiker said the results were good about half the time in the opener.
“We swallowed them up or we didn’t,” Wiker said.
“We got them in the backfield or they got 10 [yards] and I’m wondering why they got to the edge and what we didn’t do right.”
Montesano, a traditional powerhouse coached by former Forks head man Terry Jensen, went 10-3 and advanced to the 1A semifinals last season.
This year’s batch of Bulldogs returns just two starters from that deep playoff run, but Montesano showed no signs of a letdown in a 54-20 trouncing of 2A Aberdeen last week.
Sequim’s aerial attack added a new weapon last week in 6-3 junior wideout Payton Glasser. Glasser caught three passes for 29 yards, including two TDs. He had another possible touchdown slip through his hands later in the game. Glasser also made a great break on a Port Townsend pass for an interception.
Prediction: Montesano 32, Sequim 21
No. 1 Lummi at No. 3 Neah Bay
NEAH BAY — This early-season nonconference showdown is the preliminary bout in a two-game series between the Class 1B heavyweights.
Red Devils coach Tony McCaulley had plenty of compliments for Blackhawks senior Trazil Lane and twin tandem Free and Raven Borsey.
Free Borsey and Dashawn Lawrence split time at quarterback in Lummi’s 68-22 win over Seattle Lutheran last week.
Ben Greene hit on 7 of 13 passes for 170 yards and three TDs for Neah Bay in its 52-6 11-man win over Chimacum.
Prediction: Neah Bay 36, Lummi 34
King’s Way Christian at Forks
FORKS — The Spartans have their work cut out for themselves against the Knights.
A 1A Trico League member, Kings’ Way Christian knocked off Class 3A Fort Vancouver 45-27 last week.
The Knights also have the added bonus of incorporating players from another private school, Seton Catholic, into their program this year.
Adding to Forks’ worries is King’s Way Christian’s strength is its passing game. The Knights’ senior quarterback Liam Nabors completed 12 of 21 passes for 415 yards and 5 TDs in the opener.
Spartans coach Emil West said Forks had work to do in its pass defense after last week’s 42-26 win over Vashon.
Prediction: King’s Way Christian 42, Forks 14
Quilcene at Oakville
OAKVILLE — The Rangers travel south for a nonleague eight-man game tonight.
Quilcene originally was set to face Tulalip Heritage, but the Hawks are having early-season issues with turnout and had to cancel in favor of a six-man game at Clallam Bay.
Rangers coach Trey Beathard said he likes to scout his opponents to figure out what they like to run and have his players work against those plays in practice.
But Oakville threw a wrench into that process as this game will be the Acorns’ season debut.
That makes Oakville a tough nut to crack. But I don’t think the Rangers will have any problems.
Prediction: Quilcene 40, Oakville 14
Chimacum at South Whidbey
LANGLEY — The Cowboys took their lumps last weekend against a more experienced Neah Bay squad.
South Whidbey also was beaten soundly, falling to Whidbey Island rival Coupeville 41-10.
This looks to be a winnable game for Chimacum. But I’m worried about the larger size of the Falcons’ roster.
Depth helps win ballgames and the Cowboys always seem to lack bodies.
Prediction: South Whidbey 26, Chimacum 14
Tulalip Heritage at Clallam Bay
CLALLAM BAY — Six-man football comes to the North Olympic Peninsula tonight when two teams low on turnout face off.
The Bruins’ Clayton Willis is a hard man to tackle when you have eight players, let alone six.
He should go off for big yards on the smaller field (80 yards long).
Prediction: Clallam Bay 56, Tulalip 36
Mary M. Knight at Crescent, 1 p.m. Saturday
JOYCE — The host Loggers and visiting Owls will look to bounce back after blowout losses last weekend. Quilcene beat Mary M. Knight 52-0 and Crescent lost 54-6 to Tacoma Baptist.
Quilcene coach Trey Beatherd said the Owls have a good-sized turnout, but are full of eighth graders, freshmen and sophomores.
The Loggers have the edge on experience with a senior-led team.
Prediction: Crescent 42, Mary M. Knight 12
Season record to date: 6-0.
