FORKS — Neah Bay gets its first chance to test out what may become its new home-away-from-home tonight when the Red Devils (2-1) travel to Forks to face the Spartans (2-1) in an 11-man football game.
In recent seasons Neah Bay, an eight-man football powerhouse, has hosted state playoff games on the closest artificial turf fields available, North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo and Silverdale Stadium in Bremerton.
Forks’ spacious new FieldTurf Revolution layout is exactly what is sought for playoff contests, an artificial turf field that eliminates problems with potentially muddy grass gridirons.
Of course, the Red Devils must still qualify for the playoffs. That journey begins next Friday with a home game against Crescent.
Tonight’s game against Forks should be “a fun one,” according to Spartans head coach Emil West.
His Spartans used a power-rushing attack with as many as three running backs in the backfield to roll up Chimacum 48-7 last week.
Neah Bay has speed, speed and a little more speed at its disposal in quarterback/receiver Rwehabura Munyagi Jr., running back Cole Svec and wide receiver Cameron Buzzell.
For Forks to win they’ll need to cut way down on penalties after being whistled for a host of violations, including numerous illegal motion penalties, last week.
The Spartans also will need to churn out long drives to take time off the clock offensively and keep the Red Devils offense off the field.
But that approach may aid Neah Bay, which scored four defensive touchdowns in the first half of last week’s 70-34 win over Seattle Lutheran.
The Red Devils need to avoid a slow start, establish the run and sprinkle in some passes to their superior skill position players to take down Forks.
I think we are in for a high-scoring shootout, folks.
Prediction: Neah Bay 52, Forks 34
North Mason (0-3) at Port Angeles (0-3)
PORT ANGELES — Homecoming for the Roughriders comes with a question, and no, it’s not asking someone to Saturday’s dance.
Can Port Angeles find the end zone and score its first points of the season against a Bulldogs team that should be a little more equal, talent-wise, for the Riders?
We’ll see.
Prediction: North Mason 20, Port Angeles 6
Sequim (2-1) at Bremerton (1-2)
BREMERTON — The Wolves open Olympic League 2A Division play with a road trip to face the Knights.
Bremerton had a solid season in 2015, which was overshadowed by an on-field prayer controversy with former assistant coach Joe Kennedy.
The coaching staff is new, but the Knights are still playing tough, losing just 18-6 to Olympic last week.
But Sequim showed some balance offensively with a big rushing night from Tyler Conn and Keeshawn Whitney and a tendency to force big turnovers in a 28-14 nonleague win against Centralia last week.
And the Wolves have a chip on their shoulder for Bremerton. The Knights have beaten Sequim three consecutive years, including last season’s 27-20 win that knocked the Wolves out of a playoff spot.
Prediction: Sequim 30, Bremerton 20
Seattle Lutheran (0-2) at Clallam Bay (1-0)
CLALLAM BAY — The Bruins will host the Saints in a six-man game at 6 p.m. tonight.
Seattle Lutheran put up 34 points on Neah Bay, which is no small feat. They like to throw the ball and have a talented quarterback in Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht.
Clallam Bay will counter with speedy running back Clayton Willis on offense.
The Saints’ depth, they list 19 on their roster, will be a big advantage against the nine-player strong Bruins.
Prediction: Seattle Lutheran 36, Clallam Bay 26
Saturday’s Games Crescent (2-1) at Quilcene (2-0)
QUILCENE — One side has done some advance scouting, while the other held out three athletes from a game last week to ensure they’d be fresh for this game — nine days later.
The Rangers and Loggers are excited for this nonleague contest, after playing two wholly different games against each other last season.
Quilcene won both games, crushing Crescent 50-8 in September and holding off an improved Loggers side 32-24 in late October.
Forks Radio 1490AM will even be on hand to broadcast the game live on the radio and online at forks1490.com with a 12:15 p.m. pregame show and kickoff at 1 p.m.
Prediction: Quilcene 34, Crescent 32
Port Townsend (1-2) at Bellevue Christian (0-3)
KIRKLAND — The Redhawks should get back on the right track against a team they are familiar with in their Nisqually/Olympic 1A League opener.
Port Townsend beat the Vikings 44-0 in the regular season and 51-8 in a winner-to-state playoff game last season.
Prediction: Port Townsend 35, Bellevue Christian 22
Last week: 5-1. Season to date: 17-3.
