The second week of prep football season saw a couple of hard-fought close defensive battles and a couple of surprises.
The game of the week was between Forks and Port Angeles on a warm, drizzly night at Spartan Stadium in Forks.
Both defenses played great with only three touchdowns all game — and two of them were set up by turnovers. There were zero points in the second half and, in fact, neither team got into their respective red zones in the second half. The defenses forced a combined seven turnovers with Forks’ Landen Olson intercepting three passes. Port Angeles’ River Flores recovered two fumbles.
In the end, Forks prevailed 13-7 with the game-winning touchdown coming on a great play by quarterback Bubba Hernandez-Stansbury. Hernandez-Stansbury broke out of a sure tackle in the backfield, reversed his field and was able to find Gage Willenbrink standing all alone in the end zone with a touchdown pass.
Port Angeles’ run game did well, with Dylan Mann rumbling for 152 yards on 23 carries. However, the young Roughriders were hurt by four interceptions.
Port Angeles (0-2) has its first home game and its first Olympic League game at 6:30 p.m. Friday against North Mason (2-0). The Bulldogs look tough this year with two blowout wins over 1A opponents.
Forks travels to central Washington for a game against Kittitas at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Franklin Pierce 36, Sequim 14
SEQUIM — Sequim hung tough with a good Franklin Pierce team, down just 22-6 after a 35-yard touchdown run by Zeke Schmadeke.
In the end, Franklin Pierce, which made the district playoffs last year — in fact, Port Angeles beat them in the postseason — had too much of a ground game, running 54 total plays and gaining 319 yards on the ground.
Schmadeke also teamed up with Malachi Hampton for another big play, this one a 74-yard pass and run, late in the fourth quarter.
Sequim (1-1) looks to get back on the winning track on the road Friday night against 1A Elma.
Quilcene 41, Concrete 6
CONCRETE — Quilcene got a bit of revenge against Concrete, crushing the Lions 41-6. Andrew Perez ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Rangers improved to 2-0 on the season.
Quilcene, which went to the state championship game three years ago, looks to be back. The Rangers get a huge test Friday night on the road against Neah Bay, an early favorite to challenge for the state 1B title.
Tulalip Heritage 34, Crescent 4
JOYCE — This game certainly had the most unusual score as Crescent got all of its points on two safeties by Michael Love. This was actually a defensive struggle for most of the first half as Crescent was up 4-0 with 1:30 left in the half and went into the halftime break down just 6-4. In the second half, the Crescent defense got gassed and Tulalip Heritage was able to run away with the game.
This was actually Crescent’s first game of the year as the Loggers won their first game in a forfeit.
Crescent (1-1) travels to Concrete on Friday to play the Lions.
Liberty Christian 60, Neah Bay 16
EVERETT — This score was a bit of a surprise as Neah Bay had beaten Liberty Christian two straight years in the state 1B playoffs. Liberty Christian showed that it remains a powerhouse. Neah Bay has in other years had early-season hiccups and then bounces back stronger than ever. Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet again in the state playoffs this year.
Neah Bay (2-1) hosts Quilcene on Friday.
Other games
In other games this weekend, Clallam Bay began its six-man season with a 62-0 win over Easton, while East Jefferson lost on the road 53-0 to Friday Harbor.
