This week saw a couple of amazing games in eight-man football and the Sequim Wolves solidifying themselves as potentially one of the top teams in the Olympic League.
Port Angeles again had a frustrating loss, playing North Mason quite evenly for most of the Roughriders’ home opener Friday night. Starting his first varsity game at quarterback, Blake Sohlberg may have stabilized the QB position for PA, throwing for 101 yards and rushing for another 41 yards. He threw a beautiful 41-yard touchdown pass to Easton Fisher and nearly had another long touchdown on another perfectly thrown long ball.
Unfortunately, two mistakes loomed huge for the Riders — A blocked punt deep in Port Angeles territory that North Mason recovered for a touchdown and a fumble by Port Angeles on the 5-yard line when the Riders were driving for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The previous week against Forks, four interceptions killed the Riders in a close, hard-fought game.
Port Angeles (0-3) can play defense and run the ball, and Sohlberg might be the answer at QB. But, the Riders must clean up the mistakes if they want to beat a resurgent Sequim team in the Rainshadow Rivalry coming up Friday night.
Sequim 28, Elma 7
ELMA — Sequim took care of business, scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Elma on the road 28-7.
The Wolves were again led by Zeke Schmadeke and Liam Wiker, who both had big games. Schmadeke gained 181 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns while also throwing a touchdown pass to Malachi Hampton. Wiker gained 96 yards on 21 carries.
The Wolves (2-1) begin Olympic League play Friday by hosting Port Angeles.
Kittitas 27, Forks 21
KITTITAS — The Forks Spartans acquitted themselves well considering they had a seven-hour bus ride and experienced delays due to traffic accidents and bridge closures. The Spartans got behind by 20 points to Kittitas but rallied and had a chance in the final minute. Forks recovered an onside kick down six points, but the referees ruled that the Spartans touched the ball before it went 10 yards.
The Spartans (1-2) host a tough 1A team, Meridian, at 5 p.m. Friday.
Neah Bay 34, Quilcene 26
NEAH BAY — In a close battle between two evenly matched league opponents, the game came down to a bad snap on Quilcene’s final possession as the Rangers were trying to drive for a potential game-tying touchdown.
The Red Devils did suffer a rash of injuries but were able to pull the game out thanks to 102 yards rushing on 23 carries by Jodell Wimberly and 18 tackles from Makyah Chambers. Quilcene countered with 117 yards rushing on 16 carries by Andrew Perez-Lopez.
Quilcene (2-1) hosts Charles Wright on Saturday, while Neah Bay (2-1) plays at Muckleshoot.
Crescent 74, Concrete 54
CONCRETE — In the wildest game of the weekend, Crescent and Concrete combined for 128 points in a back-and-forth affair in Concrete.
The game featured at least 20 penalties against the rugged Lions, including four or five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, but the Loggers weren’t deterred by the physical play as quarterback Henry Bourm had his best game ever for Crescent. He passed 15-for-18 for 260 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran 16 times for 95 yards and scored three touchdowns. Dominiq Sprague also had 138 yards rushing on 24 carries while Levi Bourm caught seven passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Micah Love caught five passes for 126 yards.
Crescent (2-1) will probably have another physical battle on the road Saturday at the other Loggers in the league, Darrington.
Other games
It continues to be a rebuilding year for East Jefferson as the Rivals lost to Cascade Christian 72-6. The Rivals play Life Christian this weekend. In six-man football, Clallam Bay improved to 2-0 with a 58-0 win over Washington School of the Deaf. The Bruins play at Lake Quinault next week.
