PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend bounced back from a rough preleague start to win its Olympic-Nisqually 1A League opener over Bellevue Christian 27-14.
“We did really well. It was a nice defensive game. We did some good work,” said coach Alex Heilig. We established the line of scrimmage really well and played more aggressive offensively.”
Heilig said Dylan Tracer did a good job running the ball, while Jacob Boucher also had some big runs for the Redhawks, playing before a homecoming crowd. Noa Apker-Montoya ran for three TDs and threw for another.
He also gave credit to Nico Winegar for playing a strong game on defense with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery.
After the Redhawks’ slow start this season, getting the first win of the year, especially in the team’s first league game, was important, Heilig said.
“This was a big deal, 1-0 in league is exactly where we want to be,” Heilig said. The Redhawks, who had trouble with numbers early in the season, dressed 23 to 24 players for the Bellevue Christian win, he said.
Port Townsend (1-0, 1-3) next plays at home at 7 p.m. Friday against Chimacum.
Port Angeles 13, North Mason 2
BELFAIR — The Port Angeles defense shut out North Mason on the road as the Roughriders evened their season record and won their first Olympic League 2A game of the year 13-2.
Receiver Garrett Edwards scored both touchdowns for the Roughriders in the second quarter. The first came on a 78-yard reception on a pass from quarterback Chris Guttormsen and the second a 33-yard pass from halfback Trevor Shumway.
The Riders then hung on for the rest of the game. The Bulldogs nearly scored in the final few minutes. They had a first-and-goal late in the fourth quarter, but the Riders’ defense held firm in a goal-line stand to force a turnover on downs. The Riders then lost the shutout with three minutes left in the game when the Bulldogs forced a safety.
“I was very pleased with out defense. We didn’t play well on either side in the North Kitsap game and we needed a bounceback game. We knew were better than what we showed against North Kitsap,” said coach Brett Curtis.
Curtis said the entire team played well against the Bulldogs, who came into the game 3-0.
“We sustained some drives. We would have liked to have scored more points. Our offensive line played well,”
Edwards was the offensive star, with 111 yards receiving and his two TDs. Running back Jarrett Burns gained 58 yards on 21 carries.
Curtis said linebacker Bailey White, outside linebacker Joe Davis, defensive tackle T.J. Johnson, defensive end Bryce Lauderback and cornerback Tyler Bowen all played outstanding games on defense. He said Bowen had a tackle for a loss that caused a fumble which he then recovered.
The Riders (1-1, 2-2) have a good shot at another win this week at home Friday against Kingston. Kingston comes into the game 0-4, but Curtis said his players have to be careful about getting too confident.
“Our confidence is building. Our guys have the idea that when they go out there, they’re expecting to win. [But] we’re not taking anything for granted,” Curtis said.
Port Angeles 13, North Mason 2
PA 0 13 0 0 — 13
NM 0 0 0 2 — 2
Second Quarter
PA—Edwards 78 pass from Guttormsen (kick failed)
PA—Edwards 33 pass from Shumway (kick good)
Fourth Quarter
NM—Safety
Individual Stats
Rushing—PA: Burns 21-58; Shumway 5-19.
Passing—PA: Guttormsen 2-6-65; Shumway 1-3-33, TD.
Receiving—PA: Edwards 2-111.
Forks 50, Neah Bay 0
FORKS — The Spartans remained undefeated, getting three touchdowns and 164 yards rushing from their star running back Cole Baysinger in a 50-0 romp over Neah Bay, setting up a big battle next weekend with Evergreen 1A power Montesano.
Baysinger also had a 60-yard punt return in the Friday’s game.
Quarterback Gabriel Reaume had 62 yards passing on eight completions, while Reece Blattner had a 23-yard reception for a TD.
Baysinger, who is already near 1,000 yards rushing on the season in just four games, got his yardage on 18 carries.
Coach Emil West said Baysinger might have had more than 300 yards rushing, but the Spartans were repeatedly flagged for holding penalties.
West said Keith Thompson and Austin Flores ech had interceptions, while Brett Moody had two sacks. Luke Dahlgren had eight tackles and a sack and Colby Demorest had seven tackles.
The Spartans (4-0) begin Evergreen 1A League play against undefeated Montesano at home at 7 p.m. Friday.
“We knew we were going to have a good squad this year,” West said. “This [Montesano game] is the big one. This is the one we’ve been looking for. This is exactly where we wanted to be”
For Neah Bay, Josey Tyree had 82 yards receiving on six catches.
Forks 50, Neah Bay 0
Neah Bay 0 0 0 0— 0
Forks 16 16 6 12— 50
First Quarter
F—Peters 2 run (Moody pass from Hernandez-Flores)
F—Baysinger 4 run (Baysinger run)
Second Quarter
F—Baysinger 19 run (Moody pass from Reaume)
F—Moody 5 pass from Reaume (Demorest pass from Reaume)
Third Quarter
F—Demorest 1 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
F—Blattner 24 pass from Reaume (pass failed)
F—Baysinger 7 run (2-point failed)
Rushing — Forks: Baysinger 18-164, Caleb Peters 5-32, Colby Demorest 3-16.
Receiving — Forks: Moody 4-24, Baysinger 2-25, Blattner 1-23.
Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News Port Townsend’s Dylan Tracer, 24, breaks away from two Bellevue Christian tacklers and rushes for a 60-yard touchdown during the Redhawks’ homecoming win over the Vikings.
