QUILCENE — Thanks to the Rangers’ success in converting points after touchdowns, a 35-yard touchdown run by Robert Evans and most of all, a game-saving interception in the final two minutes by Andrew Perez-Lopez, the Quilcene football team came away with a hard-fought 28-26 victory over Charles Wright on Saturday.
“It was a good game for the fans, but I prefer boring games myself,” said coach Trey Beathard.
It was the Rangers’ first-ever game against Charles Wright, which had moved down to the 1B level this season after playing in the 1A Nisqually League for years. Quilcene improved to 3-1 on the season.
“They [Charles Wright] played a better game than I expected. Our kids made a lot of mistakes but they played hard all game,” Beathard said.
The game see-sawed back and forth with four lead changes in the second half. The Rangers struck first on a 14-yard pass from Perez-Lopez to Taylor Boling in the first quarter. After Charles Wright tied it at 6-6, the Rangers scored on a 45-yard run and Perez-Lopez and then he made what turned out to be a critical two-point conversion on a run.
Charles Wright scored to close the game to 14-12, then right before the end of the half, the Tarriers picked off a pass and ran it back 70 yards for a touchdown. Charles Wright again failed to make its point-after touchdown, holding just an 18-14 lead at the half that could have been much larger.
In the third quarter, Evans scored on a two-yard run to make it 20-18 for the Rangers. Charles Wright scored in the fourth and finally made a two-point conversion, but those three early missed conversion would cost them dearly.
With less than four minutes left in the game, Evans scored on a 35-yard run. He also scored a two-point conversion to gave the Rangers a 28-26 lead.
Charles Wright drove down to the 35-yard-line of the Tarriers’ final drive. The threat came to an end with Perez-Lopez’s interception.
Perez-Lopez finished with 186 yards rushing on 17 carries. He completed three passes, including one for the touchdown to Boling. He also had nine tackles and broke up two passes on defense.
Evans ran 22 times for 126 yards and added 100 yards on kick returns, including a 60-yard return that helped set up a short touchdown drive. In all, the Rangers tallied 384 yards rushing.
Boling had three catches for 32 yards and had nine tackles and a sack. Tyler Beukes caused a fumble and recovered a fumble.
The Rangers next play an unusual 4 p.m. Friday game at Muckleshoot Tribal (0-4).
Other games
Unlike the nailbiting Quilcene game, most of the other games this weekend involving Olympic Peninsula teams were lopsided. In other games this week, Neah Bay crushed Muckleshoot 66-18, while Meridian, a 1A school from a tough Northwest League, beat Forks 54-7. Darrington beat Crescent 50-0 and Life Christian 87-0. Clallam Bay improved to 3-0 in 6-man football by beating Lake Quinault 59-0.
Quilcene 28, Charles Wright 26
CW 6 12 0 8 — 26
Quil. 6 8 6 8 — 28
First Quarter
Quilcene — Perez-Lopez 14 pass to Taylor Boling (PAT no good).
Second Quarter
Quilcene — Perez-Lopez 45 run (Perez-Lopez PAT).
Third Quarter
Quilcene — Evans 2 run (PAT no good)
Fourth Quarter
Quilcene — Evans 35 run (Evans PAT)
Individual statistics
Rushing
Quilcene — Perez-Lopez 17-186, Evans 22-126, Tucker Boling 8-42, Taylor Beukes 4-30.
Passing
Quilcene — Perez-Lopez 3-6, 32 yards, TD, INT.
Receiving
Quilcene — Taylor Boling 3-32.
