SEQUIM — Lying on the end zone grass, Sequim’s Jarrett Allen caught a ball deflected by a Centralia defender for the tying touchdown with 49 seconds remaining.
Allen’s catch, his second touchdown reception of the fourth quarter from quarterback Riley Cowan, was followed up by a successful extra point by senior kicker Byron Rice to cap an epic comeback by the Wolves in a 23-22 win over the Tigers on Friday.
“It was a crazy game all the way around,” Sequim coach Erik Wiker said.
“There were a lot of things happening [on the last score]. “Riley was rolling out right, and Jarrett was running a backside drag pattern in the end zone. It was a pretty good pass, but the ball was tipped up and our guy [Allen] leaned back and caught it while he was on the ground.”
Sequim trailed Centralia 22-3 at halftime, its only points coming on a 31-yard field goal by Rice.
“More than anything we preached effort at halftime,” Wiker said. “[Centralia] was playing harder than we were, they were wanting the ball, they were coming off blocks harder. We told them they would have to step it up or it would be a long night. That there was no answer on the chalk board, that the answer was within them and they stepped it up.”
Cowan tossed three second-half scores and was 16 of 38 for 224 yards on the night.
His first TD, a 16-yard strike to Kyler Rollness in the third quarter, got the Wolves’ rally going.
Rollness finished with nine receptions for 141 yards, including a 36-yard catch-and-run on Sequim’s final posssesion to give the Wolves the ball at Centralia’s 21-yard line.
Sequim’s defense previously forced a four-and-out to get the ball back with 1:30 to play.
“We were doing the NFL timeout thing,” Wiker said. “If they had gotten a first down right there they would have been able to run out the clock.”
Sequim’s Nate Despain added three grabs for 40 yards and Tyler Conn rushed 12 times for 40 yards for the victors (1-1).
The Wolves played without banged-up star receiver/defensive back Gavin Velarde.
Velarde is expected to return soon.
Sequim hosts Bremerton (1-0, 3-0) next Friday in its Olympic League opener.
Sequim 23, Centralia 22
Centralia 7 15 0 0— 22
Sequim 0 3 6 14— 23
First Quarter
C—Purkey 2 run (Baird kick)
Second Quarter
S—Rice 31 field goal
C— Pineda 57 pass from Baird (Baird kick)
C—Selstrom 30 pass from Baird (Graygundo run)
Third Quarter
S—Rollness 16 pass from Cowan (kick blocked)
Fourth Quarter
S—Allen 12 pass from Cowan (Rice kick)
S—Allen 22 pass from Cowan (Rice kick)
Individual Stats
Rushing—S: Conn 12-45, Cowan 8-18, Gresli 1-5.
Passing—S: Cowan 16-38-224, 4 TDs. PT: Hill 13-23-128, 2 TDs, INT.
Receiving—S: Rollness 9-141, Despain 3-40, Allen 2-34, T. Wiker 1-3, Gresli 1-(-4).
North Kitsap 49, Port Angeles 0
POULSBO — The Roughriders struggled to move the ball offensively and stop the Vikings defensively in their Olympic League opener.
“I have a lot of respect for North Kitsap and that program,” Port Angeles coach Bret Curtis said. “They are still a big-time rival but they have a strong team. Any one of your 11 [players] get out of position and it ends up hurting you. They hide the ball real well and have blockers out in front of their backs. A big, physical team that executes really well.”
Curtis said in a shutout loss you have to look a little harder for the bright spots.
“We handled the ball better offensively,” he said. “We went under center part of the time, then switched back to the pistol later, and from both alignments we did fine with our snaps. Our center Corey Danielson did a good job with a tough nose tackle across from him and he handled that pretty well.”
Garrett Edwards led the Riders with three catches for 30 yards. Easton Joslin, Tyler Bowen and Ian Moan also caught passes for Port Angeles. Jarrett Burns ran for 30 yards and Glenn Deckard added five carries for 20 yards.
The Riders (0-1, 1-2) travel to North Mason (1-0, 3-0) next Friday.
Mount Baker 48, Port Townsend 7
PORT TOWNSEND — The Redhawks fell in their home opener against the Mountaineers, ranked third in Class 1A in the latest Associated Press poll.
“They are a power, wing-t program that is extremely disclipined,” Port Townsend coach Alex Heilig said of Mount Baker. “They don’t do anything tricky, they keep it simple but are good at their craft.”
Heilig said his young team made some strides on the offensive and defensive lines, as well as on special teams.
“It was a good test of who we are,” Heilig said.
“Our special teams took a step forward, there were some positives there. Some pretty good offensive and defensive line play. We were able to do some things offensively and get a little of the running game going.”
Port Townsend’s touchdown came on a 1-yard QB sneak by Noa Apker-Montoya.
“All the yards on that drive came from Dylan Tracer,” Heilig said. “He ran the ball hard for us and did some nice things. It’s good to see him step up as a sophomore and embrace that role.”
The Redhawks (0-2) open Olympic-Nisqually League play Friday with a homecoming contest against Bellevue Christian (1-1).
