SEQUIM — A flat start foiled any chance Sequim had of pulling off an upset in a 42-7 loss to Class 2A No. 7 North Kitsap in an Olympic League 2A Division game.
The Wolves (1-1, 3-2) allowed two scores in the Vikings’ first four offensive plays from scrimmage and could never catch up in a loss to the league leaders Friday.
Sequim’s opening drive stalled at midfield, and after a punt, North Kitsap (3-0, 5-0) quarterback Tristin Newman faked left, bootlegged to his right and found Carson Bower all alone on the right side of the field for a 64-yard catch-and-run down the sideline to the end zone on the Vikings’ second snap.
After the Wolves’ second possession flamed out at midfield, a Riley Cowan punt pinned North Kitsap at its own 4-yard line.
A penalty on Sequim, followed by an 85-yard reverse handoff rumble by Nate Kjormoe, set the Vikings up at the Wolves’ 6-yard line.
Sequim had trouble adjusting to North Kitsap’s penchant for misdirection in the running and passing games in the first half.
“Bremerton did the same play and we stuffed it all day,” Wolves coach Erik Wiker said.
“They [North Kitsap] are better than Bremerton. They hold their blocks longer.
“They run north and south.
“The kids didn’t make the right reads for tackles. And if its that early in the game that’s coaching.
“We didn’t coach them up enough to have them lined up right.”
Dax Solis ran in for a score on the next play, and despite dominating the time of possession, Sequim trailed 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wolves helped North Kitsap grow its lead when a personal foul penalty on the Wolves on 3rd-and-13 extended the Vikings’ next drive.
Sam Henden took advantage, rolling 32 yards for a TD three plays after the penalty to put North Kitsap up 21-0.
Sequim answered, as Cowan connected with Curtis Gorr on a 42-yard pass play to move inside the Vikings’ 20-yard line, and Cowan later found Gavin Velarde on an 11-yard corner route to pull within 21-7 with 5:29 left until halftime.
But North Kitsap removed any doubt with a spirit-sapping 14-play, 65-yard drive capped by a Kjormoe touchdown run from 14 yards with 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter for a 28-7 lead.
Kjormoe had five carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
“We weren’t there, there were huge holes,” Wiker said.
There would be no comeback, as Henden strolled 48 yards on the fourth play of the second half for a 35-7 lead.
Sequim went three-and-out and was forced to punt on offense in its first two drives after halftime, effectively sealing the contest. ‘
The Wolves couldn’t muster much of a running game, as primary back Tyler Conn managed just 22 yards on 12 carries.
“Their D[efensive] end No.69 [Notah Quinnten] was good,” Wiker said.
“He sliced inside and got some [tackles], he went outside and got some tackles. But a little of that is on us. That’s kids not executing like they should and he’s good enough to exploit a little crack, a little wrinkle.”
Sequim playmaker Gavin Velarde left the game with what is believed to be an injured tendon in his hand.
The Wolves will host North Mason (1-2, 1-4) Friday
North Kitsap 42, Sequim 7
North Kitsap 14 14 7 7— 42
Sequim 0 7 0 0— 7
First Quarter
NK—Bower 64 pass from Newman (kick failed)
NK—Solis 6 run (Henden pass from Newman)
Second Quarter
NK—Henden 32 run (Warren kick)
S—Velarde 11 pass from Cowan (Cowan kick)
NK—Kjormoe 14 run (Warren kick)
Third Quarter
NK—Henden 48 run (Warren kick)
Fourth Quarter
NK—Ingram 6 run (Warren kick)
Individual Stats
Rushing—S: Hilliard 2-31, Conn 12-22, Whitehead 1-9, Cowan 6-(-26). NK: Henden 8-115, Kjormoe 5-109, Solis 11-59, Golden 6-46, Newman 2-13, Blackmore 1-7.
Passing—S: Cowan 17-25-1, 136, 1 TD; NK: Newman 4-7-0, 83, TD; Andrews 4-6-0, 48; Blackmore 0-1-0, 0.
Receiving—S: Gorr 5-61, Glasser 4-39, Velarde 5-21, Rollness 1-8, Bell 1-5, Whitehead 1-2; NK: Bower 1-64, Anderson 3-32, Warren 2-27, Clark 1-8.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
