PREP FOOTBALL: Sequim powers past Class 3A Central Kitsap

SEQUIM — It felt like a little bit of balance had been restored to the prep football world.

Lifted by a strong running attack, some nifty catch-and-runs in the passing game and timely defensive stops and interceptions, Sequim held down Class 3A Central Kitsap 38-22 to close out its condensed season on a high note and secure a winning record (3-2).

The win was keyed by superb senior night performances from the Wolves’ senior class, many of whom started on Sequim’s Olympic League championship team as sophomores in 2018 and who made repeat state tournament trips in 2018-19.

Despite prior wins over 3A Bainbridge and 4A South Kitsap this season, some stumbles on and off the field had prevented the Wolves from being their biggest, baddest selves.

But not Thursday night.

“The biggest thing is that there have been a lot of things out of our control this year,” senior Michael Young said. “The things we can control we didn’t always do our best. So this game we needed to prove to ourselves that we were still that class that everybody was looking forward to.”

Sequim coach Erik Wiker could feel the change in his team after last week’s disappointing loss to Olympic.

“The energy and teamwork is the big difference,” Wiker said. “Last week we didn’t have teamwork. A lot of fractured stuff that just kind of spawned off onto the game. It was the opposite this week. We talked about that a lot. I think having it be senior night and people wanting to play for the seniors and the seniors accepting everybody else helps a lot. That was the motivation.”

Sequim senior Taig Wiker, the 2019 All-Peninsula Football MVP, returned for his first action of the season and quickly made his impact felt on the Wolves’ first drive by busting loose for a 37-yard touchdown run.

“I cherished the moment and took in these last four quarters,” Wiker said. “It’s the last chance I got to do it, so it felt really good to be out there. I had an attitude coming into this game. I wanted to win, I wanted to run people over and score touchdowns and we made that happen.”

Wiker served as Sequim’s primary running option, plowing into the Central Kitsap defense for 130 yards and two scores on 22 carries.

He also connected on 9 of 12 passes for 166 yards and a TD.

Young made his presence known on both sides of the ball, running in a jet sweep for a score on offense and intercepting Cougars’ quarterback Kalai Pasai twice in the second quarter.

On his first interception, Young read the play perfectly and returned it 70 yards for a TD while holding off Central Kitsap defenders on the final stretch.

“I was trying to give a little space to bait the quarterback and follow him out of his break and once that ball is released go for it,” Young said.

“I was getting pretty tired about the 15-yard line. That final stiff arm around the five was just enough.”

Young’s second pick was deep in Wolves’ territory and set up Sequim’s final score late in the second quarter.

Wiker hit senior Garret Hoesel on a short screen pass and Hoesel, walled off by a wave of Sequim lineman, hit the jets for an 83-yard catch-and-run to put the Wolves up 38-14 at halftime.

The Wolves and Hoesel had come agonizingly close to connecting on that play in recent seasons, so executing it flawlessly was a triumph.

“Right when I saw him catch it, I said ‘That’s a touchdown,’” Taig Wiker said.

Sequim withstood Central Kitsap’s best attempts at a comeback in the second half.

Pasai showed off his mobility on the Cougars’ first drive, leading Central Kitsap down the field to score and pull within 38-22, but the Wolves defense was stingy when it needed to be for the rest of the game.

A late goal-line stand was particularly impressive, with Sequim stuffing the Cougars on four plays inside the Wolves’ 5-yard line.

Sequim installed a pair of new defensive coverages before the game.

“I have to totally congratulate coach [Vic] Reykdal,” coach Wiker said. “We put in a new defense for this week in a short week, Monday, Tuesday, boom reviewed it. He put a ton of time into it and then I have to congratulate the kids for executing it.”

Young said the team was still picking up the finer points before the game.

“Brand new,” Young said of the defense. “We were still learning things up until pregame.”

Young pointed out fellow seniors Austin Newton and Truman Nestor for their play on defense.

“Austin Newton for sure. He was huge,” Young said. “Truman Nestor. Our D-line did really well and they never get the credit but without them you can’t operate.”

Taig Wiker agreed on Young’s assessment of Newton, who moved from defensive end to middle linebacker during the game due to injuries.

“He’s a freak, I’ll be honest,” Taig Wiker said. “Nobody knows why. Freshman year we put him in and he got things done.”

The senior was contemplative when asked what he’ll miss about football.

“It’s not even as much that I’ll miss the games,” Wiker said. “I’ll miss the atmosphere. The offseason, 7-on-7s, joking around in gyms at camps and just being alongside my brothers. It’s been the same guys forever, it’s going to be tough to move on but we’ve got to do it. That’s what I’ll miss most, the people and the atmosphere.”

Sequim 38, Central Kitsap 22

CK 14 0 8 0 — 22

Sequim 15 23 0 0 — 38

First Quarter

S — Wiker 37 run (Hoesel kick)

CK — J. Willis 1 run (kick good)

S — Young 7 run (Wiker run)

CK —Lindstrom 64 pass from Pasai (kick good)

Second Quarter

S — Wiker 6 run (Hoesel kick)

S —Young 70 interception return (Hoesel 2-pt good)

S — Hoesel 83 pass from Wiker (Young pass from Wiker)

Third Quarter

CK—Williamson 19 pass from Pasai (Lindstrom pass from Pisai)

Individual Stats

Rushing—S: Wiker 22-130, Ward 14-62, Young 4-12. CK: Pasai 13-83, Hall 11-57, J. Willis 13-34, M. Willis 4-8.

Passing—S: Wiker 9-12-166, TD. Applegate 0-1-0. CK: Pasai 7-17-174, 2 INT.

Receiving—S: Hoesel 2-105, Young 2-26 Ward 1-15, Moore 2-11, Wagner 1-5, Applegate 1-3. CK: Lindstrom 2-76, Almonte 2-53, Williamson 2-26, Mitchell 1-19.

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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.