SEQUIM — With big plays on offense, defense and special teams, Sequim toppled South Kitsap 27-15 Friday night in the schools’ first gridiron match-up in decades.
Michael Young had an 85-yard interception for a touchdown while Kobe Applegate and Lars Wiker each had touchdown passes for Sequim (2-1).
“It was a combination of everything,” Young said. “That’s the most passing we’ve done (this season).”
With Applegate and Wiker starting in place of senior Taig Wiker, the pair split time behind center and combined for 174 yards passing, shifting away from a run-heavy offense in the season’s first two games.
“They both have their strengths,” Sequim coach Erik Wiker said.
But it was defense and special teams that sparked a 13-point first half. After the teams traded possessions in a scoreless first quarter, Sequim defensive back Garrett Hoesel picked off South Kitsap quarterback Rylen Bayne.
Young did his teammate even better on SK’s next possession, snagging a Bayne pass at Sequim’s 15-yard-line and racing nearly the length of the field for a score and 7-0 lead.
Hoesel then returned South Kitsap’s punt on the ensuing drive 54 yards, setting up a five-play, 26 yard drive that Walker Ward capped with a 7-yard touchdown and 13-0 Sequim lead.
As they would in the second half, South Kitsap (who are also the Wolves) sneaked in a score just before the end of the first half. Bayne found Jacob Nelson for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds remaining; Sequim led 13-7 at halftime.
“”We were trying to make sure we didn’t get beat deep (but) they’re good,” Coach Wiker said of South Kitsap. “They’ve got some athletes.”
Sequim took advantage of the big play early in the second half to in crease its lead. On a third-and-8, Applegate looped a pass deep into South Kitsap territory, and when the defensive back slipped Brandon Wagner found himself alone for a 57-yard reception and score. Hoesel’s extra point made it 20-7.
Hoesel had a punt return called back because of a penalty, and South Kitsap looked to get a bit of momentum midway through the third quarter with gouging runs from running back Devin Easley, who finished with 119 yards on 19 carries.
But Sequim’s defense held and forced turnovers on downs on back-to-back possessions, and Sequim got some breathing room with 5:18 left when Lars Wiker found Young from six yards out for his first varsity touchdown pass and a 27-7 Sequim lead.
South Kitsap added two scores late — a safety with 2:27 left and a Bayne 12-yard pass to Jayden Armstrong with eight seconds left — but the damage was done, giving Sequim their first win over a South Kitsap team since 1959.
South Kitsap, a 4A school, leads the all-time series 14-5, with one tie.
Applegate finished 6-for-12 for 104 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while Lars Wiker was 4-for-10 for 70 yards and a score. Ward had 55 yards on 15 carries to lead the team.
South Kitsap racked up 210 rushing yards and 318 total yards, but managed to keep South’s offense from clicking minus the late drives in each half.
“The defense played pretty dang tough,” Erik Wiker said.
Young said Sequim’s Wolves have been adjusting to a strange season, with fewer games, no state tourney to aim for and lineup changes.
“It’s been a battle, even just not using the locker room,” he said.
Oh, and there’s the mask coverings too.
“At first they were kind of suffocating,” the senior receiver/defensive back said. “We’re getting used to them. It’s like every other part of life.”
Coming up
Sequim is at Olympic at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Sequim 27, South Kitsap 15
SK 0 7 0 8 — 15
Sequim 0 13 7 7 — 27
Second Quarter
Sequim — Young 85 interception return (Hoesel kick), 7:26
Sequim — Ward 7 run (kick failed), 3:46
SK — Nelson 34 pass from Bayne (18 kick), 0:49
Third Quarter
Sequim — Wagner 57 pass from Applegate (Hoesel kick), 8:46
Fourth Quarter
Sequim — Young 6 pass from Wiker (Wagner kick), 5:18
SK — safety (2:27)
SK — Armstrong, 12 pass from Bayne (kick blocked), 0:08
Individual statistics
Passing — Sequim: Applegate 6-12, 104 yards, TD, 2 Ints; Wiker 4-10, 70 yards, TD. SK: Bayne, 13-26, 108 yards, 2 TDs, 2 Ints.
Rushing — Sequim: Ward 15-55, TD; Peterson, 3-13; Hoesel 1-6; Young 2-5; Wiker 4-(-9); Applegate 3-(-22). SK: Easley 19-119; 23 14-94; 44 2-1; 24 1-(-1); Bayne 7-(-3).
Receiving — Sequim: Wagner 3-70, TD; Young 3-42, TD; Moore 1-42; Ward 2-13; Hoesel 1-6. SK: Nelson 3-52, TD; Armstrong 3-24, TD; Shockey 1-16; Easley 1-12; Medema 1-3; Segerman 1-3; Miller 2-(-1); Howe 1-(-1).
