CHIMACUM — Varsity football returns to the Chimacum Valley at 3 p.m. this afternoon when Chimacum hosts archrival Port Townsend at Chimacum High School in another edition of the Quimper Quarrel.
The Cowboys also will host Coupeville for homecoming Friday, Oct. 17.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have a home game at home,” Cowboys coach Mike Dowling said. “The kids are pretty jacked up.”
For decades, Chimacum players have boarded a school bus and made the 15-minute trip to Memorial Field in downtown Port Townsend for Friday night “home” games — even contests against Port Townsend.
“My first year at the school [2013] I couldn’t believe that all the kids got on a bus to our home field located in the middle of the downtown of our biggest rival,” Cowboys athletic director Gary Coyan said. “It didn’t make any sense to me.”
The opportunity to bring games back to Chimacum arose from two failures — a power transformer blew out and caught fire during the Cowboys’ game with Vashon late last year and significant structural issues with aging Memorial Field.
After the power outage, the teams then resumed the game, which Chimacum won, the following Monday at Chimacum High School.
This spring, an inspection of Memorial Field’s grandstand turned up significant structural problems in the grandstand’s roof, causing the facility to be red-tagged and forcing the installation of temporary bleachers.
“When the power went out for Vashon, we thought it was a perfect way to showcase what could be out here,” Coyan said.
“With some of the troubles Memorial Field is having, we thought we’d see what it’s like having a game at home.”
The school has been protective of the condition of the football field, allowing just one middle school game and a day of little league football since August.
“Our groundskeeper Dave Reed has gone above and beyond with the field,” Coyan said.
“He’s just been so good to athletics. I can’t thank him enough for all he’s done.”
Chimacum has installed two sets of bleachers on the home sideline with Coyan estimating each can seat around 120 fans.
Two smaller bleachers were borrowed from Chimacum Middle School and will be placed on the visiting side.
“We’re throwing everything we have [seating-wise] at it,” Coyan said.
He urged fans to bring lawn or camping chairs to the two home games.
Fans are instructed to arrive no earlier than 2 p.m. for the 3 p.m. kickoff, and to park in the main parking areas in front of the school.
All attendees will be funneled through the high school commons and out to the field.
A concession stand will offer refreshments, and students will sell Chimacum merchandise.
“[The student body] has been making shirts, they’ve been making signs, they are fired up to have a home football game,” Coyan said.
A pep assembly for students is set for 2 p.m. today.
Admission for the game is $6 for adults and students without ASB cards, and $4 for senior citizens, visiting high school students with ASB cards and elementary and middle school students.
The move back to campus coincides with a gym, locker and weight room remodel that is nearing completion at the high school.
A dedication ceremony is planned for the first home volleyball game, which Coyan said is likely to come later this month.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
