PORT ANGELES — It’s homecoming week for Sequim, Forks, Chimacum and Crescent, and amid all the associated distractions — bonfires, dress-up days, the big dance — there’s football games to be played.
Every team hosting a homecoming celebration will be looking to bounce back after blowout losses last week, so that should help those squads focus and make Saturday’s events part dance, part victory party.
Renton at Port Angeles
PORT ANGELES — The Roughriders step out of Olympic League 2A Division play for a game against the South Puget Sound League South Division Indians (1-3, 1-4).
Renton’s only win came against winless Clover Park, but the Indians played league foes No. 3 River Ridge and Eatonville relatively tight.
Port Angeles (0-3, 0-5) coach Bret Curtis said he expects Renton to be similar in size and speed to previous nonleague opponent Mount Tahoma.
A quick glance at the Indians’ roster shows 13 players weighing more than 200 pounds.
The Riders have made strides, scoring two touchdowns against Kingston last week in a 15-12 loss as running back Jarrett Burns notched 148 rushing yards in that game.
Prediction: Renton 28, Port Angeles 6
North Mason at Sequim
SEQUIM — The Wolves know they can beat the Bulldogs, and Sequim coach Erik Wiker said as much after the North Kitsap game last Friday.
“We have a team in North Mason that we can beat,” Wiker said.
But bouncing back from a listless 42-7 loss to Olympic League-leading North Kitsap is a matter of choice.
“I told them already, you guys get distracted all week and North Mason will come in here and roll over you,” Wiker said.
“They won’t come in here and lay down.
“They want to beat you and everybody wants to beat you for your homecoming.
“That’s an extra incentive, ‘You scheduled us for homecoming.’”
To kennel the Bulldogs, Sequim (1-1, 3-2) will need to do a better job of locating the football on defense. North Kitsap was able to get explosive play after explosive play on a relatively simple bootleg passes and counter runs.
“If it is traditional Wing-T and they are doing that kind of stuff, weak iso, quick tosses, sweeps right or left, the belly’s to the strong sides [options], waggle passes, it will be a lot of practice without the ball, so our players make sure they make their reads,” Wiker said.
“Because if you make your reads you find the guy with the ball, you don’t have to look for the ball. You can’t watch the backfield because that will get you in trouble. You have to read your keys. And linemen are nice guys. They don’t lie. They tell the truth and will lead you to where the play goes.”
Tenino at Forks
FORKS — The Spartans will face a Beavers (0-1, 3-2) quarterback with a cannon for an arm in this crucial Evergreen League 1A contest.
Tenino’s Miles Cannon has completed 90 of 149 passes for 1,104 yards and 11 TDs this season.
His favorite target is sophomore Jace Griffis, who has hauled in 39 passes for 423 yards and three scores.
Forks (0-1, 2-3) has fireworks displays after each home score for normal home contests, what tricks do they have in store for homecoming?
Prediction: Forks 30, Tenino 22
Port Townsend at Coupeville
COUPEVILLE — The Redhawks’ offense is firing on all cylinders, having scored 61 and 55 points in recent wins over Bellevue Christian and rival Chimacum.
There’s no reason to think that trend ends against an overmatched Wolves team.
Prediction: Port Townsend 54, Coupeville 20
Saturday’s Games Clallam Bay at Crescent
JOYCE — The Loggers would prefer to play an eight-man game against the Bruins, but turnout just won’t allow it. If Clayton Willis is able to bounce back from an injury that knocked him out of Clallam Bay’s loss to Tulalip Heritage last Saturday the Bruins will have a chance at an upset.
Prediction: Crescent 38, Clallam Bay 22
Muckleshoot at Quilcene
QUILCENE — The Rangers look to bounce back and net some Kings in this Sea-Tac League matchup.
Quilcene committed six turnovers and scored just one touchdown in a blowout loss to No. 5 Tacoma Baptist last week. The Rangers should have no trouble finding the end zone against Muckleshoot (0-1, 1-2) this week, even if the game is played in a driving rain storm as is forecast.
Prediction: Quilcene 50, Muckleshoot 6
Neah Bay at Morton-White Pass
RANDLE — The Red Devils (1-0, 4-1) will play their third 11-man contest of the season, this time against the Class 2B Timberwolves (1-2, 2-3).
Morton-White Pass has a rough record on the season, but they do play in likely the toughest 2B league in the state, the Central 2B.
The game will be broadcast on Forks 1490 Am and Forks1490.com.
Pregame will begin at 1 p.m., with kickoff at 2 p.m.
Prediction: Neah Bay 40, Morton-White Pass 16
Last Week: 6-1. Season-to-date: 29-4
