IT WOULD BE hard to blame Cameron Moon for the Port Angeles football team’s struggles this fall.
The three-year letterman has more than carried his share of the load during his senior season with the Roughriders.
Just consider Friday night’s homecoming loss to Bremerton; a game that saw Moon establish himself as the Riders’ No. 1 playmaker once again.
Not only did Moon return a kickoff 88 yards for a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, he also ran for a game-high 113 rushing yards and caught two passes for 31 yards.
He was in on several plays defensively as well, including an open field tackle for a loss in the first quarter.
Simply put, he was all over the place.
Some might think it a dubious distinction, being the best player on a losing team. Yet Moon carries that mantle with dignity.
There’s no blame game about this person missing an assignment or block. Whatever frustrations he has, he keeps to himself. And whenever he does do something spectacular, like Friday night’s kick return, all of the credit goes to everyone else.
As Moon said, “It was really the blocking [that mattered]. I just ran it.”
Don’t let Moon’s modesty fool you, however. He is doing a few things right out there.
After all, he’s accounted for eight of the Riders’ 12 touchdowns this fall.
He’s done that in a variety of ways, scoring as a runner (4 TDs), receiver (3) and returner (1).
The fact that he will end his senior year having been a part of 10 straight home losses seems like an injustice.
“It’s tough,” said Moon, who was also named homecoming king Friday. “I’ve been through a lot of coaches and a lot of ups and downs. I’m just trying to have a fun senior year.
“You just have to remember the good games and that I gave it my all on the field.”
Playoff pickle
Things are about to get real interesting in the 1A Nisqually League.
Vashon Island’s upset of Orting on Friday, combined with Port Townsend’s win, has set up a crazy scenario in the Nisqually.
Vashon (4-1 in league) still has a game against No. 3 Cascade Christian on its schedule, and both Orting (3-2) and Port Townsend (3-2) have a pair of winnable contests remaining.
So the chances of a three-way tie for second place appears plausible.
Since the league sends only three to the postseason — two of which must play a preliminary playoff game to get to state — that means there would have to be an odd man out.
Each team is 1-1 against the other two, so head-to-head results from the regular season would not determine the outcome.
So how will the league solve this? Port Townsend head coach Brian O’Hara doesn’t know.
“I just hope it’s not the flip of a coin,” he said. “It’s moot if we lose to Chimacum [next Friday].”
My guess: the dreaded Kansas City tie-breaker.
If that’s the case, Port Townsend would have to play three times in six days just to reach the state playoffs.
Correction
After further review, it appears the Port Angeles girls soccer team (4-5-1 in league, 6-6-1) might just make the postseason.
The Olympic League is sending three 3A teams to the playoffs this fall, with its second- and third-seeded teams taking on the Western Cascade Conference’s second- and third-seeded teams in a loser-out tilt.
As long as Bremerton doesn’t win or tie against first-place North Kitsap on Tuesday, the Riders will advance as the third-seeded team, regardless of what Port Angeles does against Olympic on the same night.
That would mean a date with the WCC No. 2.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
