SURE, THEY HAVEN’T exactly faced a murderer’s row of opponents so far, but it’s no small feet that the Sequim Wolves have started the football season with three straight wins.
This week, they face North Kitsap for a road game between the last two unbeaten teams in the Olympic League, both with 3-0 overall records.
It’s too early — way too early — to say Friday’s game will go a long way to determining who will win the league championship, or even have much bearing.
North Kitsap, ranked seventh in Class 2A, is the clear favorite with 18 starters returning from last year’s team that went undefeated in league play.
The Wolves right now look like they are in a battle with the six other teams in the league’s 2A division for second place. It looks like a pretty balanced fight so far — every team is 2-1 overall other than Sequim’s latest victim, Kingston, which is 0-3.
But the Wolves are 3-0, already surpassing their combined win total of the two previous seasons, two games.
Head coach Erik Wiker talked after the Sequim’s season-opening win over Chimacum about players being asked around town if they were going to win a game.
Now, for this week at least, the question is whether or not they can upset North Kitsap.
After two straight dismal seasons, just the asking of that question matters.
In stitches
Port Townsend running back David Sua was dominant in the Redhawks’ 22-9 win over Klahowya last week.
From Port Townsend’s first drive of the game, Sua was running over Eagles on his way to 126 yards rushing.
He might have had even more if not for the run-in his face had with Klahowya quarterback Konner Langholff’s cleat.
Sua spent about half of the fourth quarter on the sidelines getting stitches above the left-hand side of his mouth.
When asked if his wound would leave a scar, Sua said, “I hope so.”
Then he laughed, which isn’t the best move for someone with stitches near his mouth.
“Ouch,” Sua said.
8-man standouts
There isn’t really a second line of defense in 8-man football.
If the offense gets past the defensive line, it’s usually a foot race to the end zone after that.
So, statistics can be pretty gaudy.
That being said, three area players went far beyond the typical 8-man football performances.
First and foremost, Quilcene running back Colten Pol ran for 407 yards and five touchdowns and passed for a touchdown.
In that same game, a 48-36 win by Quilcene, Clallam Bay’s Casey Randall had 419 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns, including two on kickoff returns of 75 and 80 yards.
In Neah Bay’s 62-20 win over Taholah, John Reamer had three touchdown catches and returned an interception for a score. He also had 150 yards receiving.
Rangers revolt
Quilcene coach Byron Wilson was well aware of Pol’s accomplishment in the win over Clallam Bay.
But his favorite moment of Friday’s game was when his team staged a revolt.
On a fourth-and-3 play at the Rangers’ own 30-yard line, Wilson called for a punt.
The players on the field waved it off.
“I said, ‘What’s the deal?’” Wilson said. “They said, ‘Coach, we can do this.’”
The quarterback has the authority to wave off Wilson, but this time it was the entire team.
“It was in unison,” Wilson said. “They know I have faith in them and I believe in what they’re doing.
“It was one of those games where all of the team comes together. It was fun to see that happen.”
So, the Rangers went for it, calling a play for Pol, of course, and he picked up the first down, of course.
Rangers on a roll
Football isn’t the only game in Quilcene.
After finishing eighth at last year’s Class 1B state volleyball tournament, the Rangers have picked up right where they left off.
Following a 3-2 loss to Class 1A Port Townsend, Quilcene has reeled off four straight victories.
Even more impressive, the Rangers (2-0, 4-1) haven’t lost a set in any of those four matches.
They face one of their biggest competitors in the SeaTac League, Crosspoint Academy (2-0, 4-2), tonight on the road.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
