FORKS — As much as things changed for the Sequim Wolves this offseason, the results look pretty familiar.
The Wolves’ revamped offensive and defensive lines dominated and their new weapons dazzled in a 58-7 nonleague victory Friday night over Forks that played out an awful lot like the teams’ last meeting.
The win moved Sequim to 6-1 in season openers under head coach Erik Wiker. That includes last year’s 51-0 win over Forks.
“They were pretty sturdy bodies and they were trying hard,” Wiker said of Forks.
“It’s just that we had the answers.”
It was almost like the Class 2A Wolves had a cheat sheet against their 1A counterparts.
Any worries Sequim fans had about replacing 13 seniors from last year’s Class 2A state quarter finalists were put to rest by the end of the first half at Spartan Stadium.
The Wolves triggered the 45-point mercy rule for the second straight year against Forks, amassing 286 yards of offense to build a 58-0 halftime lead and make a thunderous statement.
Even with seven new starters on offense and six on defense, these are the same old Wolves.
“We were trying to make a point,” said Sequim senior guard Preston McFarlen, the lone returning starter on the offensive line.
“This team is the same team and will always be. Tradition never graduates. We’re always going to win.”
The Wolves made that case against a young Forks squad that also fielded several new starters (seven on offense and defense).
Quarterback Drew Rickerson didn’t miss a beat with his all-new starting receiving corps in Sequim’s spread-pistol offense.
The junior returning starter completed 10-of-14 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were caught by Joey Hall.
Rickerson also ran for a 20-yard score as Sequim totaled 173 rushing yards in the first half.
Frank Catelli added 84 all-purpose yards at the tight end and backup quarterback positions, running for touchdowns of 11 and 28 yards and throwing for a 15-yard score.
Running back Isaac Yamamoto added 54 yards on three carries, including a 42-yard scoring run that put Sequim ahead 50-0 with four minutes to go in the second quarter.
“After that game, there’s no doubt that our line can get the job done,” Yamamoto said. “Everybody contributed.”
Indeed, Sequim’s defense limited Forks to negative 15 yards in the first half and Yamamoto blocked a punt on special teams.
“It’s a little slightly different defense this year, but everybody is running, everybody is rallying to the ball,” Yamamoto said.
The Wolves controlled the line of scrimmage on offense and defense much of the game.
Forks was dropped for negative yardage on 10 different plays.
Starting running back Luke Brown (19 carries, 43 yards) didn’t get room to run until the second half, when Sequim’s starters were on the sideline.
Quarterback Brian Santman was often under pressure as well, leading to an 0-for-7 day passing with one interception.
“We’re very young, and they are much better and polished than we are,” said Forks coach Andrew Peterson, who was named coach days before the team’s first practice in August.
“Obviously, they controlled the line of scrimmage. It’s evident with the score, and it’s evident with how the game went.”
Forks scored its lone touchdown on its opening drive of the second half.
The Spartans moved 65 yards on seven plays, highlighted by Brown’s 29-yard run and Santman’s 9-yard touchdown keeper.
Sequim’s second-team offense was held scoreless in the final two quarters.
“We came out and kind of laid an egg on that first half, and I just challenged them to get better,” Peterson said.
“We have a lot of room to improve, and we’re going to need to see some improvement [with a game at 2A Port Angeles next week].”
Sequim also has a tough test next Friday, with Northwest Conference power Meridian (ranked seventh in 1A by The News Tribune) coming to town.
“It was a great first game. We executed well against other jerseys,” Wiker said.
“What do I take from it? That we are a good team and we have a lot of good potential, but we have a lot of work to do.”
Sequim 58, Forks 7
Sequim 22 36 0 0 — 58
Forks 0 0 7 0 — 7
First Quarter
S–Hall 17 pass from Rickerson (Yamamoto pass from Rickerson)
S–Rickerson 20 run (Forshaw pass from Rickerson)
S–Catelli 11 run (two-point conversion failed)
Second Quarter
S–Hall 5 pass from Rickerson (Rickerson run)
S–Catelli 28 run (two-point conversion failed)
S–Ramirez 15 pass from Catelli (Andrews pass from Catelli)
S–Yamamoto 42 run (two-point conversion failed)
S–Wiker 3 run (Wiker run)
Third Quarter
F–Santman 9 run (Ayala kick)
Individual Stats
Rushing– S: Hall 5-33, Yamamoto 3-54, Catelli 3-41, Rickerson 2-22, Forshaw 1-15, Wiker 3-11, Law 7-(minus 33). F: Brown 19-43, Chase 4-15, Santman 4-6, Leons 3-15, Larson 1-0, Salazar 2-0, Ayala 1-(minus 3), Castellano 1-(minus 25).
Passing–S: Rickerson 10-14-0, 98; Catelli 1-2-0, 15, Law 3-4-0, 20. F: Santman 0-7-1, 0; Castellano 0-1-0, 0.
Receiving–S: Hall 3-28, Catelli 3-28, Wiker 3-20, Ramirez 2-30, Mills 2-17, Yamamoto 1-10. F: No receptions.
