POULSBO — The Battle of the Bays moves eastward across the Hood Canal Bridge for a state playoff matchup between Neah Bay and Clallam Bay at North Kitsap High School.
Tonight’s game kicks off at 7 p.m., and will be the first time the two rivals will have met in the playoffs since a 52-6 Red Devils victory in 2000.
Neah Bay (8-0) previously beat the Bruins (4-5) 48-14 this season, firing off 40 points in the first quarter of the Oct. 30 game.
The Red Devils come into the game with a 33-game winning streak dating back to the first game of the 2013 season.
The winning streak is the longest ongoing streak in any classification in the state, and is third all time in state 1B history.
A win tonight would match St. John’s 34-game streak from 1958-62.
Clallam Bay is making its first state playoff appearance since 2007.
That 2007 team also holds the distinction of being the last Bruins team to defeat the Red Devils, a 48-8 thumping on Nov. 2, 2007.
Clallam Bay made the long trip to Lyle last week and came away with a 54-38 win against Lyle-Wishram.
Neah Bay had a bye during last week’s Quad-District games.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on Forks 1490 AM and online at forks1490.com.
Port Townsend
at King’s
SHORELINE — Considering the Redhawks’ talent and undefeated record (10-0); this 1A playoff contest is not exactly a David vs. Goliath scenario.
But Port Townsend is still looking to hurl some stones at the private-school Knights (9-1) on King’s home field tonight at 7 p.m.
“They are a big-play team and we are going to have our hands full,” Redhawks’ coach Nick Snyder said.
“They have tremendous athletes.
“I’ve seen split backs, I’ve seen one-back [offensive] sets. I think they run multiple formations and keep it varied.”
The lone blemish on the Knights’ record came in a 49-7 loss to unbeaten Archbishop Murphy (10-0), the fourth-ranked team in 2A.
Port Townsend enters the game a little banged up.
The Redhawks’ Associated Press All-State defensive back Jacob Ralls suffered a foot injury that had him on crutches after last week’s 51-8 state play-in win against Bellevue Christian.
Ralls, also an effective wide receiver and kick returner will play, but Snyder said he will be used “sparingly.”
The first-round contest is Port Townsend’s first trip to state since 2004, and the Redhawks boast the school’s best record since the 1977 team went 10-1.
King’s has a storied athletic program, most notably in boys and girls basketball, but the football team knows its way around a state playoff game.
The Knights have made six straight state appearances, advancing to the quarterfinals every year since 2009.
A radio broadcast of the game will be streamed online at www.soundsportsnet.com.
Quilcene
vs. Taholah
ABERDEEN — These two 1B squads will tangle in the playoffs for the second straight season.
Saturday’s game is set for Stewart Field at 1 p.m.
Last year on their home turf, the Rangers swamped the Chitwins 86-28 in a Quad-District game.
The game got out of hand after a first quarter injury knocked Taholah QB Keanu Curleybear out of the contest.
The Chitwhins (4-4) have scored more than 40 points in each of their last five games this season, and have won three straight games entering the playoffs.
Taholah had a bye last week, so it should be rested for Quilcene (7-2), which went down to the wire in a 46-44 win against Tulalip Heritage last Friday.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
