GRANDVIEW — Trusting in the arm of quarterback Holdem Elkins and a deep crop of talented backs and receivers has never been a gamble for Quilcene coach Trey Beathard.
The junior QB is an undefeated 14-0 as a starter, four of those wins coming last season as Elkins stepped in for injured senior Andy Johnston and kept the Rangers rolling to a Sea-Tac League title.
As the full-time starter this season, Elkins has impressed with accuracy and touch on his passes — and with the ability to follow directions for undefeated Quilcene (11-0).
The Rangers, seeded fifth in the Class 1B State Football Tournament, travel to face No. 4 seed Sunnyside Christian (10-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Grandview High School.
Elkins, a bit of a beanpole at around 6 feet and 140 pounds, was a cause for concern in the stands when he would trot out for special teams duties as a younger and even slighter player.
“A few years ago I used to put him on the hands team on kickoffs and [assistant] coach [Byron] Wilson’s wife [Diane] told me she was scared for his health,” Beathard said. “He’s worked super-super hard lifting weights and he’s grown and he’s tremendously faster and stronger and has worked very hard at throwing the ball.”
That showed through last week when Elkins produced a perfect stat line, completing 5 of 5 passes for 97 yards and two TDs in a 62-24 Quad-District playoff demolition of Darrington. He also completed a pass behind the line of scrimmage to Ben Bruner for a 61-yard catch-and-run that counted in the rushing totals.
Oh, and he also completed 4 of 5 2-point conversion passes, connecting on three pases to 6-foot-5 senior Robert Comstock, his favorite passing target.
And Holdem, named after the poker game, showed that like a true Gambler he knows when to fold them and when to run — turning a broken play into a 29-yard TD run against Darrington.
“He has done a great job,” Beathard said. “He’s very smart and very coachable. He will attempt to do whatever he’s told.”
Quilcene’s offense has been impressive all season in posting 51.4 points per game — speed and size in main running backs Olin Reynolds and Ben Bruner, massive targets in Comstock and Zach Budnek and skilled depth in Isaac Dugdale, Ashton Smead and Bishop Budnek.
Sunnyside Christian also can put up the points, averaging 52.4 per game.
But the Knights have been dealing with a rash of injuries, so opportunity exists for Quilcene.
Rooter bus
Those interested in attending the game can sign up for the Rangers rooter bus, which will leave the school in Quilcene around 7 a.m. Saturday for the game in Grandview.
Community members, staff and students are welcome, but space is limited.
Those interested need to visit Quilcene School to fill out paperwork.
For more information, phone 360-765-2949 or 360-765-2905.
No. 8 Neah Bay vs. No. 1 Odessa
MOSES LAKE — Odessa has dropped the co-op with Harrington since the teams last met, but the Red Devils and Tigers do share some state football history.
The two teams, No. 1 Odessa (10-0) and No. 8 Neah Bay (5-5), will meet in the Class 1B State Tournament at Lions Field in Moses Lake at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Neah Bay’s fourth and most recent state title came in a 64-34 win over the Odessa-Harrington Titans in the 2016 state championship. Fans might remember Cameron Buzzell doing all that was humanly possible to push the Red Devils to victory in that one.
Neah Bay also beat Odessa-Harrington at the same Lions Field in the 2011 semifinals on the way to the Red Devils’ first state championship triumph.
It hasn’t always gone Neah Bay’s way. Odessa blew out the Red Devils 74-28 back in the 1989 Kingbowl state title game in the Kingdome.
No. 7 Crescent vs. No. 2 Almira/Coulee-Hartline
MOSES LAKE — The Loggers snapped the North Olympic Peninsula’s longest state football tournament drought, qualifying for state for the first time since 1996.
That 1996 Loggers’ team did roll up a state championship, so maybe the playoff wait was worth it.
This year’s Crescent team (9-2 with two other 6-man football wins over Clallam Bay) will face the Warriors (10-1) in the second game of a two-game North Olympic Peninsula slate at Lions Field in Moses Lake at 2 p.m. Saturday.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
