PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles enjoyed a post-game celebration nearly two years in the making at Civic Field on Friday, snapping a 17-game losing streak by knocking off Port Townsend 27-13.
The win was the Roughriders’ first since beating Vashon 27-18 on Sept. 11, 2015.
There have been close calls in that stretch, two six-point losses to North Mason and a three-point defeat against Kingston last season, but this time the boys in green and white came through in a big way.
“You don’t want to put too much into a high school football game, but at the same time, we needed it,” Port Angeles coach Bret Curtis said.
“Program-wide, we needed a win, that’s all there is to it. And the guys, like any team, we’ve gone through our ups and downs, and unfortunately in the win-loss column its been more down than up. But they worked hard. They’ve been working hard. And people don’t see that on Friday nights, they don’t see the hours the kids put in at practice to get better, they don’t see guys grinding away and doing what they’ve got to do at practice. And finally it pays off.”
‘Kept hitting them’
From the opening snap, the Riders appeared more prepared for the game and played with more physicality than their Redhawk counterparts.
“Just mentally before the game we were all pumped up,” Port Angeles wideout/defensive back Easton Joslin said. “We knew we had a chance to win and we went into this game a little differently than we normally do.
“In the locker room we all started to do a chant and we got out here and I think they just didn’t like being hit and we kept hitting them.”
Curtis agreed.
“It’s interesting that you saw that because we felt like coming out we had a little more resolve than we have felt in the past,” Curtis said. “And they were focused and we really thought they had the mentality we were going to need tonight.”
Port Angeles’ Bryce Lauderback was a beast defensively, ending Port Townsend’s first drive by blowing up a running back’s blocking attempt and hauling down Redhawks’ quarterback Noa Apker-Montoya. Lauderback had four sacks and another tackle for loss in the first half alone, helping the Riders set the tone defensively with help from tackles Tee-Jay Johnson, Erik Alvarez and another sack from Joe Davis.
“Our front guys on defense, our front eight really had a game,” Curtis said. “Bryce Lauderback was in their backfield on nearly every snap.
“We were a little concerned because Mount Tahoma really had their way with us. But Tee-Jay Johnson had a game for us, Erik Alvarez had a game for us, Cyrus Johnson, a new guy, played well. The interior was solid for us.”
Johnson said his team didn’t just carry the losing streak on their backs, they also had a chip on their shoulders.
“We had a lot on our shoulders, a lot to prove,” he said. “Our school doubts us, everybody else doubts us, so coach told us to play for each other. I haven’t won in high school yet, so this is amazing.”
Fast start
A 42-yard punt return by Garrett Edwards gave Port Angeles excellent field position at the Redhawks 36-yard line early in the first quarter.
Riders quarterback Chris Guttormsen found Edwards on the first play of the drive on a 29-yard crossing route to set Port Angeles up at the 7-yard line. Scoring in the red zone has been an issue for the Riders, but not this time.
Jarrett Burns plowed through a Port Townsend defender at the goal line for a 4-yard touchdown. And Alvarez, Port Angeles’ 285-pound kicker, then took a pitch from holder Edwards after a high snap on the extra-point attempt and waltzed into the end zone for an 8-0 Riders’ lead.
Just like they drew it up.
Easton Joslin made it 14-0 midway through the second quarter for Port Angeles when he came back to a ball thrown by Guttormsen at midfield and turned and ran for a 76-yard touchdown.
“I almost lost the ball, I was bobbling it while I was running,” Joslin said. “Jarret came in and set a huge block and sprung me the rest of the way.”
Guttormsen made a mistake on the next Riders possession when he threw into coverage and Apker-Montoya intercepted the pass and returned it 45 yards for a Redhawks’ TD. Apker-Montoya, who set a school record with 10 interceptions as a freshman, had two picks in the game.
Edwards took a tunnel screen 53 yards through the middle of the Port Townsend defense to put Port Angeles up 20-7 with 7:16 to play in the third quarter.
Penalties hurt the Riders’ chances at extending their lead and a bad snap on a punt gave the Redhawks good field position at the Port Angeles 24-yard line early in the final quarter.
Port Townsend capitalized as Jacob Boucher bounced into the end zone on a 5-yard run as the Redhawks pulled within 20-13 with 8:19 to go.
The Riders showed resolve on the ensuing drive, driving 53 yards in six plays and scoring when Tyler Bowen pounced on a fumble in the end zone for a 27-13 lead.
Much of the drive’s yardage came from Burns, who rushed 14 times for 69 yards on the game.
Edwards essentially sealed the game for Port Angeles with an interception with 3:37 to play.
“We aren’t so young anymore and we are tired of losing,” Edwards said. “We have a different mindset and whoever we are going against better be ready.
“It feels good [to get a win], but it’s about time, though.”
Curtis said his team executed offensively when it needed to and praised the performance from his defense.
“Our guys have a lot of heart and they were hungry for a win,” he said.
Port Angeles (1-1) visits league favorite North Kitsap (2-0) on Friday.
Port Townsend coach Alex Heilig said his short-handed team was in a difficult position.
“It was a tough situation, everybody saw how many small kids we had out on the field,” he said. “We started three sophomores on both sides of the ball and have young kids on our lines. It’s a learning period and it will be a learning period to get on the same page.
“There were some bright moments and some areas where we need to make some adjustments. We got a lot of pressure on that quarterback. Defense did well for the most part, just gave up two really big plays and we had some miscommunication.”
The Redhawks (0-2) host No. 3 Mount Baker (2-0) on Friday.
Port Angeles 27, Port Townsend 13
Port Townsend 0 7 0 6— 13
Port Angeles 8 6 6 7— 27
First Quarter
PA—Burns 4 run (Alvarez run)
Second Quarter
PA—Joslin 76 pass from Guttormsen (kick failed)
PT—Montoya 45 interception return (Winegar kick good)
Third Quarter
PA—Edwards 53 pass from Guttormsen (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
PT—Kelsall 1 run (attempt failed)
PA—Bowen fumble recovery in end zone (Alvarez kick good)
Individual Stats
Rushing—PA: Burns 14-69, Shumway 10-8, Deckard 1-1, Kathol 1-(-5), Guttormsen 6-(-45).
PT: Montoya 16-88, Tracer 8-23, Boucher 11-20, Crawford 1-(-4), Foster 1-(-15).
Passing—PA: Guttormsen 5-9-2, 163, 2 TDs. PT: Montoya 4-15-1, 23.
Receiving—PA: Edwards 2-82, Joslin 1-76, Shumway 1-4, Bowen 1-3. PT: Boucher 1-9, Winegar 2-8, Steinfort 1-6.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Port Townsend’s Jacob Boucher, right, watches as the ball gets away from him after an interrupted handoff from quarterback Noa Apker-Montoya, center, prompted by the defensive work of Port Angeles’ Bryce Lauderback, left, in the second quarter on Friday at Port Angeles Civic Field. Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News
