PORT TOWNSEND — The real games start next week.
That’s why Chimacum (0-2) can view its 21-16 loss to Klahowya in a somewhat positive light.
“When it’s all said and done, what I told the team, this is just preseason,” Cowboys coach Shawn Meacham said after Thursday night’s game at Memorial Athletic Field.
“You know, the games count next week, and we’re going in with momentum. We are 100 percent better than we were last week.”
It was Klahowya which had the momentum, and an 18-3 lead, at halftime.
After intercepting Chimacum quarterback Alex Morris in the end zone and returning it to the 11-yard line, Eagles quarterback Jacob Sheets hooked up with wide receiver Josh Ganowski for an 89-yard touchdown with less than a minute to play in the half.
But after the intermission, the Cowboys quickly showed they had no intention of rolling over.
On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, running back Mel Thornton scored on a 53-yard touchdown run to cut the Eagles’ lead to 18-10.
The senior running back had a lot to do with Chimacum’s improvement over last week’s 45-0 season-opening loss to Forks, which Thornton missed.
Against Klahowya, he rushed 24 for times for 215 yards and two scores.
“He’s a good player,” Eagles coach Dan Ericson said. “Can I have him? I’ve got a spot for him, and a few of their guys, for sure.
“Is he a senior? I hope he’s a senior, that’s all I can say. I like him, he’s a nice player.”
Meacham said Thornton’s presence had a lot to do with the Cowboys’ improved offensive performance.
“He’s got speed, and he’s got a good feel for how to cut in a hole, when to stop, when to go. He’s shifty, but he knows when to put his head down and go,” Meacham said.
“When the defense starts keying on him, that opens up different things for other [people].
“Trevor Hair had a great game running North, and Derek Ajax ran real hard and he had some [nice gains].”
The Chimacum defense also stepped up in the second half.
Led by Daryl Settlemire, Seth Ham, Dustin Finley and Mike Nordberg, the Cowboys consistently met Sheets and running back Latrell Simpson behind the line of scrimmage.
After playing with 15 players against Forks, Chimacum added four more in the second game.
Among the newcomers was Nordberg, the pitching ace for the Cowboys baseball team for the 2013 season.
Meacham said Nordberg is a welcome addition to both sides of the ball. On offense, he picked up 13 yards on his lone carry.
“We didn’t have him last week because he came out late,” Meacham said. “He played great at the linebacker spot for us.
“And he did spot duty running back. It’s going to help us out to have more than just those three backs in our three-back set, so we can keep kids fresh.”
The defense held Sheets and the Klahowya defense to just a field goal in the second half.
Despite moving the ball throughout the third and fourth quarters, the Cowboys didn’t score again until Thornton’s 8-yard touchdown run with 1:46 left in the game to cut Klahowya’s lead to 21-16.
The offense was its own worst enemy, drawing flags that either eliminated big plays or put the Cowboys in difficult situations.
“We can’t play with that many penalties,” Meacham said. “That’s what killed us.”
Chimacum’s comeback bid was halted when it was unable to pull off an on-side kick after Thornton’s score.
Klahowya moves to 2-0 on the season with both wins coming against teams from the Quimper Peninsula.
“Hats off to Chimacum,” Ericson said.
“We played Port Townsend last week, and they were tough as nails, and these guys were tougher, probably — no offense to Port Townsend.
“With only 19 guys, they just hung in there, had some great plays.
“I’m going to be a huge Cowboy fan this year. They’re going to fight all the way to the end. I’m impressed with that. These guys are tough up here.”
Chimacum begins Nisqually League play on the road against Bellevue Christian (2-0) on Saturday.
Klahowya 21, Chimacum 16
Klahowya 6 12 3 0— 21
Chimacum 0 3 7 6— 16
First Quarter
KLA—Latrell Simpson 3 run (kick failed)
Second Quarter
CHIM—Alex Morris 23 field goal
KLA—Josh Ganowski 12 pass from Jacob Sheets (kick failed)
KLA—Ganowski 89 pass from Sheets (kick failed)
Third Quarter
CHIM—Thornton 53 run (Morris kick)
KLA—Kasey Trask 24 field goal
Fourth Quarter
CHIM—Thornton 8 run (run failed)
Individual Stats
Rushing— KLA: Latrell Simpson 22-112, Jacob Sheets 9-36. CHIM: Mel Thornton 24-215, Trevor Hare 9-32, Derek Ajax 13-35, Mike Nordberg 1-13, Alex Morris 2-8.
Passing—KLA: Jacob Sheets 7-12, 165. CHIM: Alex Morris 2-12-1, 20.
Receiving—KLA: Josh Ganowski 5-129, Grady Bayshore 1-21, Jonathan Harris 1-12. CHIM: Trevor Hare 1-10, Mel Thornton 1-10.