LYLE — First, there’s something important to know: Jordan Simpson, Ryan McCoy and Kalin Duncan created holes.
Then Clayton Willis took it from there.
Well, not completely.
On a couple of Clallam Bay’s touchdowns, Ramon Tinoco made downfield blocks that helped big plays turn into scores.
“His blocking was great,” Bruins coach Cal Ritter said, referring to Willis, who filled up the stat sheet in Clallam Bay’s 54-38 Quad-District victory over Lyle-Wishram.
Quilcene also advanced to state Friday by defeating Tulalip Heritage 46-44.
Clallam Bay will make its 18th state football appearance, and first since 2007.
The Bruins (4-5) will face rival and two-time defending state champion Neah Bay (8-0) in the first round of the 1B playoffs next week, likely on one of Kitsap County’s artificial turf fields.
The Red Devils beat Clallam Bay 48-14 on
Oct. 30.
Willis, a freshman, ran for 299 yards on 20 carries and scored seven of Clallam Bay’s eight touchdowns. Five of Willis’ TDs were by ground and two came on passes from Alan Greene.
“He’s coming along so well,” Ritter said of Willis.
“He’s made great improvements and he’s running with a purpose. Rather than avoiding people, he’s actually hitting the holes.”
Willis and McCoy are freshmen, Simpson is a junior, and Duncan and Tinoco are eighth-graders, so Clallam Bay’s youth stepped up in Friday night’s win-or-go-home game.
But so did the Bruins’ three seniors, Greene, Martin Cummings and Kyle Keys.
“Defensively, Martin Cummings did an outstanding job,” Ritter said.
“He was pushing 30 tackles, and he sacked the quarterback three times in a row. He was all over the field for us.”
Greene scored Clallam Bay’s other touchdown, a 71-yard run in the second half. He finished with five carries for 97 yards.
The Bruins built a 32-8 halftime lead, but Lyle-Wishram didn’t just roll over after the break.
The Cougars’ came out on fire in the second half and put up 30 points in the third quarter.
A few times, they were about to cut the deficit to one score, but the Bruins managed to make enough plays to keep that from happening.
Late in the fourth quarter, Lyle-Wishram was mere yards away from scoring when Keys intercepted a pass in the end zone.
A few plays later, Keys had to punt from Clallam Bay’s end zone, and his kick rolled all the way to the Cougars’ 30-yard line.
That put Lyle-Wishram, which was trailing 54-38, 70 yards away from scoring again. The Cougars drove into the red zone but eventually ran out of downs at the 14-yard line with less than two minutes to play.
“There was a few kids that really stepped up,” Ritter said.
And the Bruins needed that because, for the most part, they only played eight players.
“The third quarter, we came out pretty flat. Luckily, our offense was able to score also,” Ritter said.
“We played eight guys for the whole game, so I think fatigue kind of set in. I think they got a little tired.”
Quilcene 46, Tulalip Heritage 44
MARYSVILLE — Head coach Byron Wilson said that the Rangers showed something important against the Hawks: “Good teams find a way to win.”
Quilcene’s way Friday at Quil Ceda Stadium included the usual suspects, some new catalysts and good defense.
The win clinches the second consecutive Class 1B state berth for Quilcene, which will open at Taholah (4-4) this week.
The Rangers (7-2) are undefeated when Eli Harrison plays a full game. That continued against Tulalip Heritage.
“Eli’s such an integral part of our offense,” Wilson said.
Harrison ran 14 times for 193 yards and two scores and threw for 46 yards and a couple more scores.
A.J. Prater carried 17 times for 200 yards and two TDs.
The Rangers can count on those types of performances by the two seniors.
Unexpected was the 97 yards on six carries by Acea Such.
“He was a bright spot for us,” Wilson said.
“The other bright spot was that Andy Johnston intercepted two passes. They were at crucial times for us.”
Quilcene led 18-8 at halftime, but never could shake Tulalip Heritage and its high-powered offense led by Robert Miles Jr., who Wilson said is “one of the best receivers I’ve ever seen.”
The Rangers’ defense made enough plays, though, to hold of the Hawks’ rally.
“The real highlight was coach [Trey] Beathard’s defense,” Wilson said.
“It was the same old deal, we bent a little bit, stretched a little bit, but we came back to shut them down when we needed to.”
Crescent 18, Darrington 6
DARRINGTON — The Loggers conclude their season with a nonleague road victory.
It was Crescent’s third win (3-7), its most since 2012.
The Loggers played mostly the same schedule as 2014, and like last year, they defeated Oakville and Muckleshoot early in the season. Unlike last year, they had a Week 10 game and turned it into a victory over Darrington on Friday.
“It’s not bad for a young team, and the young coaching staff,” first-year Loggers coach Brian Shimko said of the season.
“Every game was an improvement [over last year], if you look at the scores.”
Shimko also noted that all of the Loggers’ opponents except Muckleshoot and Darrington made the postseason this year.
Crescent’s offense was led Friday by the running of eighth-grader Eric Emery, who gained 151 yards on 13 carries and scored two of the team’s three touchdowns. His TDs were runs of 40 and 45 yards.
KC Spencer started at quarterback for the Loggers and threw for 80 yards, including a TD to Noah Leonard. He also caught a pass from McCabe Story for 26 yards.
But Spencer’s biggest contribution to Friday’s win was on defense, where he intercepted four passes and had three pass deflections.
Emery also had a pick.
“Defensively, the team had 10 pass deflections and five interceptions,” Shimko said.
“Defensively, it was probably the best I’ve seen from this team this year.
“I mean, they really came a long ways. They just put it all together in this last game.”
The Loggers hope for more improvement next year, and that’s a reasonable expectation considering they only lose one senior to graduation.
That senior, Luke Leonard, finished his career in style.
“He had an unbelievable game,” Shimko said.
“He played center and had no bad snaps. He had four solo tackles and a sack for a loss of 17 yards. He had a pass deflection, he caused a fumble and made a stop on an extra point.”
Luke Leonard also kicked the ball 61 yards on Crescent’s only punt of the game.
“He left it on the line,” Shimko said.
With two kids out with injury, the Loggers finished with 18 healthy players. Shimko expects and ever bigger roster next season, with a few current seventh-graders with potential to make contributions and some already at the high school who likely will give football a try next season.
So there are some things to look forward to in the Crescent football program.
“But I’m bummed that the season is over,” Shimko said.
Crescent 18, Darrington 6
Crescent 6 0 6 6— 18
Darrington 0 6 0 0— 6
First Quarter
C—N. Leonard 19 pass from Spencer (run failed)
Second Quarter
D—TD (conversion failed)
Third Quarter
C—Emery 40 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
C—Emery 45 run (run failed)
Individual Stats
Rushing—C: Emery 13-151, Baillargeon 12-65, Buchanan 10-31, Story 4-20.
Passing—C: Spencer 3-12-0, 80; Story 1-1-0, 26.
Receiving—C: Story 2-61, Spencer 1-26, N. Leonard 1-19.
________
Compiled using team reports.
