PORT TOWNSEND — No playoff implications are to be had in the final game of the week before the playoffs begin — just pride.
And that’s plenty of motivation for the Quimper Quarrel, the annual matchup between the Chimacum Cowboys (2-3, 2-6) and the Port Townsend Redhawks (1-3, 3-4) that kicks off tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the home field the two teams share, Jefferson County Memorial Field.
Port Townsend enters the contest with a seven-game win streak over their Rhody Drive rivals, including last year’s offensive explosion in which the teams combined for 131 points and more than 1,000 yards.
The Redhawks won that one 79-51, a higher combined score than in two of the team’s three basketball contests later in the school year.
Dealing with injuries aplenty, Port Townsend doesn’t appear able to break its single-game scoring record again this season.
But the Redhawks are hoping for an increase in physicality tonight.
“We have to figure something out this week,” Port Townsend head coach Patrick Gaffney said. “Chimacum plays hard, they are physically tough. Right now we aren’t too physically tough. We have great kids who give a great effort, but we have to figure out how to be a tougher team.”
Gaffney said the rivalry game may be the ticket to a more complete performance by his squad.
“It’s a big one, a little different game,” Gaffney said. “Our kids will be up for this and we will see how it goes. Chimacum has some young kids, they are sophomore heavy and we are heavy on freshmen. The kids that will play each other [tonight] are going to be playing each other for awhile.”
Let’s hope so.
With the Cowboys eyeing a likely move to the Class 2B ranks, the Quimper Quarrel could be quieted for a time if nonleague schedules do not align.
This happened for much of the mid-1990s when Port Townsend was a Class 2A school and Chimacum remained in 1A. And it happened again in 2013 when the Cowboys and then-Redskins were in opposite divisions in the Nisqually League.
If this is the last game for a stretch, let’s hope its a thriller like the 2012 edition — a five-overtime marathon won 27-25 by Chimacum in the last Cowboys win in the series.
Port Townsend is the nominal home team in this year’s edition — which also doubles as the Andy Palmer Memorial Night in honor of 2008 Port Townsend graduate and former football player Andy Palmer.
Palmer, a National Park Service firefighter, was killed while fighting a wildfire in northern California just weeks after graduating from Port Townsend High School.
Proceeds from the game’s gate will go toward the Andy Palmer Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Port Townsend also will wear throwback uniforms from Palmer’s time on the team.
The Pick: Chimacum
Bremerton at Sequim. 6:30 p.m.
SEQUIM — Four scenarios exist to determine the three Olympic League playoff seeds in a four-team postseason chase.
Those scenarios were discussed in detail in Wednesday’s Things we Learned prep column, and for the Wolves it boils down to this: win and they are in.
Sequim needs to beat the Knights to secure a district playoff spot. Handle their business and the Wolves (4-1, 7-1) are through to the postseason.
Forks at Hoquiam, 7 p.m.
HOQUIAM — The Spartans (1-2, 4-4) could still make the playoffs with a win over the Grizzlies (2-1, 5-3) tonight at Olympic Stadium.
A Forks win and an expected Montesano win over Elma would put the Spartans, Eagles and Grizzlies in a three-way tie at 2-2 in the Evergreen League standings. This would likely require a Kansas City tiebreaker early next week before the district playoffs.
A Forks win and an almost unthinkable Elma upset also would put the Spartans in the postseason.
Forks will have to slow down a Hoquiam’s wide receiver weapon Cameron Bumstead, who has 52 catches for 927 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns entering the game.
The Pick: Hoquiam
Port Angeles at North Mason, 6:30 p.m.
BELFAIR — The Roughriders wrap their slate hoping to avoid the school’s first winless season since 2016. Port Angeles faces a Bulldogs (0-5, 2-6) team that has dropped six straight contests since jumping to a 2-0 start.
The Pick: North Mason
No. 5 Neah Bay at Lummi, 7 p.m.
BELLINGHAM — A Class 1B Quad-District Tournament bye is up for grabs as the Red Devils and Blackhawks tangle for the No. 2 seed to the playoffs.
Having seen both Neah Bay (4-1, 6-1) and Lummi (3-1, 6-2) play this season, it’s difficult to settle on a favorite.
The Red Devils held off the Blackhawks 64-56 in a nonleague contest at Neah Bay earlier this season.
The Pick: Neah Bay
Saturday Muckleshoot at Quilcene, 1 p.m.
QUILCENE — The Rangers (4-0, 6-1) look to wrap up their third straight unbeaten Evergreen League slate with a win over the Kings (2-2, 3-4).
Quilcene has earned a first-round bye in the Quad-District Tournament and will host a playoff game the weekend of Nov. 15-16.
The Pick: Quilcene
Darrington at Crescent, 1:30 p.m.
JOYCE — The Loggers (1-3, 3-5) will celebrate seniors Eric Emery and Tim Ward in Saturday’s final home contest of the season.
Crescent is locked in to the Northwest Football League’s fourth seed to the Quad-District Playoffs and will host the No. 5 seed next weekend.
The Pick: Crescent
Last Week: 5-1, tripped up by Port Townsend’s blowout loss against Klahowya.
Season-to-date: 45-8.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
