BAINBRIDGE — The Port Angeles football team gave Bainbridge all it could handle Friday night as the defensive battle came down to a successful Spartans’ two-point conversion in overtime.
It was the game of the week in a rough weekend for Olympic Peninsula football teams, which went 0-4.
Bainbridge won 14-13 when the Spartans scored a touchdown in overtime, then decided to go for two to end the game right there, successfully pounding the ball in from the 3-yard line.
It was a defensive struggle all game as Bainbridge didn’t score a single touchdown in regulation. In fact, the Spartans rarely even crossed midfield as the ball was in Bainbridge’s side of the field most of the game.
A field goal attempt that banged off the upright and an untimely holding penalty cost the Roughriders.
Port Angeles appeared to have scored a go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-and-14 from the 25-yard line on a touchdown pass from Carson Waddell to Jude Wallace, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty. Penalties were a huge factor all game for both teams.
With the score stuck at 3-0 with both defenses dominating and flags killing several big plays, the Riders finally hit paydirt on a drive that began late in the third quarter. The drive was helped by two 15-yard pass interference penalties and a 15-yard face mask penalty against the Spartans.
Another 15-yard penalty, this one against Port Angeles, put the Riders and first-and-25 from the 28-yard line. Waddell then hit Jagger Hjelmeseth down the left sideline for a 28-yard touchdown pass with 10:27 left in the game to give Port Angeles a 6-3 lead. In what turned out to be a crucial play, Bainbridge then blocked the extra point.
Bainbridge got good field position after the kickoff and after a short drive kicked a field goal to tie the game at 6-6 with 7:27 left.
Dylan Mann, who was a workhorse all game with 30 carries for 129 yards, had a huge play with a 28-yard run, followed by a 10-yard run, putting Port Angeles in business late in the fourth. The Riders were able to drive the ball all the way down to the 3-yard line for a potential go-ahead fourth-down field goal with 1:20 left to play. However, the snap was high on the kick, throwing off the timing, and Oliver Martinez’s kick banged off the upright and refused to go over the crossbar.
Bainbridge drove quickly down the field as it appeared both defenses were finally tiring. The Spartans actually attempted a 52-yard field goal at the end of regulation, almost unheard of at the 2A level, to win the game. Port Angeles blocked the kick, sending the game to overtime.
The Riders got the ball first and disaster struck as yet again, penalties were called, putting Port Angeles on the 38-yard line for a second-and-23. After a short run to make it third-and-21, the Riders ran a flea flicker with the ball being pitched back to Wallace, who has played some quarterback for the Riders. Meanwhile, Waddell ran downfield uncovered and Wallace hit him perfectly in stride for a beautiful 42-yard touchdown.
Going first in overtime, Port Angeles had the tough decision of what to do with the extra point and with Bainbridge appearing to have a strong kicking game, they kicked the extra point to make it 13-6.
The Spartans responded with some short running plays to set themselves up at the 10-yard line. After a 10-yard touchdown run and after converting the two-pointer for the win, the Spartans fans stormed the field.
Port Angeles finished with 41 runs for 188 yards, but had more than 100 yards rushing called back on penalties.
Port Angeles (1-3, 2-4) has a nonleague game against Squalicum (3-3, 3-3) in a rare Saturday game at Bellingham’s Civic Field at 5 p.m.
North Kitsap 24, Sequim 7
SEQUIM — For the second straight week, North Kitsap beat a North Olympic Peninsula team with a commanding defensive performance in a 24-7 victory over the Sequim Wolves on Friday night.
While Sequim for the most part played a great game defensively, the Wolves struggled to move the ball against North Kitsap’s defense, which held Port Angeles to just seven points the week before.
The Wolves forced three turnovers and gave up a respectable 284 yards to the Vikings, but they only generated 152 yards of offense themselves. Of Sequim’s 91 yards passing, 46 came on one play. The Wolves punted nine times.
The Wolves were hurt by a couple of long punt returns. The first one early in the first quarter set up the Vikings with first and goal. They quickly scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead just a couple of minutes into the game.
The Wolves’ Sam Shinkle made a great play on special teams, stripping the ball from the Vikings’ return man, then recovering the ball to give Sequim the ball in North Kitsap’s territory. Sequim also had an interception from Malachi Hampton and another fumble recovery but couldn’t take advantage of these Vikings’ mistakes.
Sequim scored its touchdown in the fourth quarter after a spectacular 46-yard pass from quarterback Kaden Miller to Hampton. That set up the Wolves at the 4-yard line and they scored on a short touchdown on the next play on a Miller sneak.
Liam Wiker rushed 20 times for a tough 48 yards, while Zeke Schmadeke ran eight times for 32 yards and had two catches for 29 yards. Miller passed 6-for-11 and had zero turnovers.
Sequim (0-3, 3-3) will play at league-leading Olympic (3-0, 5-1) at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
In another game this weekend, Adna beat Forks 49-13.
Annie Wright 21, East Jefferson 6
PORT TOWNSEND — The East Jefferson Rivals played a tough physical battle on defense and was able to run the ball in the first half, but an Annie Wright scoop and score on a turnover helped lead the Gators to a 21-6 victory over the Rivals at Port Townsend Memorial Stadium.
The Rivals had a 6-0 lead going into the half against the 4-1 Gators.
Deken Lorenzen had more than 100 yards rushing on three carries, which included a 65-yard touchdown.
The Gators got one touchdown on defense and the Rivals were hurt by turnovers.
In addition to his touchdown run, Lorenzen also had nine tackles on defense.
The Rivals (0-4, 1-5) have another tough challenge coming up against Bellevue Christian (4-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Port Townsend Memorial Stadium.
Adna 49, Forks 13
ADNA — A powerful Adna team got up 42-0 on the Spartans before going on to win 49-13.
Highlights of Forks’ game were a 45-yard touchdown run by Estevan Ramos and a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown by Cash Barajas.
The Spartans (1-1, 1-4) will next host Pe Ell/Willapa Valley (2-1, 5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.
