PORT ANGELES — In a defensive battle dictated by torrential rain that deluged the field for the first half, the Port Angeles Roughriders football team was done in by a couple of big Bremerton plays and untimely penalties.
The Riders lost 21-0 to the Knights. Port Angeles had opportunities against Bremerton, but the Riders couldn’t take advantage of a couple of first-half Bremerton fumbles and it seemed like any time Port Angeles did make a big play, it was nullified by a flag.
The night started out relatively pleasant, but a heavy downpour started coming down minutes before kickoff. It rained hard through most of the first half, which contributed to neither team being able to move the ball much.
The deluge was so intense at the beginning of the game that it flooded nearby Washington Street and cars parked along the street.
“We couldn’t move [the ball]. That was part of it,” said coach Dustin Clark. He felt the game came down to two or three big plays that the Riders allowed.
“A couple of plays, they were sliding off tackles and we couldn’t wrap up,” he said.
Dylan Mann had his usual solid game, gaining 101 yards rushing on 18 carries. The Riders were able to run the ball at times, gaining 151 yards on 30 carries, but had more than 50 rushing yards nullified by penalties and the Riders also had trouble with the passing game in the soggy conditions.
The Riders got a huge break early as Bremerton fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, giving Port Angeles the ball at the 25-yard line. On a fourth-and-12, quarterback Carson Waddell took off and came up just a couple of yards short of a first down as the Riders squandered that golden opportunity.
All game long, the Riders’ defense was stout, not allowing any long drives by the Knights. However, Bremerton did gash the Riders on a pair of big plays that turned out to be the difference. The first was a 42-yard run by Kenny Najero in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Bremerton fumbled again, giving Port Angeles the ball at midfield. Again, the Riders simply couldn’t move the ball in the soggy conditions. Bremerton responded with a 30-yard catch and run by Marquis Allen, and then a 42-yard touchdown run also by Allen, who sprinted for the end zone after he was seemingly down in a big pile up at the 35-yard line.
Bremerton took that 14-0 lead into the half. In the second half, the rain eased up and Port Angeles was able to move the ball behind Dylan Mann’s running, but the penalties started killing the Riders. A 30-yard run by Mann was called back for a holding penalty. Another huge run by Waddell when he completely bowled over a tackler and then gained 25 yards was called back due to penalty. The next play was an interception. Those two penalties cost the Riders dearly.
Turnovers also hurt Port Angeles as the Riders threw three second-half interceptions.
Bremerton scored a final touchdown with 3:50 left in the game on a 14-yard run by Allen. The Riders drove the ball late down to the 9-yard line, but that drive was ended by an interception at the goal line.
Jude Wallace and Oliver Martinez each had fumble recoveries for the Riders. Waddell had 21 yards rushing on five carries and Wallace 19 yards on four carries.
Port Angeles (1-4, 2-6) wraps up its regular season with a tough game, taking on Olympic League leader Olympic (5-0, 7-1) on the road Thursday.
Bremerton 21, Port Angeles 0
Brem. 7 7 0 7 — 21
PA 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring
First Quarter
Brem. — Najero 42 run (Kick good)
Second Quarter
Brem. — Allen 42 run (Kick good)
Fourth Quarter
Brem. — Allen 14 run (Kick good)
