PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles football team guaranteed its first winning season since 2011 and is headed into the postseason full steam ahead with momentum after winning its last three games by the combined score of 166-14.
The Roughriders put a cap on their 6-3 regular season with a 55-0 win over North Mason on a chilly night at Civic Field. It was the team’s second straight shutout win as North Mason never got into the red zone or seriously threatened to score the entire game.
“The players came out strong early tonight. They were focused,” said coach Dustin Clark.
The Riders were seeded No. 7 in the bidistrict playoffs and will play No. 6 seed Franklin Pierce on the road at 7 p.m. Friday. Port Angeles is ranked No. 18 in Ratings Percentage Index. Franklin Pierce (7-2) is ranked No. 15.
“We feel comfortable where we’re at going into the playoffs. We still have a lot of work to do,” Clark said. “We take it one day at a time and focus on one day at a time. That’s not going to change.”
Senior quarterback Parker Nickerson has been through a lot of lows and highs with the Riders and will be making his first trip to the postseason as a starting quarterback.
“I can’t even explain how this feels,” Nickerson said. “This means so much as a team and a community.”
“This has definitely been my most fun year of football,” he said. “I’m never going to forget this.”
The Riders ran just eight offensive plays to get up 27-0 and held a 34-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The entire second half was played with a running clock, which most of the people in the crowd were likely thankful for as the temperature dropped to 35 degrees by the end of the game.
The Roughriders ran the ball 28 times for 250 yards. Amazingly, they only ran 35 offensive plays as they basically scored at will and the second half only took 30 minutes to play.
Jason Hawes had 197 total yards of offense. He scored two touchdowns, one on a 17-yard reverse and the other on a 35-yard run as he carried the ball five times for 102 yards. He also had a 45-yard run to end the first half, a kick return of 40 yards, a punt return of 38 yards and a 17-yard catch.
Ezra Townsend had touchdown catches of 25 and 37 yards on passes from Nickerson. His 37-yard touchdown was probably the best play of the game as he bulled his way through three or four North Mason defenders for the final 5 yards to the end zone.
Landyn Jones had touchdown runs of 17 and 9 yards as he finished with 45 yards rushing with a 14-yard catch. James Browning had a 16-yard touchdown run and Kason Albaugh was the workhorse with 87 yards rushing on 15 carries. He had a 1-yard touchdown run and an interception on defense. Trevor Martin and Jordan Shumway also recovered fumbles.
Nickerson didn’t have to throw the ball much, but was very efficient, going 6-for-7 for 125 yards and two TDs.
Port Angeles won its last three regular-season games by the scores of 48-14 (Bainbridge), 63-0 (Kingston) and 55-0.
Port Angeles quarterback Parker Nickerson, left, drops back to pass as North Mason’s Cole McCormick closes in, followed by Nickerson’s teammate, Conner Martin on Friday night at Port Angeles Civic Field. (KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS)
Port Angeles’ Landyn Jones sweeps past the pursuit of North Mason’s Trevon Simons on Friday night at Port Angeles Civic Field. (KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS)
Port Angeles’ Kason Albaugh, left, receives a block from teammate Tanner Flores as the North Mason defense closes in during Friday’s game at Port Angeles Civic Field. (KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS)
