LANGLEY — Behind some huge runs from Logan Massie and clutch plays on both sides of the ball by their special teams, the East Jefferson Rivals grabbed their first win of the year in a 9-7 defensive struggle over the South Whidbey Falcons.
“Defensively, it was a bunch of stops,” said coach Tony Haddenham.
Haddenham gave much of the credit for the win to both his offensive (Beau Manuel, Lars Wakefield, Marshall Graves, Gage Barry, Sean Jones) and defensive (Graves, Jesse Kithcart, Chris Fair, Gerald Lindsey, Siamau Auseuga) lines.
“They all played stellar for us,” Haddenham said. “I’m an old offensive lineman, so I gotta take my hat off to the offensive line. I tell them offensive linemen win games. They picked up blitzes, they pulled. We wouldn’t have won without them.”
After a huge goal-line stop on three straight plays by the defensive line, Massie responded with a 98-yard run. “He made everyone miss. He turned the corner and no one touched him,” he said.
Massie also had a 65-yard run and finished with 200 yards rushing for the game, Haddenham said.
Haddenham said the Rivals’ kicker Gary Zambor also deserved kudos. Late in the third quarter, the Rivals, down 7-6, had driven deep into Falcon territory but had to make a decision to go for it on fourth down or try a 35-yard field goal, a long kick for 1A ball.
“We kicked it,” Haddenham said. “I couldn’t look.”
Zambor’s kick was good, giving the Rivals a 9-7 lead.
That lead held until late in the fourth quarter when the Falcons drove deep downfield and set up for a potential go-ahead field goal in the final minutes. The Rivals’ Gerald Lindsey blocked the kick and Jerome Reaux picked up the loose ball to preserve the win.
East Jefferson went 0-3 in its inaugural, truncated season this spring, though the combined Port Townsend/Chimacum team was considered temporary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Friday’s win gives the Rivals a 1-2 record this season.
The Rivals next play at Vashon (2-1) on Friday.
North Kitsap 56, Port Angeles 0
PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Roughriders had a tough night going up against the No. 1-ranked 2A team in the state, falling to the North Kitsap Vikings 56-0.
There’s no shame in the score, as the 3-0 Vikings came in to Friday’s contest averaging 56 points a game. They beat Lakeside last week 62-0. North Kitsap was also 5-0 this spring.
“They’re really good. They’re tough,” said coach Dustin Clark. “They will compete for a state title.”
Still, Clark said the Riders “did a lot of good things.
“They competed for 60 minutes. As a coach, that’s all we ask for. We had some drives. We’re going to continue to get better.”
Clark thought the Riders’ defensive line played well and Jason Hawes in particular on defense had a good game.
Port Angeles (1-3) hosts North Mason (0-0) at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Bainbridge 48, Sequim 10
BAINBRIDGE — Going up against a 3A school, the Sequim Wolves stayed close until halfway through the second quarter, down just 13-10 after a Kobe Applegate touchdown, but Bainbridge pulled away with 35 straight points to win 48-10.
Sequim scored its points on a Brandon Wagner 37-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 31-yard pass from Lars Wiker to Applegate.
The Spartans’ Jack Grant was too much for the Wolves, as he passed for 284 yards and four touchdowns.
Wiker had 13 completions for 187 yards on 30 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions for Sequim. Applegate had four catches for 78 yards and Wagner had two catches for 51 yards. Aiden Gockerell had three catches for 32 yards and Charlie Grider had a catch for 15 yards.
Sequim (1-2) next plays at Bremerton (2-1) in a game scheduled for Thursday.
Other Prep Scores
Thursday’s Games
Girls’ Soccer
Bainbridge 3, Port Angeles 1
Volleyball
Sequim 3, Bremerton 0
Crescent 3, Mary M. Knight 0
Quilcene 3, Auburn Adventist 0
Klahowya 3, East Jefferson 0