By Michael Carman
Peninsula Daily News
SEQUIM — Two rushing touchdowns in the second half by Sequim’s Gavin Velarde pushed the Wolves past Olympic 31-18 in a homecoming game victory Friday.
The win helped Sequim (2-2, 4-3) move into a tie for third with rival Port Angeles (2-2, 3-4) in the hunt for the Olympic League 2A Division’s third and final playoff berth.
Quarterback Riley Cowan completed 12 of 22 passes for 134 yards for the Wolves, including a 4-yard TD pass to freshman Taig Wiker. Cowan also ran 10 times for 40 yards, including a 4-yard TD to put Sequim up 17-12 early in the third quarter.
Velarde had 51 yards rushing on 11 carries, including the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run late in the third quarter and a 16-yard scamper with less than 5 minutes to play to seal the win.
He also was credited for an 86-yard pass connection with freshman Michael Young.
Tyler Conn led a balanced Sequim rushing attack with 11 carries for 66 yards.
The Wolves racked up 381 yards offensively, rushing for 161 yards and throwing for 220.
Klahowya 7, Port Townsend 6
BREMERTON — The Redhawks made a crucial mistake on the game’s opening drive, throwing an interception that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown, to fall out of first place in the Olympic-Nisqually League.
Port Townsend’s defense otherwise pitched a shutout, but the Redhawks’ offense suffered too many breakdowns to prevail.
“[Klahowya] never crossed the 50-yard line on offense,” Port Townsend coach Alex Heilig said.
“We just couldn’t execute offensively and were making mental mistakes. I think we had at least seven trips inside the red zone [on offense] but, penalties, mental errors and lapses in fundamentals added up.
“We gave up some pretty inopportune sacks, part of that is staying in the pocket, part is getting beat on the offensive line.”
Redhawks quarterback Noa Apker-Montoya rushed 28 times for 157 yards and completed 10 of 19 passes for 70 yards and the big interception.
Dylan Tracer added 79 yards on the ground on 21 carries, including a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter.
Port Townsend (3-1, 3-4) will attempt to bounce back at Vashon (1-3, 1-6) on Friday.
North Mason 15, Forks 14
FORKS — The Spartans led the Bulldogs 14-3 at halftime but gave up two second-half scores and fell in a nonleague game at Spartan Stadium.
North Mason’s Tyler Thomas returned an interception 30 yards for a score and ran in another TD from 22 yards to edge Forks.
Brett Moody ran for a score and threw for another for the Spartans (1-1, 5-2).
Forks hosts Elma (1-1, 3-4) next Friday in a must-win Evergreen League contest.
Vashon 38, Chimacum 0
PORT TOWNSEND — Down four two-way starters due to athletic code violations, the Cowboys struggled in a homecoming loss to the Pirates.
“We had guys in different spots trying to fill those holes and it was difficult,” Chimacum coach Mike Dowling said.
“Credit Vashon, they did some things they didn’t do on film. I think they looked at Port Townsend’s film [against Chimacum] and did a good job of emulating [Port Townsend quarterback Noa-Apker] Montoya.
Chimacum trailed 19-0 at halftime, and it only got worse from there.
“We had passes dropped, a number of penalties and it got out of control,” Dowling said. “We started the second half and fumbled, second drive we fumbled and the third drive we fumbled.
“We had five or six turnovers and had two scores called back because of penalties.”
Dowling said he was hoping to get some players back for the Cowboys’ game against Charles Wright (3-0, 5-1).
Quilcene 52, Muckleshoot 8
AUBURN — The Rangers jumped all over the Kings early, going up by 30 points after one quarter to remain unbeaten on the season.
Quilcene needs to win one of its last two games against winless Evergreen Lutheran or Seattle Lutheran to clinch the SeaTac 1B League title and the No. 1 seed to the Quad-District playoffs.
The Rangers took advantage of excellent field position thanks to multiple Muckleshoot turnovers and poor punts to score quickly and efficiently.
“We hardly had any offensive plays,” Quilcene coach Trey Beathard said.
“Our scoring drives were short, and they had a running clock in the second quarter, and the second half they asked to run the clock on extra-points and kickoffs.”
Beathard said his team had only 29 offensive plays in the game and they had 20 in just the second-quarter alone last week against Tacoma Baptist.
Andy Johnston rushed four times for 75 yards, including scores from 10 and 34 yards out. He also picked off a pass on defense.
“They had a hard time tackling him when he scrambled,” Beathard said.
Olin Reynolds totaled 36 yards on two carries, including a 21-yard TD. Reynolds also had a 45-yard kickoff return to set up a Quilcene touchdown and returned an interception 25 yards to set up another score.
Ben Bruner also rushed four times for 40 yards, including an option-keeper TD and Eli Mahan had a 2-yard TD run.
Robert Comstock caught two TD passes, a 21-yard pass from Johnston and a 7-yarder from Holdem Elkins.
“We’ve been improving minute-by-minute and week-by-week,” Beathard said.
Quilcene hosts Evergreen Lutheran (0-2, 0-5) on Saturday.
Lummi 70, Crescent 20
BELLINGHAM — The Loggers were taken down in a road loss to the Blackhawks on Friday.
Crescent (0-2, 3-4) visits Oakville for a nonleague game Friday.
Chimacum’s Cole Dotson wraps up a Vashon ball carrier during the Cowboys’ 38-0 loss to the Pirates on Friday. Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News
