SEQUIM — Tough defense, an offense that looks in mid-season form and plenty of big-play highlights.
Sequim’s Wolves looked anything but rusty in their season opener Friday night, jumping out to a 28-0 lead by halftime before settling in to a 42-14 non-league win over visiting Washington.
“We had a lot of great performances,” Sequim head coach Erik Wiker said. “Everyone stepped up.”
Taig Wiker led a trio of Sequim players making big plays on both side of the ball with an efficient first start at quarterback, going 13 of 18 for 220 yards and three touchdowns through the air, all in the first half.
“I felt good and comfortable coming into the game, and we executed what we wanted to,” Taig Wiker said.
“I really need to work on my throwing form — I got a little lazy on some passes and it cost us a couple big plays.”
In the first half, nearly all of the big plays came in Sequim purple and gold. Wiker found junior receiver Garrett Hoesel on third down for a 78 yard TD pass. Hoesel added the kick for a 7-0 lead.
Walker Ward, who made a number of big plays on offense and defense, made it 13-0 with a one-yard plunge on a drive set up a Taig Wiker’s interception.
“Walker was huge for us on both sides of the ball; he kept the ball moving on offense, and consistently stopped it on defense by getting to wherever the ball was going,” Erik Wiker said. “He’s one of our best.”
Ward finished with 17 carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
“I love blocking for Walker,” Sequim lineman Caleb Pozernick said. “All I’ve got to do is make my block and watch him go by. He always hits the hole.”
Taig Wiker found freshman Jonas Welch from five yards out to push Sequim’s lead to 21-0 in the second quarter.
The Sequim junior quarterback capped the first half scoring, finding junior receiver Hayden Eaton on a deep ball that went for 45 yards and a score.
Ward added a 10-yard scoring scamper and the Wolves’ defense forced a safety in the third quarter for a 36-0 SHS lead heading into the final quarter.
Hoesel had an interception and the Wolves kept enough pressure on Washington quarterback Austin Teague to blank the Patriots in the first three quarters.
“We owned them on the lines,” Pozernick said.
Isaiah Cowan had an interception, David Hales forced a fumble and Ward forced a pair of dropped passes to lead the defense.
“[I’m] really happy with our defense, but we can do even better than we did today,” Taig Wiker said.
Washington scored twice in the fourth quarter, one a 90-yard fumble recovery for a score that Taig Wiker took the blame for.
“Their first touchdown was on me; I mishandled the snap and didn’t execute the play right with an eight-man blitz coming,” he said.
But Sequim’s second string added a score when backup sophomore quarterback Kobe Applegate found Zachery Ballentine for a 21-yard touchdown.
Taig Wiker and Applegate completed 16 passes combined to 11 different Sequim receivers. Eaton and Truman Nestor paced the offense with three receptions apiece.
“I’m really happy with how much we spread the ball around; I lost count of how many different guys caught passes,” Erik Wiker said.
“[I’m] proud of our second stringers; they came in and executed,” he said. “Sometimes you see backups come in and it’s chaos, and that didn’t really happen tonight.”
Sequim gets another non-league next week in their first road game, as they take on the Forks Spartans on Friday, Sept. 13; game time is 7 p.m.
Forks blanked Port Angeles 23-0 on Friday night.
Last year, Sequim edged the Spartans 20-16 at home.
Sequim 42, Washington 14
Washington 0 0 0 14— 14
Sequim 13 15 8 6— 42
First Quarter
S—Hoesel 78 pass from Wiker (Hoesel kick)
S—Ward 1 run (kick failed)
Second Quarter
S—Welch 5 pass from Wiker (Wiker pass to Eaton)
S—Eaton 45 pass from Wiker (Hoesel kick)
Third Quarter
S—Safety
S—Ward 10 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
W— 90 fumble return (kick good)
S—Ballentine 21 pass from Applegate (Hoesel kick)
W—9 run (kick good)
Individual Stats
Rushing—S: Ward 17-55; Wiker 10-48, Young 2-20; Fitzgerald 6-14; B. Mote 1-10; Applegate 4-0.
Passing—S: Wiker 13-18-220, 3 TD; Applegate 3-5-38, TD.
Receiving—S: Hoesel 1-78; Eaton 3-54; Nestor 3-28; Young 2-22; Ballentine 1-21; Elias 1-16, Ward 1-11, Pinnell 1-9, Porter 1-9, Moore 1-6, Welch 1-5.
Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sequim running back Walker Ward crossed the goalline for a touchdown in the first quarter of the Wolves’ non-league game against Washington on Sept. 6.
Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sequim quarterback Taig Wiker looks for a two-point conversion in the second quarter of the Wolves’ match-up with Washington Sept. 6. Wiker connected with Hayden Eaton on the play for the conversion and a 28-0 Sequim lead.
