Klahowya head coach Dan Ericson’s initial response after his team lost to Port Townsend 52-6 last week was simple and to the point: “Port Townsend is good.”
“They’re physical,” Ericson said. “It’s pretty rare to have 220-pound-plus kids in the backfield.
“And they played a good game, they’re well-coached and we struggle against bigger, physical teams. We always have.”
The Redhawks (3-0), ranked 10th in Class 1A by The Associated Press, racked up 314 rushing yards against the Eagles in their Olympic League 1A opener Friday.
Port Townsend’s ground attack was again led by Wesley Wheeler, who gained 84 yards on 14 carries and has 390 yards rushing this season.
But speed accompanies the power running of Wheeler and quarterback David Sua, the “220-pound-plus kids in the backfield.”
Wheeler averages 130 yards rushing per game, so, relatively speaking, the Eagles slowed him down by plugging gaps with linebackers.
That left openings elsewhere, which gave the Redhawks a chance to show off their versatility.
“Seemed like they were trying to load the blocks up to stop Wesley,” Port Townsend coach Nick Snyder said.
“Then they were sort of bringing the ‘backers in the A and B gaps, so we were running outside on them.
“Ezra Easley was getting outside and running hard. That lead block from Hogy [lineman David Hoglund] was awesome.”
Easley carried nine times and tied Wheeler for the team lead with 84 yards.
Detrius Kelsall and Kyle Blankenship also found space to the outside.
Center Lucas Foster credited Port Townsend’s wideouts for helping the offensive line create those holes.
“I felt like our receivers did great blocking,” Foster said. “The really got around to their guys and blocked them.”
Those receivers, junior Carson Marx and senior Jacob Ralls, also had opportunities to make plays of their own.
In the third quarter, Ralls scooped up a fumble by Wheeler near one sideline, ran across the field and down the other sideline for a 38-yard gain.
He also scored a touchdown on an 8-yard pass from backup quarterback Berkley Hill late in the fourth quarter.
Marx caught a short pass from Hill earlier in the fourth, juked one defender and raced up the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.
Marx made a similar play in the third quarter for a 39-yard TD pass from David Sua, but the score was called back due to a block in the back.
“Carson Marx is going to be one heck of a receiver,” Snyder said.
“He already is. For a junior, he’s got great speed, great hands and he runs good routs. He’s going to get bigger, stronger, faster, so he’s pretty exciting.
“And Jacob Ralls, too. Both those wideouts can catch the ball and then make explosive, big plays after that.
“[Ralls has] good speed, he’s got good vision. It seems like he makes big plays all the time. Last week it was a 90-yard punt return, this week it was a scoop and [run].”
Then there is the Redhawks’ defense, which has allowed only six points this season, the fewest in 1A. (In all of the state’s classifications, only Olympic has allowed less points. The Trojans have pitched three shutouts in three games this season.)
So, yeah, Port Townsend is good.
Here are two other things learned last week in North Olympic Peninsula high school football:
■ Sequim’s defense is formidable.
Holding Chimacum and Coupeville to six points combined was nice, but putting the clamps on Olympic League 2A foe Kingston last week was next-level stuff by Sequim’s defense.
The Wolves went on the road and won a battle of defenses 13-10 Friday. The victory was sealed with an interception by Kane Stoddard at the goal line late in the game.
Sequim (3-0) has an even bigger defensive duel this week when it hosts North Kitsap.
The Vikings have won two straight Olympic League championships and enter Friday’s matchup with a 14-game league winning streak that dates back to Oct. 2012.
But North Kitsap (1-2) hasn’t reached the end zone since its 28-0 win over Bainbridge in Week 1, managing only three field goals in the two games since.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have only allowed a combined 13 points to W.F. West and Black Hills in those two losses.
With a win Friday, Sequim could open up the Olympic League 2A race, and set itself up as one of the early favorites.
■ Yep, Landry should be a running back.
Kellen Landry was Port Angeles’ top returning runner and receiver from last year, but the new coaching staff decided in the offseason to move the senior to tight end.
After the Roughriders were unable to generate much offense in their season-opening loss to Port Townsend, Landry approached the coaches about returning to running back.
First-year head coach Bret Curtis obviously is loathe to start a trend of every Port Angeles player asking to run the ball, but considering the Riders’ need and that Landry was a senior with prior success running the ball, Curtis granted Landry’s request.
It looks like listening was a savvy coaching move.
Two games into the switch, Landry is Port Angeles’ leading runner (36 carries for 193 yards) and receiver (5 receptions for 69 yards).
In Friday’s 20-14 loss to North Mason, Landry carried 24 times for 103 yards and a TD, and caught three passes for 40 yards.
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“Three things learned in high school football” appears each week during the football season in the PDN.
Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
