POULSBO — Sequim has won more football games this season (three) than they had in the previous two seasons (two).
But don’t let the 3-0 record fool you.
While Wolves coach Erik Wiker was certainly proud of his players efforts after Sequim’s 27-19 win against Kingston, he also let them know they “haven’t done anything yet.”
“It’s a great turnaround, but I don’t think we’ve hit our stride or our potential yet,” Wiker said.
“Some of that is [the opponents’] great play and some of that is us shooting ourselves in the foot, and that’s a little bit of lingering [issues] from last year.”
And Wiker, who saw the Wolves through to seven league titles in his first eight seasons as head coach from 2004 to 2011, knows just a little about what it takes to win consistently.
A win in tonight’s matchup with eighth-ranked and defending league champion North Kitsap (3-0) will require all his team can muster, and then some.
Wiker recounted the 2007 Sequim team’s ability to grow as a unit each week, culminating in a state playoff appearance and an eventual down-to-the-wire 22-20 loss to then-unbeaten state power Tumwater.
“We were a team that was just barely getting there and by the end of the season we were right there with Tumwater,” Wiker said. “We are no different a team than that now, but that [2007] team got better every week. We have to keep getting better, concentrate harder and be more coachable.”
Wiker expects the Vikings to bring plenty to the table.
“North Kitsap is going to be really good,” Wiker said.
“It’s a game of emotion and if they come in and think we aren’t much, or if we go in and think they are going to kill us, that’s more to it than anything else.”
Port Angeles
at Bremerton
BREMERTON — If the Roughriders (0-1, 2-1) want to continue their resurgence with a playoff appearance, this game likely falls in the must-win category.
After Port Angeles allowed North Mason to score the final three touchdowns in last week’s 27-14 loss, a win this week and avoiding an 0-2 start to Olympic League play would go a long way to keeping the Riders’ postseason chances alive.
Stopping Knights running back Calvin Caldwell should be the top priority for Port Angeles.
Caldwell has racked up gaudy rushing totals through three games: 71 carries for 673 yards and six touchdowns.
Port Townsend
at Coupeville
COUPEVILLE — A tussle for the top spot in the Olympic League’s 1A division is at stake in tonight’s game.
The game provides a matchup between two solid senior quarterbacks.
Port Townsend’s (1-0, 2-1) Jeff Seton is 24 of 32 for 435 yards, with three passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
Coupeville (1-0, 2-1) counters with Joel Walstad, who has gone 47 of 85 for 652 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.
Forks at Rochester
ROCHESTER — The Spartans’ (0-1, 1-2) first tangle with a Class 2A league opponent comes on the road against the Warriors (1-0, 1-2).
Rochester picked up an 18-14 win against Elma last week, thanks in large part to senior running back Wyatt Singer’s 220 second half rushing yards.
Klahowya
at Chimacum
PORT TOWNSEND — A matchup of winless programs means one bus will go home with happy players tonight.
Cowboys offensive coordinator Nic Dahl said his team would focus on simplifying the offense in the wake of injuries along the team’s line and receiving corps.
“We are looking to go more toward an I-formation,” Dahl said.
“The kids should pick it up pretty quickly; we ran it in little league with most of the same guys and won an area championship.”
Crescent
at Quilcene
QUILCENE — Colten Pol will be the focus for each team.
The Rangers (2-1) will look to get the ball in the hands of their feature back, while the Loggers (2-1) will try to keep Pol contained.
Pol has gone off for 785 yards and 13 touchdowns (nine rushing, three receiving and one passing) in wins against Clallam Bay and Mary M. Knight.
Neah Bay
at Lyle-Wishram
LYLE — Head south, cross the Columbia River, head east, cross the Columbia River again, and 366 miles later, the top-ranked Red Devils (3-0) will arrive for tonight’s game with Lyle-Wishram.
The Cougars (1-2) broke open a tie game at halftime and rode a second-half surge to a 64-22 win against Twin Valley (Wishkah Valley/Lake Quinault) last week.
Clallam Bay
at Muckleshoot
AUBURN — The Kings had to forfeit last week’s game with Mary M. Knight due to a lack of players but tonight’s contest with the Bruins is set to go.
“We had five kids out with medical issues last week but they are back and we have some other kids ready, so we should have about 14 or 15 kids,” Muckleshoot athletic coordinator Jamie Sluys said.