BREMERTON — Sequim (9-1) dug its way out of a 14-0 first quarter hole against River Ridge and won its West Central District playoff contest 37-21 over the Hawks Friday night at Memorial Stadium to earn the program’s second consecutive appearance in the Class 2A State Football Tournament.
Sequim (9-1) beats River Ridge 37-21 to advance to Class 2A State Tourney for 2nd straight season. #wafbscores pic.twitter.com/hj4Fg4ylgd
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) November 9, 2019
The comeback was led in large part by a big night along the defensive line by Wolves’ junior Austin Newton, including a crucial forced fumble deep in River Ridge territory that ceded momentum to Sequim. The Wolves capitalized, taking the lead on an 8-yard touchdown pass on fourth and goal from Taig Wiker to Hayden Eaton.
Here’s a big play that failed to send during the game: 4th and goal in 2Q with Sequim down 14-6. Eaton goes up and gets it from Wiker for 6. pic.twitter.com/DiwdtDdEPf
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) November 9, 2019
Running back Walker Ward rumbled for 164 yards on the ground, including a late touchdown, and also lead the Wolves in receiving yards with two grabs for 40 yards, including a 22-yard screen pass to get Sequim on the board in the second quarter.
The Wolves scored the final 16 points of the contest after River Ridge tied the game back up at 21-all by returning the second half kickoff 83 yards for a TD.
Garrett Hoesel kicked the go-ahead field goal from 29 yards midway through the third and Sequim got rushing touchdowns from quarterback Taig Wiker and Ward, plus three fourth quarter interceptions — two by Eaton and another by Hoesel — t0 put the kibosh on any Hawks’ comeback attempt.
The Wolves will wait until the WIAA’s seeding committee ranks the tournament’s field of 16 teams to find out their first round state opponent.
Sequim 37, River Ridge 21
River Ridge 14 0 7 0— 21
Sequim 0 21 3 13— 37
First Quarter
RR—Owens 6 pass from J. Brown (kick blocked)
RR—D. Brown 1 run (Owens pass from J. Brown)
Second Quarter
S—Ward 22 pass from Wiker (Hoesel from Wiker)
S—Eaton 8 pass from Wiker (Hoesel kick good)
S—Wiker 1 run (pass failed)
Third Quarter
RR—Owens 83 kick return (kick good)
S—Hoesel 29 field goal
Fourth Quarter
S—Wiker 7 run (kick failed)
S—Ward 2 run (Hoesel kick)
Individual Stats
Rushing—RR: D. Brown 20-54, J. Brown 3-20, Owens 1-(-1). S: Ward 26-164, Hoesel 3-63, Wiker 15-33.
Passing—RR: J. Brown 11-20-129, TD, 3INT. S: Wiker 9-15-78, 2TDs.
Receiving—RR: Owens 5-66, Brost 4-40; Smith-Laws 1-16, Brown 1-7. S: Ward 2-40, Eaton 4-22, Hoesel 1-8, Moore 2-8.
Statewide scores
Archbishop Murphy 23, Sedro-Woolley 6
Bellevue 57, Meadowdale 21
Bothell 53, Auburn Riverside 19
Camas 48, Olympia 13
Chiawana 21, Mead 10
Clarkston 48, Toppenish 27
Eastlake 38, Sumner 22
Eastside Catholic 34, Gig Harbor 14
Eatonville 57, Orting 35
Franklin Pierce 31, Olympic 24
Gonzaga Prep 50, Hanford 36
Graham-Kapowsin 49, Mount Vernon 6
Kelso 33, Spanaway Lake 20
Kennewick 24, Shadle Park 7
Kentwood 41, Glacier Peak 31
Lake Stevens 49, Tahoma 14
Lakes 31, Snohomish 7
Lakewood 14, Liberty 10
Lynden 48, Sehome 21
Lynden Christian 56, Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 7
Marysville-Pilchuck 28, Ballard 25
Mount Baker 54, South Whidbey 7
Mt. Spokane 49, Kamiakin 20
North Kitsap 28, Fife 25
O’Dea 42, Ferndale 7
Othello 17, Pullman 3
Peninsula 35, Arlington 0
Prairie 73, Capital 35
Puyallup 42, Auburn Mountainview 21
Sequim 37, River Ridge 21
Skyview 49, Federal Way 0
Squalicum 49, Juanita 7
Steilacoom 63, Washington 13
Yelm 27, Edmonds-Woodway 17
Adna 41, Ocosta 14
Almira/Coulee-Hartline 58, Soap Lake-Wilson Creek 14
Asotin 35, Northwest Christian (Colbert) 7
Central Valley 40, Walla Walla 7
Cheney 40, East Valley (Yakima) 7
Chewelah 36, Reardan 23
Cle Elum/Roslyn 20, Wapato 12
Colfax 59, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 13
Connell 55, Naches Valley 7
Davenport 36, Liberty (Spangle) 14
Eisenhower 41, Davis 35
Ephrata 34, East Valley (Spokane) 0
Friday Harbor 55, La Conner 6
Hermiston, Ore. 55, North Central 28
Hoquiam 50, Castle Rock, Calif. 22
Klahowya 20, Bellevue Christian 7
La Center 42, Elma 14
La Salle 57, River View 12
Mabton 21, Columbia (Burbank) 20
Montesano 58, King’s Way Christian School 14
Napavine 48, Winlock 13
Newport 35, Cascade (Leavenworth) 7
Nooksack Valley 41, Oak Harbor 13
Northport 28, Wellpinit 14
Odessa-Harrington 78, Entiat 14
Onalaska 50, Wahkiakum 0
Rainier 28, Pe Ell/Willapa Valley 20
Riverside 28, Okanogan 17
Selkirk 64, Curlew 24
Shorecrest 24, Cascade (Everett) 13
Tri-Cities Prep 44, Manson 0
Tumwater 66, Columbia River 13
Washougal 28, W. F. West 7
West Valley (Spokane) 34, Selah 7
Zillah 49, Warden 0
