LUMMI — Neah Bay concluded its spring football season with a close 38-36 loss on the road to longtime rival Lummi on Friday night.
Lummi and Neah Bay are among the top eight-man football programs in the state and have met in the postseason numerous times.
“The Lummi fans were happy and our fans enjoyed a good game,” said Neah Bay coach TJ Greene. “It was good to get a good, competitive game to finish the season.
“It kind of came down to some execution issues. They made more extra points than we did,” Greene said.
Neah Bay finishes its season 3-1, with Lummi gaining the Northwest B eight-man football title.
Tobias Croy finished his career with the Red Devils with a touchdown run of 74 yards and an interception on defense. Robert Richardson had a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 2-yard run for a score. Richardson also recovered a fumble.
Meric Soeneke had 24-yard touchdown pass to Jaxson Halttunen and a 19-yard touchdown throw to Neil Bowechop.
The Red Devils got down fairly big to the Blackhawks, falling behind 38-20 late in the fourth quarter. They mounted a furious rally in the final minute, but simply ran out of time in the end.
Richardson began the rally with his kick return. The Red Devils kicked an onside kick and recovered it, then quickly scored with a few seconds left on Richardson’s short run.
A second onside kick attempt in the final few seconds failed, and Lummi was able to kneel and end the game.
The Neah Bay kids, some of whom ran track simultaneously with the football season, immediately move into basketball season.
Boys basketball Sequim 48, North Mason 44
BELFAIR — Sequim picked up its first win of the year, 48-44 on the road Saturday against North Mason.
Erik Christiansen led the Wolves with 16 points while Tyler Mooney had 12.
Coach Greg Glasser said Sequim got up by 20 points at one point, but the Bulldogs rallied in the second half.
“It was one of those games where we had to hold on,” Glasser said. “That’s the kind of team they are. They like to shoot the three. We didn’t do a good job of getting our hands up.”
Glasser said Mooney had a great game coming off the bench.
“He brings instant energy. That was one of his best games I’ve seen him play.”
He said Jayden Possin also had a great game at point guard, making a pair of 3-pointers.
Sequim (1-2) next plays at 7 p.m. today, hosting East Jefferson (0-2).
Wrestling East Jefferson at Bainbridge
BAINBRIDGE — The East Jefferson wrestling squad had a chance for perhaps two state champions this year according to coach Stephen Grimm, but instead will have to settle for a truncated season.
Those two potential state champions, Kyle Caldwell and Logan Massie, each won their matches in an informal dual with Bainbridge on Saturday. Including exhibition matches, Grimm said Bainbridge won 27 matches to East Jefferson’s 24.
Caldwell won at 220 pounds, while Massey won at 170.
“Kyle was looking to be a state champion this year,” Grimm said. Caldwell finished second at the last Mat Classic. The good news for Massie is that he’s a junior and will get a chance to wrestle in 2022.
Also going 1-1 on the day with a win was Ike Banks at 138 pounds.
Also winning were Lily Delgado and Savannah Hoffman, who both beat boys.
East Jefferson next wrestles Thursday at Bremerton.
