QUILCENE — Quilcene’s football season came to an end with a 37-20 loss to Lopez Island in a half-game for a spot in the 1B district playoffs.
Monday’s game was only two quarters because the winner will being playing Neah Bay on Friday, and because the Lobos played Crescent only 48 hours earlier.
The first quarter was back and forth, with the Rangers essentially matching Lopez Island score for score.
Vinny Kramer scored on a 33-yard run to give the Lobos a 6-0 lead.
Quilcene responded with a 94-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Pleines to J.J. Smith. The two-point conversion, a running play, not only fell short, it also showed head coach Nic Dahl that the Rangers would need to rely on the passing of Pleines.
“That [two-point conversion] set the tone,” Dahl said.
“I said, ‘It looks like we’re going to have to pass against them.”
Going to the air worked in the opening quarter.
Eddie Kramer scored on a 33-yard touchdown run of his own, but Pleines hooked up with Smith for a 17-yard score, and then the two-point conversion to tie the game 14-14.
Lopez added another touchdown at the end of the first quarter to lead 22-14.
Quilcene’s Josh King returned a kick 81 yards to give the Rangers the ball at the 1-yard line. King then ran it in to cut the Lobos’ lead to 22-20.
Lopez tacked on a pair of touchdowns, but the Rangers’ pass game stopped picking up yards and the offense stopped scoring.
Pleines completed only 3 of 14 passes in the second quarter.
“We played tough, man,” Dahl said.
“We just couldn’t get a first down in the second quarter.
“They’re a tough team; strong up front. We just didn’t get it done. They were the better team that game.”
Pleines finished with 200 yards passing and two touchdowns on 10 of 29 passing.
Smith caught five passes for 153 yards and two scores, King caught two for 27 yards and Colten Pol had two catches or 18 yards.
The two-quarter game was a strange way to end a season, but 2013 was a weird season for Quilcene.
Mary M. Knight canceled its game with the Rangers two days before it was supposed to take place.
Quilcene’s game with Muckleshoot was postponed, and when it happened a week later it was shortened due to fighting on the field.
That resulted in the suspensions of three starters, and the following week the Rangers lost to Evergreen Lutheran. That loss ended up costing Quilcene the Northwest Football League South Division championship, which forced Monday’s play-in game with Lopez Island.
Two of the Rangers’ losses this season were to the Lobos. In September, Lopez beat turnover-plagued Quilcene 68-30.
To Dahl’s satisfaction, the Rangers took much better care of the ball during Monday’s loss.
Quilcene finishes the season with a 5-3 record, the best mark during Dahl’s three seasons at the helm.
“It was an emotional clubhouse after the game,” Dahl said.
“It was a good game, though, and it was a good experience for the kids to have a solid game on their home field, especially the seniors.”
The Rangers bid farewell to eight players (Pleines, Smith, King, James Hanson, Dillon Bettinger, Josh Ulvia, Jeremy VanBerkom and Ryan Winn), many of whom have played a big roll in Quilcene’s success.
“That’s a great class,” Dahl said of the seniors.
“But we have a good class coming back. There’s about 16 coming back; we’re looking to get 30 [players] next year.”
Lopez’s reward is a matchup with top-ranked Neah Bay (8-0), which is on a quest for its third straight 1B title game appearance.
The Lobos (6-2) lost to the Red Devils 68-24 last month at Oak Harbor High School.
In that game, Neah Bay quarterback Josiah Greene passed for 323 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 179 yards and another score.
The teams meet again at Oak Harbor on Friday at 6 p.m.
Boys Tennis
Brown earns state alternate bid
BREMERTON — Port Angeles’ Alex Brown concluded the 2A West Central District Tournament by defeating Drew Maras of White River in three sets 3-6, 6-1, 7-6.
As a result of the win, Brown will be the No. 1 alternate to the state tournament in May.
“I’m really happy for Alex and how he competed at the tournament,” Port Angeles coach Brian Gundersen said.
“He put himself in a bit of a hole early, but fought his way out.”
The Riders finish the season with an overall record of 11-2, tied for second in the Olympic League.