PORT ANGELES — There is more on the line than bragging rights and the potential to chant “Just like football” at basketball games.
After two years of playing only for pride, tonight’s Rainshadow Rumble at Civic Field has postseason ramifications. Kickoff is at 7.
Port Angeles (1-2, 3-3) needs a win to keep its postseason hopes alive.
Sequim (2-1, 4-2), meanwhile, is trying to maintain its postseason standing, if not improve it.
The Olympic League championship is probably out of reach for the Wolves, but they still have a good shot at the league’s second seed at the district playoffs next month.
Sequim’s dominance in the Rainshadow Rumble took a break last year when Port Angeles beat the Wolves 37-21 at Sequim High School, the Roughriders’ first win over the Wolves since 2007.
Sequim coach Erik Wiker doesn’t dismiss the importance of winning homecoming and beating Port Angeles, but his focus is on his own team more than the Riders.
“We need to make sure that we play our game, I mean, more than having to make sure we stop them,” Wiker said.
“If our defense is sound, our defense plays the way its supposed to play, our offense plays smooth and smart all the way through . . . all that kind of stuff, then I think we will have a good shot at every single team in the league.”
The Riders are coming off two consecutive losses to Olympic and Black Hills.
However, last week’s setback gave Port Angeles a taste of what it will face tonight.
“One of the things we were most excited about in facing Black Hills’ offense was that it was a great ‘practice’ opportunity for Sequim,” Riders coach Tom Wahl said.
Here are three keys for each team to win tonight’s Rainshadow Rumble, visiting team first:
SEQUIM
■ Moroles must be big.
Out of the many athletic skill position players on the Wolves’ roster, Miguel Moroles is the most dangerous.
Sequim needs the senior quarterback to change the game with a play or two like his 84-yard touchdown run last week that turned what seemed like a likely North Mason win into a tie game.
That tie game went to overtime, where Moroles scored a 1-yard touchdown to give Sequim a 26-20 win.
■ Stop the run.
Port Angeles’ offense is based on running the ball, and from the start tonight, the Riders will stubbornly work to establish the run.
If Sequim can stop the ground game, it will force the Riders into passing situations. Port Angeles has had success throwing the ball, but going to the air 10 or more times is outside its comfort zone.
■ Limit penalties.
The Wolves had too many holding and false start penalties in last week’s win over North Mason.
Most of the time, the extra distance didn’t slow their big-play offense, but it totally derailed the first drive of the second half when they were 10 yards from the end zone and seemed poised to take over the game.
Instead, Sequim was forced to punt and then couldn’t stop the Bulldogs from grounding and pounding for 80 yards and 10 straight minutes for the go-ahead touchdown.
Penalties also hampered the Wolves in their loss to North Kitsap and their win against Kingston.
PORT ANGELES
■ Lines must dominate.
Basically, the Roughriders’ lines need to do what they did in last year’s rivalry game: Open up holes for the running backs on offense and keep Moroles contained as much as possible on defense.
The Port Angeles lineman are bigger and more experienced than Sequim’s linemen, and they need to pound that point home.
■ Prevent big plays.
Along with keeping Moroles in check, the Riders also must stop the other Sequim players from making big plays.
When the defensive line does its job and controls the line of scrimmage, the rest of the defense can’t let any big plays happen on the outside.
This also extends to special teams, especially if Sequim freshman and kick-return specialist Gavin Velarde is back after missing last week’s game.
■ Get off the field.
When the Port Angeles defense forces a third down, it needs to finish the drive and not give Sequim an extra set of downs or allow spirit-crushing scores.
An inability to prevent big plays in third and fourth down situations led to three Black Hills touchdowns in the Riders’ 27-14 defeat last week.
OTHER GAMES:
Port Townsend at Klahowya
BREMERTON — The Redhawks can clinch at least a share of the Olympic League’s 1A Division title if they post their second win of the season against the Eagles tonight at Silverdale Stadium.
Port Townsend (3-1, 4-2) previously beat Klahowya (3-1, 3-3) 22-9 in Week 3 behind 146 total yards and two touchdowns from running back David Sua.
The Redhawks will face a revamped Eagles offense, which switched quarterbacks after an 0-3 start.
Klahowya moved former signal caller Konner Langholff to running back and inserted junior George Harris at QB.
This has paid dividends, as Langholff has rushed 61 times for 490 yards and six touchdowns in the last three games, all Eagles victories, and Harris has completed 27 of 39 passes for 446 yards, five TDs and one interception.
“That’s probably the best switch they could do,” Port Townsend coach Nick Snyder said of Klahowya’s change.
These aren’t the same Eagles that the Redhawks pushed around last month.
“It’s completely different,” Snyder said.
“Before they were much more of a run team, as Langholff wasn’t much of a passer. Now, Harris has a better arm and is more accurate.
“I think it balances them out.”
Neah Bay at Lummi
BELLINGHAM — This is the second meeting of the season between the top two 1B schools on the west side of the state.
The Red Devils (2-0, 6-0) came up with a late defensive stop to preserve a 38-26 win over the Blackhawks (2-0, 4-2) in a nonleague contest in Week 2.
This one counts in the Northwest Football League standings, and the winner will be in the driver’s seat for the league championship.
The game can be heard live on Forks 1490 AM or online at www.forks1490.com.
Hoquiam at Forks
FORKS — The Grizzlies (2-2, 3-3), the Evergreen League’s third-place team, visit Forks with a chance to eliminate the Spartans (1-3, 2-4) from the playoff picture.
Forks needs to win all three remaining games and hope for losses by Elma and Hoquiam to reach the postseason.
Coupeville at Chimacum
CHIMACUM — Homecoming affords one last chance for a home victory for the winless Cowboys (0-4, 0-6).
The Wolves (2-2, 3-3) previously beat Chimacum 48-24 last month.
This is the second contest of the season played at Chimacum High School.
Kickoff is at 3 p.m.
Crescent at Clallam Bay
CLALLAM BAY — A rash of injuries forced the Loggers to forfeit last week’s game with Lummi, while Lopez shut out the Bruins 56-0.
Tonight’s homecoming game will go on, according to Crescent athletic director Dave Bingham.
Bingham said Wednesday that the Loggers (0-2, 2-4) should have enough healthy players to play tonight’s Northwest Football League game.
Clallam Bay (0-2, 3-3) rode a 34-point second-half surge to a 48-0 victory against Crescent in the season opener for both teams earlier this year.
Quilcene at Muckleshoot
AUBURN — The Rangers (1-1, 4-2) hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s fight-filled 30-0 victory over the Kings (0-1, 0-3).
Things got so bad last year, referees called the game in the third quarter.
Muckleshoot has gotten a bit chippy in at least one of its games this season, so it will likely be up to Quilcene to maintain composure and keep the game from turning ugly.
The Rangers are seeking to bounce back from last week’s 54-14 loss at SeaTac League-leader Evergreen Lutheran.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsualdailynews.com.
