SEQUIM — The Olympic Peninsula Eagles smashed the Puget Sound Outlaws of Tacoma 33-6 at Sequim High School just as they head down the stretch of the 2012 semipro football season.
“That was a big win for us as we make a run for the playoffs,” Eagles coach Mike McMahan said.
The Eagles — now 1-1 in the Western Washingon Football Alliance, and 2-3 overall — have four league games left starting with the Tacoma Invaders this coming Saturday night at Port Townsend’s Memorial Field.
The game, which starts at
6 p.m., will be one of the last two home games for the Eagles this year.
“If we win Saturday’s game, we will be right where we want to be,” McMahan said.
The last four games are winnable, according to McMahan, and an ending 5-1 league record would give the Eagles a good boost heading into the playoffs, which start July 28.
In their final home contest, the Eagles take on Snohomish County Thunder at Memorial Field on July 7.
“Thunder is the team I used to coach,” said McMahan, who has extensive semipro experience as an owner, coach and quarterback.
In Saturday night’s game against the Outlaws — the only time the Eagles will play in Sequim this season — the Eagles had several key contributions from Sequim-area players.
Rookie quarterback John Gashce of Sequim, who is playing his first football ever this year, started his first game at the most difficult position in the sport against the Outlaws.
“Running an NFL-style offense like we have is not an easy thing,” McMahan said.
“John did a good job.”
Because of a sloppy field due to a heavy mid-afternoon rainstorm, the Eagles did most of their damage on the ground with 334 rushing yards.
Gashce, though, did connect on two passes for 40 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to receiving ace Cory “Red” Hartfield.
“That was a beautiful diving catch by Red,” McMahan said.
Hartfield, the leading receiver on the team, caught two passes for 37 yards.
Gashce also threw a two-point conversion to tight end Tony Lewis.
The key drive in the game came in the third quarter when the Eagles were leading just 14-6.
The drive, which stayed on the ground, took more than 8 minutes.
“That drive totally drained them,” McMahan said.
“We took the ball and ran it down their throats. We made a field goal and then they threw a pick on their next possession.
“We blew the game open at that point.”
At the end of the drive, Sequim’s Larry Henning nailed a 27-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 17-6 lead, which opened the flood gates for the Olympic Peninsula team.
Henning is an unusual kicker.
“Larry is a big defensive lineman for us,” McMahan said.
On the interception, Adam Harris returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.
Harris had two picks in the first game of the year, a nonleague 21-12 victory over the Outlaws.
Rameil Watts and B.J. Johnson led the Eagles on the ground in Saturday’s game.
Watts carried the ball nine times for 105 yards and a score while Johnson had 96 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.
Johnson also had a two-point conversion run along with fullback Roland Quinn.
Quinn earned 86 yards on eight carries to go with his two-point conversion.
“[Johnson, Quinn and Watts] are my workhorses for us,” McMahan said.
Johnson and Watts have been trading off for top rushing honors in most of the Eagles’ games.
In other games this year, the Eagles dropped a 32-20 game to the Washington Cavilers of Centralia, lost 26-18 to Inner City Shine of Seattle and were beaten 30-13 by league powerhouse Seattle Stallions.
“We actually played the Stallions pretty close,” McMahan said.
“I felt good about that game.”
McMahan noted that the Stallions won 48-0 this past weekend.