PORT ANGELES — Enjoy this one, prep football fans. Tonight’s Rainshadow Rumble football game between visiting Sequim and host Port Angeles has district playoff implications, a rarity in this long-running rivalry game.
A victory by the Wolves (2-2, 4-3) would clinch the Olympic League 2A Division’s third and final seed to the district playoffs, Sequim’s second straight playoff appearance.
If the Roughriders (2-2, 3-4) triumph Port Angeles doesn’t clinch that third playoff spot, but can sew up the program’s first postseason appearance since 2011 with a win at Olympic (2-3, 3-4) on Thursday.
A Port Angeles win over Sequim, coupled with a Riders’ loss to Olympic would mean a three-way tie-breaker for that final playoff berth.
And while the Rainshadow Rumble and its corresponding trophy is a relatively new invention (coined sometime during the tenure of former sports reporter Matt Schubert), the rivalry itself is long-standing and one-sided … for both teams.
Tonight’s game (kickoff at 7 p.m.) is the 81st game between the two schools dating back to 1928.
Port Angeles leads the all-time series 52-22-6 and won 12 in a row between 1953-1963, leading to a halt in the series from 1964-1977. Another break in the rivalry came from 1991 to 2003, when the two schools were in separate enrollment classifications.
Sequim has controlled the series since it resumed again in 2004, rolling to a 9-4 record, including winning five in a row from 2008 to 2012. That stretch included what was likely the biggest game in rivalry history, Sequim’s 41-0 win in 2010 in front of a jam-packed Civic Field, when both schools were ranked in the Associated Press top-10 rankings.
The Wolves have claimed the last two games, winning 49-6 in 2015 and 49-9 in 2016.
Port Angeles’ last win, a 20-14 overtime thriller, came at home in 2014.
As for tonight’s contest? Sequim has a more dynamic offense, but the Riders have a more experienced offensive line — and that could come in handy on a wet night on the grass (and the infield dirt on the field’s north side).
The two sides are more evenly matched defensively and of the bend but don’t break variety.
Special teams is where Sequim has Port Angeles beat. Gavin Velarde, the Wolves’ reigning All-Peninsula and Olympic League MVP, is an elusive threat to break a touchdown whenever he handles the ball. Sequim kicker Byron Rice has hit 8 of 9 extra point attempts and is 2 of 2 on field goals, and the Wolves have had good kick coverage this season.
Kick returner/wide receiver/defensive back Garrett Edwards possesses big-play ability for the Riders, but Port Angeles has struggled at times on special teams, particularly in last week’s loss to Bremerton in which the Riders allowed a kickoff return TD and a blocked punt.
Prediction: Sequim 27, Port Angeles 13
Elma at Forks
FORKS — The Spartans (1-1, 5-2) need a win over the Eagles (1-1, 3-4) to keep pace in the Evergreen League playoff chase. Leading 14-3 at halftime last week, Forks stumbled in the second half and lost a nonleague game 15-14 to North Mason.
Prediction: Forks 26, Elma 15
Port Townsend at Vashon
VASHON — The Redhawks (3-1, 3-4) will look to bounce back after their three-game Nisqually/Olympic League win streak was snapped in a 7-6 loss to Klahowya. Port Townsend should rebound in a big way against the Pirates (1-3, 1-6) and spoil Vashon’s homecoming game.
Prediction: Port Townsend 34, Vashon 0
Charles Wright at Chimacum
PORT TOWNSEND — The Cowboys (0-4, 2-5) will be closer to full strength this week after missing four players to rules violations last week. But snapping the team’s five-game losing skid will be difficult against a Tarriers team that is fighting for a state playoff berth.
Prediction: Charles Wright 48, Chimacum 6
Crescent at Oakville
OAKVILLE — The Loggers (0-2, 3-4) hope to get back on the winning track in a nonleague tilt with the Acorns (3-1, 4-3). Both teams have losses to Quilcene this season, Crescent by 22 points and Oakville by 26.
Prediction: Crescent 36, Oakville 32
Saturday’s Games Evergreen Lutheran at Quilcene
QUILCENE — The Rangers (3-0, 6-0) can clinch the SeaTac League title and a bye in the Quad-District playoffs with a homecoming game win over the Eagles (1-2, 1-5).
Prediction: Quilcene 52, Evergreen Lutheran 8
Neah Bay at Tulalip Heritage
MARYSVILLE — The Red Devils (1-0, 3-4) visit the Hawks (1-0, 5-0) with first place on the line in the Northwest Football League standings. Tulalip has only played three true games, having picked up two forfeit wins over Clallam Bay. But the Hawks beat Lummi 26-14 in a head-scratcher of a contest.
Prediction: Neah Bay 32, Tulalip 24
Last Week: 5-3
Season to Date: 37-10
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sequim running back Tyler Conn, right, tries to fend off Bremerton’s Kaipo Retome during a game last month.
