WOODLAND — Port Townsend ventures south for Friday Night Lights, Class 1A state football playoff edition, tonight at 7 p.m. against No. 6 La Center (9-1) at Woodland High School.
That contest, plus three Class 1B Quad-District Playoff contests featuring No. 3 Neah Bay (7-1), Quilcene (7-2) and Crescent (5-4), are all set this weekend.
The Redhawks (7-3) are making their second straight 1A state appearance having beat up on Charles Wright 49-7 last week in a Nisqually-Olympic League contest that served as a de facto district playoff game.
Now Port Townsend faces a big task, figuratively and literally, in trying to upset the Wildcats.
La Center took down Forks 66-12 in the Southwest District 4 playoffs last week.
“They are a big, physical team that can lean on you a little bit,” Forks coach Emil West said of La Center.
“I think it will be really hard for any team in 1A to match up with them.”
West has seen fourth-ranked Montesano and a peaking Hoquiam team already this season, so I’d take him at his word.
Redhawks head coach Alex Heilig understands the challenge tonight’s game presents.
“To them, we’re a speed bump on their way somewhere,” Heilig told his team after the Charles Wright win.
“We’re trying to extend our season and we need to be excited for the opportunity.”
Heilig said that would mean extra time in the film room and a solid week of practices in the run-up to today’s game, and execution on the field tonight.
That said, Port Townsend has struggled in it’s games against the upper echelon 1A teams this season.
Port Townsend fell 56-0 on the road to No. 2 Mount Baker and 42-0 away to No. 5 Cascade Christian.
The Redhawks are a good team, but the other schools mentioned are a cut above.
La Center, the Trico League champions, also are part of that talented group.
Prediction: La Center 46, Port Townsend 14
No. 3 Neah Bay at Taholah
ABERDEEN — After devouring the salad course last week in an 82-8 1B Quad-District Playoff victory against Evergreen Lutheran, the Red Devils turn it up a notch on their playoff push with a contest tonight against the Taholah Chitwins (5-2).
The game will be held at Stewart Field in Aberdeen at 7 p.m.
Taholah had a bye last week in the opening round of quad-district play, and the short-handed Chitwins needed it as most of the team’s roster play every down.
Neah Bay doesn’t have the sizeable turnout it has had in recent seasons, but the Red Devils have enough talent to offer a breather on occaision.
Expect Neah Bay to win handily.
The game will be broadcast live on Forks Radio 1490 am and at forks1490.com.
The pregame show will start at 6 p.m. with Taholah head coach William James followed by Neah Bay head coach Tony McCaulley.
Oly Archibald will have the live play by play and Dave Montgomery will provide commentary.
Predicition: Neah Bay 52, Taholah 6
Crescent at No. 5 Tacoma Baptist
UNIVERSITY PLACE — The Loggers visit the Crusaders in a rematch of their season-opening game which Crescent lost 54-6.
The game will be played tonight at Curtis High School at 7 p.m.
Tacoma Baptist (9-0) is likely to win again, but not if the Loggers’ ball-hawking safety KC Spencer has anything to say about it.
Spencer nabbed two interceptions in last week’s 60-20 playoff win over Oakville. The junior has 12 interceptions this season, and 26 interceptions in 32 career games.
He passed Quilcene’s Eli Harrison (22 interceptions in 37 games from 2012-15) and Neah Bay’s Drexler Doherty (20 in 31 games from 2010-13) for first place earlier this season.
Prediction: Tacoma Baptist 48, Crescent 16
Quilcene at No. 1 Lummi
BELLINGHAM — Another rematch, this one of a 2015 1B state tournament game, wraps the weekend at 5 p.m. at Lummi Nation School.
The Rangers hung around for a half last season, but couldn’t get things going offensively in a 40-0 loss to the eventual state runner-up.
“They’re really good, they’ll be a challenge,” Beathard said of this year’s Blackhawks (9-0) team.
“We got a chance. It might be a small one, but it’s a chance.”
Prediction: Lummi 50, Quilcene 12
Last Week: 7-0
Season to date: 58-9
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News Port Townsend’s Detrius Kelsall (10) beats out Port Angeles’ Easton Joslin for a touchdown reception during a game earlier this season.
