Forks’ Walker Wheeler busts loose for a long touchdown run against Sequim during the season opener for both squads. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Forks’ Walker Wheeler busts loose for a long touchdown run against Sequim during the season opener for both squads. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Neah Bay lone undefeated as prep teams reach midway point

FORKS — Week five marks the midpoint of the prep football regular season — a chance to pause for a minute and reflect on where area teams stand thus far.

Forks (1-1, 2-1) hosts the Raymond-South Bend combine in the biggest game of the week tonight at 7 p.m. at Spartans Stadium.

The Ravens (4-0) are ranked No. 3 in the WIAA’s Class 2B RPI, while the Spartans are at No. 15.

Raymond-South Bend earned a 34-2 win over No. 6 Adna last week to rise in the rankings.

The win was a program builder, according to Ravens coach Luke Abbott.

“[Adna] is a good team. They have athletes and size and are a very good football program,” Abbott said in the Aberdeen Daily World. “For us to be able to step up and play a very good football game against a very good football team and come out with a win like that, it says Raymond-South Bend is a football program too.”

Forks coach Trevor Highfield said the Ravens are a run-oriented team with a senior quarterback who is fleet on his feet.

Austin Snodgrass totaled three rushing touchdowns and gained 66 yards on 11 carries in last week’s win for the Ravens.

Raymond-South Bend also has Ferrill Johnson, who broke a 45-yard TD on his way to a 100-yard night in the backfield.

In recent seasons, Forks and Raymond appear to have rekindled an all-sports rivalry that also emerged in the 1970s when the two schools were league rivals.

All other kickoffs 7 p.m. unless listed.

Kingston at Sequim

SEQUIM — Resiliency, some smart play calling and a deep depth of pride carried the Wolves back from the nearly dead — down 20-0 to rival Port Angeles — all the way to a 36-32 triumph in the final seconds last Friday.

The apparent game-of-the-year contender garnered the Wolves’ (1-2, 1-3) first win of the season.

To get No. 2, Sequim will need to keep finding room for Aiden Gockerell to roam. Gockerell totaled more than 30 carries for more than 200 yards against the Roughriders.

Mary M. Knight at Clallam Bay

CLALLAM BAY — The Bruins (1-2) will go for their second six-man win of the season against the Owls, a team the Bruins ran all over in a 70-7 win earlier this season.

Quilcene at Concrete

CONCRETE — The Rangers (1-3) lost freshman starting quarterback Jayden Love for the season to a broken leg last weekend in a 44-38 loss at Entiat.

Fellow freshman Oliver Hopkins filled in for Love after halftime and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Deakon Budnek.

“He’s going to be really good at it. He’s super smart. He just hasn’t had the chance to play quarterback enough,” Quilcene coach Trey Beathard said of Hopkins.

The Lions (0-3) and Rangers share a common opponent, Mossyrock. Concrete fell 60-6 in its opener, while Quilcene lost 54-16 in week two.

Neah Bay at Crescent

JOYCE — The Red Devils (3-0) sit at No. 1 in the Class 1B RPI rankings ahead of Saturday’s 1 p.m. contest in Joyce. The rebuilding Loggers (1-3) are 41st.

East Jefferson at Life Christian

TACOMA — Somebody’s coming home victorious when the Rivals (0-1, 0-4) visit the Eagles (0-1, 0-3).

Port Angeles (1-2, 1-3) faced Olympic on the road late Thursday.

________

Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Sports

AREA SPORTS: Pirate women drop Columbia Basin

Neah Bay’s Amber Swan and Ezrah Ray each score 7

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Peninsula's DeShawn Rushmeyer, left, shoulders into Skagit Valley's Mathew Russ on Wednesday at Peninsula College.
MEN’S BASKETBALL:Balance, bench, boost Pirate men

PA ‘Pit Bull’ Maestas set to see the floor for PC

Left, Peninsula College's Nil Grau was named the North Region MVP for the second straight year. Grau led all of the NWAC with 47 points this season. Right, Peninsula College's Shawna Larson was named the North Region MVP. Larson led the NWAC with 34 points this season and it is her second straight season of making the all-North first team.(Jay Cline/Peninsula College)
COLLEGE SOCCER: Peninsula teams dominate all-North selections

PC’s Grau, Larson both win North MVPs

STATE VOLLEYBALL: Neah Bay makes state quarterfinals

The Neah Bay volleyball team is in the 1B state… Continue reading

Dom Sprague runs the ball in the Loggers’ 48-14 win Friday night over North Beach. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
Dom Sprague, Crescent football.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Dom Sprague, Crescent football

Crescent senior Dom Sprague left it all on the field in his… Continue reading