PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Sequim controls its Olympic League fate; other area previews

SEQUIM — There is a lot still unknown in the Olympic League, but Sequim currently has control of how its season turns out.

With four weeks left in the regular season, the Wolves seem likely to finish between second and sixth in the league standings.

Sequim (1-1, 3-2) opens a crucial three-game stretch tonight against North Mason (2-1, 3-2) in a matchup that should show where both teams stand in the hunt for one of the league’s four postseason berths.

Like the Wolves, the Bulldogs have defeated Kingston and lost to North Kitsap this season. North Mason has played one league game more than the Wolves, also defeating Port Angeles 27-14 last month.

The winner of Sequim’s homecoming game tonight likely moves into contention for the league’s No. 2 and No. 3 postseason berths with Olympic (barring an upset of eighth-ranked North Kitsap), while the loser will fall backward into contention for the final berth with Port Angeles and possibly Kingston.

The next couple of games aren’t any less important for the Wolves.

They play Port Angeles (1-2, 3-2) next week and Olympic (2-0, 3-2) the following week, and both games should factor into where Sequim finishes in the league and whether or not it makes the postseason for the first time since 2011.

But what exactly those future games mean depends on what happens tonight.

North Mason has won the last two meetings with Sequim, including a 69-46 shootout in 2013.

Black Hills at Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — The Roughriders (1-2, 3-2) step away from Olympic League play for a matchup with the Wolves of the Evergreen 2A League.

Black Hills (2-3) started strong with two wins against 1A teams after strong performances from backup quarterback Chase Morrow.

Morrow stepped in, throwing for 576 yards and eight touchdowns in his first two games, before coming back to earth in a loss to North Kitsap when he was 14 of 38 for 135 yard and two interceptions in the third game.

Starting quarterback Jaydon Troy has since returned, but the team has struggled in his return, scoring just 14 points in its last two games — a 45-7 loss to Columbia River and a 26-7 loss last week to W.F. West — while he and Morrow have both taken snaps.

Coupeville at Port Townsend

PORT TOWNSEND — Revenge is on the Redhawks’ (2-1, 3-2) minds after a sloppy 29-21 loss to the Wolves (2-1, 3-2) two weeks ago.

Port Townsend is at full strength and will seek to put a clamp on a Coupeville rushing attack that rolled up 376 yards on 45 attempts in the teams’ first meeting last month.

Forks vs. Elma

ABERDEEN — A shorthanded Spartans squad will take on the Eagles tonight at 7 p.m. at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

Injuries to a number of Forks (1-2, 2-3) starters in recent weeks will limit an already depth-deprived team.

Fullback Miguel Morales is dealing with a separated shoulder, originally hurt earlier in the season and aggravated in last week’s 20-19 win over Tenino.

Elma (1-2, 2-3) is playing its home games in Aberdeen after the grandstands at Davis Field were demolished over the winter and voters rejected a proposal for a new high school football stadium.

The game can be heard live on Forks 1490 AM or online at www.forks1490.com.

Tulalip Heritage at Neah Bay

NEAH BAY — Since beating Lummi by 12 points last month, the top-ranked Red Devils have been on a tear, winning their last three games by 42, 52 and 40 points.

Neah Bay (1-0, 5-0) will seek tonight to ground the Hawks (1-0, 3-1), who haven’t allowed a point in two weeks, shutting out Seattle Lutheran 58-0 and Crescent 49-0 last week.

Quilcene at Evergreen Lutheran

TACOMA — Both teams picked up victories in their respective Sea-Tac League openers last week, so first place and possibly the league championship is on the line in this contest Saturday night.

The Rangers (1-0, 4-1) were disciplined last week, with head coach Byron Wilson reporting no penalties were called on his team in its win over Rainier Christian.

Meanwhile, the Eagles (1-0, 2-3) blew out Seattle Lutheran 56-22 last week.

Clallam Bay at Lopez

LOPEZ — The Bruins (0-1, 3-2) face an important game Saturday against the Lobos (0-1, 4-1).

Head coach Larry Berg has built a winning tradition on Lopez Island.

The Lobos are a solid 27-10 with three district playoff appearances in games since the start of the 2011 season.

They win the right way, too, with the team winning the John Trotto Sportsmanship Award, bestowed by the football officials association that works games in Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties, in 2011 and 2013.

If Neah Bay and Lummi maintain their stronghold at the top of the Northwest Football League, the league’s third and final postseason berth will likely come down to Clallam Bay, Lopez and Tulalip Heritage.

Lummi at Crescent (canceled)

JOYCE — Due to a rash of injuries, Crescent (0-2, 1-4) has forfeited this game with the Blackhawks.

It will not be rescheduled.

Crescent athletic director Dave Bingham said the Loggers feel strongly about honor their schedule, but they are missing too many players.

They hope that a week of rest will allow them to heal enough to finish out their schedule, which resumes next week at Clallam Bay.

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