PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Roughriders made some huge plays, especially in the second half, but they dug themselves a big hole with too many mistakes early on in a rainy loss to the Montesano Bulldogs 48-21 on Friday.
Montesano got field position deep in Riders’ territory on one fumble in the first half and scored outright on another fumble as Port Angeles players had trouble hanging on to the slick ball with four lost fumbles overall.
The Bulldogs also got a 65-yard kickoff return to set up another quick drive at the 10-yard line. That was all the help the powerhouse Bulldogs (4-0) would need.
Montesano came into the game ranked No. 2 among Class 1A schools in the state and erupted for 42 first-half points Friday.
“We’re still learning,” said coach Troy Mann.
Mann was much happier with how the Riders played in the second half, when they outscored the Bulldogs 14-6.
“When we went to the locker room at halftime, I told the players about taking a step mentally on a personal level. I was disappointed to see our guys were intimidated [in the first half],” Mann said.
“The second half showed me what we have. I just have to figure out how to put it all together,” Mann said.
“Once we start clicking, we can be pretty impressive,” Mann said of that second half.
Brenden Roloson-Hines passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns for Port Angeles. Tyler Bowen had a huge game, catching five passes for 169 yards and two TDs. Trevor Shumway had 94 yards receiving and Garrett Edwards scored a touchdown and had an interception.
The Riders fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, giving the Bulldogs possession at the Port Angeles 23-yard line. Montesano, which loved running sweeps off the edge all game long, quickly scored on a four-yard run from quarterback Shaydon Farmer to take a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
After a pair of TD passes from Farmer to Sam Winter early, including a 29-yarder, Montesano built up a 21-0 lead. The Riders got back in the game, however, when quarterback Brenden Roloson-Hines hit Garrett Edwards for a 32-yard touchdown with 10 minutes left in the half. After a PAT, the Roughriders were down just 21-7.
But, they quickly lost the momentum as Winter took the ensuing kickoff down to the 10-yard line. In just 20 seconds, Montesano scored on a two-yard run by Brent Hollatz to make it 28-7.
Winter scored again 14 seconds later, picking up a Port Angeles fumble and running it back 15 yards to make it 35-7. The Bulldogs tacked on another TD for a 42-7 lead at the half.
The Riders woke up in the second half.
The second half was highlighted by three huge plays. Port Angeles had the ball inside their own 5-yard line. As Roloson-Hines scrambled trying to get out of the pocket, he flipped the ball to Shumway, who rumbled down the left sideline for 65 yards.
Bowen also had TD catches of 76 and nine yards. Anton Kathol appeared to have a incredible 75-yard TD catch and run as he wrestled the ball away from two Montesano defenders along the sideline, but the referees ruled he had caught it out of bounds and it was called back.
Treyton Walde also recovered a fumble for Port Angeles. Mann also felt Shumway had a great game protecting the ball with no fumbles. He ended up with 128 total yards from scrimmage.
Winter had a huge game for Montesano with three touchdowns.
Port Angeles is still unbeaten in Olympic League 2A Division play. The Riders (1-0, 1-3) next host Olympic (0-1, 1-3) for homecoming at 7 p.m. Friday.
Montesano 48, Port Angeles 21
Mont. 21 21 6 0 — 48
PA 0 7 7 7 — 21
First Quarter
M—Farmer 4 run (King PAT)
M—Winter 29 pass from Farmer (King PAT)
M—Winter 9 pass from Farmer (King PAT)
Second Quarter
PA—Edwards 32 pass from Roloson-Hines (Thrush PAT)
M—Hollatz 2 run (King PAT)
M—Winter 15 fumble return (King PAT)
M—Hollatz 5 run (King PAT)
Third Quarter
M—Zillyet 58 run (PAT blocked)
PA—Bowen 9 pass from Roloson-Hones (Thrush PAT)
Fourth Quarter
PA—Bowen 76 pass from Roloson-Hines (Thrush PAT)
Individual Stats
Rushing—PA: Roloson-Hines 9-40, Shumway 7-34, Edwards 4-16, Davis 2-1.
Passing—PA: Roloson-Hines 11-23-314 3TDs.
Receiving—PA: Bowen 5-169, Edwards 1-32, Shumway 3-94, Davis 2-21.
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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
