KINGSTON — The East Jefferson football team played tough defense and rallied with a touchdown in the final three minutes, but couldn’t get the ball back in the waning minutes of the game in a 12-7 loss on the road to Kingston.
“Our kids really believe that if they had got the ball back, they would’ve gotten it in the end zone,” said head coach Patrick Gaffney. Gaffney said that while Kingston won the game, East Jefferson didn’t lose it.
It was East Jefferson’s best game of the year as the defense had a goal-line stand and gave up just one touchdown. Kingston scored its other touchdown on a fumble return.
“The kids got down and overcame adversity, I’m really proud of them,” Gaffney said. “The kids played super hard.”
Kingston scored early in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead after getting the ball in good field position. East Jefferson then turned the ball over to give the Buccaneers a short field. Gaffney said the players “decided they’re not going to do this again” and held the Buccaneers out of the end zone from the 1-yard-line.
That was part of a huge defensive effort by East Jefferson. Nose tackle Chris Fair led the team with 15 tackles.
“That was easily the best game Chris has ever played,” Gaffney said.
East Jefferson’s Trevor Wilson makes an interception against Kingston. (Lisa Jensen photo)
Bjorn Danaan-Devas had 10 tackles, while Gerald Lindsey and Jesse Kithcart each had six tackles. Trevor Wilson and Josh Davis each had interceptions, while Kyle Caldwell, Siamau Auseuga and Kithcart all had quarterback sacks.
Down 12-0 in the fourth quarter, East Jefferson drove down the field and scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run by Lonnie Kenney. Sean Botkin kicked an extra point. Kingston recovered an onside kick and got a first down to run out the clock.
Anson Jones led East Jefferson with 92 yards rushing on 20 carries and Lindsey had a 17-yard catch. Logan Massie also had seven punts and averaged 40 yards a punt.
“He got us out of field position trouble a number of times,” Gaffney said.
Gaffney said that one of the best parts of this game is that the kids, from both Port Townsend and Chimacum, really came together. Normally, these schools are heated rivals.
“The kids afterward said that there was no way they’re ever going to play against each other again. They want to play together next fall,” Gaffney said.
East Jefferson gets its first home game, at 3 p.m. Saturday in Chimacum, against Klahowya.
Bremerton 54, Port Angeles 0
BREMERTON — The Roughriders got blanked by a vastly improved Bremerton squad 54-0.
“That’s the best team they’ve had in a long time,” said coach Brent Wasche.
Wasche said it was a back-and-forth game early. “It were in a long field position battle. Finally, we had to punt out of our end zone. The Knights were able to score after that possession with a short field, then quickly scored again after a turnover at the end of the first quarter. That put the Riders in a hole they couldn’t get out of.
Wasche said penalties hurt the Riders as they lost a touchdown on a holding penalty.
Despite the lopsided score, Wasche said his players didn’t back down. “Our kids played tough. They played physical. I was proud of their effort,” he said.
Wasche said fullback Jacob Felton broke off some big runs and played a good game, while middle linebacker Kameron Meadows and defensive end Robbie Fors also played good games.
Kingston comes to play at Port Angeles (1-2) at 3 p.m. Saturday. That game is at Stevens Middle School.
