PORT TOWNSEND — South Whidbey blended the run and the pass effectively all game against a leaky East Jefferson defense, taking advantage of a host of turnovers as the Rivals fell 54-24 in a nonleague football game Friday night at Memorial Field.

The first quarter was messy from the start as the Falcons took advantage of three early turnovers, including a 45-yard interception return for a score and built a 28-0 lead after the first quarter.

South Whidbey’s strategy was sound, featuring heavy doses of tough running up the middle from lead back Cole Tschetter mixed with an effective passing attack led by quarterback Joshua Sterba when the defense was thinking run.

Tschetter ran 20 times for 120 yards and a TD. Sterba completed 15 of 19 attempts for 262 yards, spreading the ball around to six different receivers, with two touchdowns and an interception.

East Jefferson’s defense made a goal-line stand in the first half, picking off Sterba at the goal line.

The Rivals got on the board when Brody Moore found himself wide open along the South Whidbey sideline, hauling in a Cash Holmes pass for a 54-yard catch-and-run score.

East Jefferson added scores in the fourth quarter when Holmes busted loose for a 16-yard TD run and later found Gary Zambor with the long ball on a 50-yard TD reception.

The Rivals (0-3) open Nisqually League play by hosting Cascade Christian (2-1) on Friday. Game time is listed as 7 p.m.

In other games Friday night, Neah Bay beat Lummit 68-6 to go to 3-0 on the season, while Sequim lost to 3A Bainbridge 45-22.

South Whidbey 54, East Jefferson 24

South Whidbey 28 6 20 0 — 54

East Jefferson 0 8 0 16 — 24

Scoring

First Quarter

SW — Sterba 1 run (Redford run)

SW — Taksony 45 interception return (Anderson kick)

SW — Sterba 1 run (Redford run)

SW — Taksony 30 pass from Sterba (kick good)

Second Quarter

SW — Browne 11 pass from Sterba (kick blocked)

EJ — Moore 54 pass from Holmes (Holmes run)

Third Quarter

SW — Tschetter 26 run (kick failed)

SW — Brown 18 run (kick good)

SW — Muniz 1 run (kick good)

Fourth Quarter

EJ —Holmes 16 run (Holmes run)

EJ — Zambor 50 pass from Holmes (Hammer run)

Individual Statistics

Passing

South Whidbey: Sterba 15-19-262 2 TDs, INT; Redford 2-3-29.

East Jefferson: Holmes 10-21-150, 2 TDs, 2 INT.

Receiving

South Whidbey: Dixon 4-84; Brown 4-80; Taksony 4-66; Davis 2-32; Anderson 1-15; Redford 2-14; Tschetter 1-8; Nort

East Jefferson: Zambor 2-82;Moore 4-65; Auseuga 1-8; Haddenham 4-4; Lindsey 1-(-5).

Rushing

South Whidbey: Tschetter 20-120; Muniz 8-53; Redford 10-39; Anderson 5-15; Northrup 4-9; Sterba 1-(-16).

East Jefferson: Holmes 10-38; Auseuga 3-18; Haddenham 3-3; Glanz 4-6; Garfias 1-1.