PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Roughriders were well aware what type of team the were facing in their season opener at Civic Field.
W.F. West routed Port Angeles last year 33-0, and good portion of that team is back this season, including quarterback Tanner Gueller.
On Friday, Gueller led the Bearcats to a 41-6 win over the Riders.
Port Angeles coach Tom Wahl said starting with a tough opponent like W.F. West ends up being beneficial to his team, despite the lopsided score.
“It’s great to start with a team like that,” Wahl said.
“They’re contenders, for sure.”
The Bearcats didn’t waste any time lighting up the scoreboard.
They opened the game with a 74-yard kickoff return by Toby Johnson.
Later in the first quarter, Gueller hooked up with Johnson for one of his five touchdown passes. The second scoring strike was an 80-yarder to Ryan Moon to give W.F. West a 21-0 first-quarter lead.
In the second quarter, Gueller hooked up twice with Alex Cox and once with Dylan Ferferico, and the Bearcats led at halftime, 41-0.
At the half, Wahl challenged his team.
“I said, ‘Let’s go win the second half,’” he said.
“And we did.”
The Riders held W.F. West without a point in the final two quarters.
“Our defense did a heck of a job,” Wahl said.
Port Angeles finally scored at the end of the game on a shovel pass from Nate Angevine to Matt Robbins, who ran 55 yards for the end zone.
Wahl liked how Angevine played in his first game since converting from running back to quarterback.
“He did really well. He did a great job leading the team,” Wahl said.
“Quarterbacks have to be the eternal optimist, and he showed great leadership.”
The Riders (0-1) next play at King’s on Friday.
Port Angeles lost to the Knights 43-7 last year, but the 1A powerhouse lost a few players from last year’s team to Division I college programs, including quarterback BYU Billy Green.
Wahl hopes his team will show improvement before opening its Olympic League schedule at North Mason on Friday, Sept. 20.
“It doesn’t do any good to dwell on [this loss],” he said.
“We’ll learn from our mistakes. All the way around, we’ve got to get better.”
W.F. West 41, Port Angeles 6
W.F. West 21 20 0 0— 41
Port Angeles 0 0 0 6— 0
First Quarter
W—Johnson 74 kickoff return (Sherfly kick)
W—Johnson 49 pass from Gueller (Sherfly kick)
W—Moon 80 pass from Gueller (Sherfly kick)
Second Quarter
W—Cox 22 pass from Gueller (Sherfly kick)
W—Cox 5 pass from Gueller (Sherfly kick)
W—Ferferico 18 pass from Gueller (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
PA—Robbins 55 pass from Angevine (no kick)
Individual Stats
Rushing— PA: Andrus 8-45; Robbins 3-14; Lasorsa 7-10; Landry 1-7; Angevine 5-(-3).
Passing—PA: Angevine 4-9, 79.
Receiving—PA: 3-70; Lauderback 1-9.
Neah Bay 50, Darrington 6
OAK HARBOR — A running clock starts when a football team builds a 40-point lead.
It doesn’t matter whether the teams are playing with eight player or 11.
Neah Bay, an 1B 8-man powerhouse, played 11-man football put the running clock into effect in the third quarter against Darrington on Friday night at Oak Harbor High School.
The Red Devils opened their season with a 50-6 win over the class 2B Loggers.
Josiah Greene passed for 179 yards with three touchdown strikes, and ran for another 71 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Christopher Martinez led Neah Bay’s rushing attack with 72 yards and a touchdown, and Tyler McCaulley ran for two scores.
Six Red Devils caught passes.
John Reamer hauled in two for a team-high 57 yards, while Zeke Greene and Collin Haupt had three catches apiece. Those three were on the receiving end of Josiah Greene’s touchdown passes.
Cole Svec caught one pass for 43 yards.
Defensively, Haupt had an interception and made four tackles, and Zeke Greene recovered two fumbles and had five tackles. The Red Devils had five total fumble recoveries.
Reamer led Neah Bay with nine tackles, while Josh Monette had eight.
Neah Bay (1-0) next travels to northeastern Washington for a game against fellow 1B powerhouse Cusick on Friday.
Neah Bay 50, Darrington 6
Darrington 0 0 0 6— 6
Neah Bay 22 14 14 0— 50
First Quarter
NB—McCaulley 1 run (Haupt from Josiah Greene)
NB—Reamer 13 pass from Josiah Greene (Josiah Greene run)
NB—McCaulley 4 run (run failed)
Second Quarter
NB—Zeke Greene 10 pass from Josiah Greene (Haupt from Josiah Greene)
NB—Haupt 28 pass from Josiah Greene (pass failed)
Third Quarter
NB—Josiah Greene 54 run (pass failed)
NB—Martinez 34 run (Martinez run)
Fourth Quarter
D—August pass from Green (PAT failed)
Individual Stats
Rushing— NB: Martinez 5-72; Josiah Greene 9-71; Svec 13-49; McCaulley 3-12.
Passing—NB: Josiah Greene 11-18, 179; Benjamin Greene 1-1, 9.
Receiving—NB: Reamer 2-57; Haupt 3-34; Zeke Greene 3-22; Svec 1-43; Buzzell 2-23; McGee 1-9.