It was a tough opening week for many North Olympic Peninsula teams.
Only three of the eight teams that played were victorious, and two of those wins came at the expense of other Peninsula teams.
Three teams — Chimacum, Sequim and Port Angeles — were held scoreless and lost by an average of 40 points.
One of those teams, Sequim, traveled 840 miles to lose 42-0 to Idaho’s Shelley Russets.
But there were some bright spots during the first week of high school football.
Probably the best performance, or at least the most impressive, came from the Quilcene.
Despite suiting up only 11 players, the Rangers hung with Crescent before falling two points short, 36-34.
Even more admirable is that instead of fading at the end due to fatigue, Quilcene played its best in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points.
Neah Bay began its “we’re not the state champs anymore” title defense by defeating Taholah 66-26.
The Red Devils’ standards are so high that a 22-6 first quarter was deemed slow by head coach Tony McCaulley.
Forks showed off its various playmakers in a 45-0 win over Chimacum.
Port Townsend showed hope, despite the Redskins extending their losing streak to 20 games. (That a team on a 20-game losing streak is considered a bright spot speaks volumes about the kind of week it was on the Peninsula.)
For the teams who struggled out of the gate, the season is young. As Chimacum coach Shawn Meacham said after his team’s loss, “It’s not going to be like this all year.”
Here’s what’s on tap in week two:
Sequim
at River Ridge
The first points scored in this game will be significant.
Like the Wolves, River Ridge of Lacey was shut out last week, losing 20-0 to cross-town foe Timberline.
After playing a team that had won four Idaho 3A state titles in the last decade, River Ridge might be just what Sequim needs to wash the potato taste out of its mouth.
In the last eight years, the Hawks have only one winning record, a 5-4 finish in 2010.
To win, though, the Wolves need to avoid the turnovers and bad snaps that doomed them during their Idaho trip last week.
King’s
at Port Angeles
This is another tough match-up for the Roughriders.
In fact, King’s might be even better than last week’s opponent, W.F. West, which beat Port Angeles 33-0.
Port Angeles coach Tom Wahl said the intent of the challenging non-league schedule is to “set the bar high” for his young team and give them a chance to face playoff-caliber competition before prior to the playoffs.
The Knights started the season strong, upsetting Lynden 42-39 on Saturday thanks to a 65-yard fourth quarter touchdown drive.
The player to watch for King’s is offensive lineman Mason Friedline, who was named to the MaxPreps 2012 Washington Preseason All-State Football Team.
Friedline has committed to play for Yale next season.
Neah Bay
at Evergreen Luth.
Expect fireworks when the Red Devils hit the road again to play the Eagles in Des Moines.
Evergreen Lutheran put up 52 points in its 10-point loss to Lake Quinault last week.
Neah Bay put up 66 and won by 40 at Taholah last week, with junior quarterback Josiah Greene throwing for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
Port Townsend
at Coupeville
The Nick Snyder era, part two, hopes to keep heading in a positive direction, and possibly with a win this time when the Redskins hop on a ferry to face Coupeville.
The Wolves come into the game 0-1 after dropping a close game to Bellevue Christian in the opening week.
Clallam Bay
at Muckleshoot
After watching as everyone else played last week, the Bruins finally get to start their season.
Muckleshoot is in the same situation, also playing its first game of the season this week.
Lake Quinault
at Crescent
The team that beat Evergreen Lutheran 62-52, Lake Quinault, travels to Joyce to face the Loggers on Saturday.
“They will be tough,” Crescent coach Darrell Yount said of the Elks.
It’s likely the Crescent offense, led by running backs Derek Findley and Eric Larson and quarterback Beau Bamer, will be required to put up more than the 36 it scored against short-handed Quilcene.
Forks
at Nooksack Valley
This Saturday affair could be the game of the week on the Peninsula.
Forks is riding high after showing off its offensive weapons in last week’s blowout win over Chimacum.
Spartans head coach Mark Feasel expects to see a team similar to his in Nooksack Valley.
“It should be speed on speed,” Feasel said.
Mary M. Knight
at Quilcene
Unfortunately for the short-handed Rangers, Mary M. Knight is a team, not an individual.
One thing Quilcene does that the Owls do not is recent experience — Saturday will be Mary M. Knight’s first game of the season.
The Rangers will need another strong game from Josh King, who rushed for 206 yards on 19 carriers against Crescent.