FORKS — The game of the week this Friday night was a tough, physical matchup between Forks and Sequim that came down to the final seconds at Spartan Stadium in Forks.
It was a game that featured big plays and big changes of momentum.
In the end, Forks sophomore quarterback Lane Helvy’s last-gasp pass to the goal line just missed its intended target and Class 2A Sequim survived the 2B Spartans 18-14 in the nonconference gridiron opener for both teams Friday night.
Forks’ 4th-and-14 pass from the Wolves’ 36 was just shy of an open Noah Foster at the goal line in the final minute of play.
Sequim’s Zeke Schmadeke was the biggest star for the Wolves, catching six passes for 101 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first half and an 8-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter that turned out to be the game-winning score.
Schmadeke also had 62 yards rushing on eight carries and added a 31-yard punt return to help set up Sequim’s fourth-quarter touchdown.
Forks suffered a number of injuries during the contest, including losing senior quarterback/defensive back Landen Olson to a broken leg, along with a pair of starting offensive linemen and a defensive end.
Spartans coach Trevor Highfield said this weekend that Olson was awaiting surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Saturday morning.
“It’s a tough deal for our team,” Highfield said. “To lose the leadership that Landen provides is rough on us. He’s such a quality young man. He was watching us play on his phone while in the ambulance to Seattle and he was texting Lane, telling him how well he played.”
Sequim senior Malachi Hampton turned a short in route into a 25-yard catch-and-run score for an early touchdown.
Helvy’s first touchdown pass came on a well-thrown 14-yard pass to Cash Barajas all alone in the far corner of the end zone to tie the score at 6-6. He later hit Kingston Staffan on a 21-yard pass play for another touchdown.
Sequim (1-0) visits Class 4A Mariner of Mukilteo on Friday. Forks (0-1) visits Port Angeles at Civic Field at 7 p.m. Friday.
Mount Baker 47, Port Angeles 12
PORT ANGELES — The final score won’t show it, but the Port Angeles Roughriders football team gave the Mount Baker Mountaineers everything it could handle for all but the final minute of the first half.
Then, unfortunately, the wheels came off the cart with a pair of turnovers and quick-strike touchdowns by the Mountaineers, who went on to win 47-12 in the Riders’ season-opener at Civic Field.
For the first 23 minutes of the game, it was a battle as the Riders were effective on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. It appeared the game was going to come down to the wire.
With the score 7-6 for Mount Baker, Port Angeles got possession of the ball on its 19-yard-line with about a minute left in the half after forcing the Mountaineers to punt. Quarterback Jude Wallace, who had played well up to that point, threw an interception at midfield trying to go deep. Two plays later, Mount Baker scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass.
After getting the ball back on the kickoff, the Riders immediately turned the ball over again with another interception. The Mountaineers again struck quickly with another touchdown pass, this one from 32 yards out, with 34 seconds left. In just 14 seconds, the score had gone from 7-6 to 20-6.
In the third quarter, Mount Baker found it could gash the Riders with quick trap plays up the middle in the second half as the Mountaineers scored 20 points in the quarter.
It was a breakout game for Easton Fisher, who had three catches for 107 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown in the first half and another 34-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Neah Bay 64, Muckleshoot 12
NEAH BAY — The Neah Bay Red Devils erupted for a 42-point third quarter en route to a season-opening 64-12 victory over Muckleshoot Tribal.
The Red Devils were up just 14-0 beginning the second half.
The Red Devils blew the game up in the third with six touchdowns in about six minutes of play.
Tyler Swan was a monster, scoring five touchdowns four different ways, including four TDs in just three minutes in the third quarter. Swan had a short touchdown reception in the first half. In the third quarter, he had a 51-yard run for a TD, then a pair of 35-yard fumble recoveries for two more touchdowns, followed by a 72-yard kick return for a his fourth score in the quarter.
In all, Swan had 252 all-purpose yards on offense and defense.
Newcomer VyLijah Daniels, a sophomore, had a nice breakout game in his first varsity start with nine tackles and four quarterback sacks. He also caused one of the fumbles that Swan recovered and ran back.
Caleb Cummins, starting his first game at quarterback for the Red Devils, had 100 yards rushing on six carries, including touchdowns of 23 and 42 yards. He also passed for 55 yards, including a touchdown pass to Swan. Daniel Greene also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to LeAnthony Jimmicum.
Joseph Smith had a 68-yard touchdown run late in the game.
The Neah Bay varsity (1-0) next hosts its state 1B playoff rival Liberty Christian at 5 p.m. Friday in a nonleague contest.
Lummi 46, Quilcene 22
LUMMI — The Quilcene Rangers made too many mistakes with penalties and turnovers in a 46-22 loss to league rival Lummi.
“I didn’t have the boys prepared as well that I thought I had them prepared,” said coach Darrin Dotson. “[Lummi] is big and strong up front and well-prepared.”
The Rangers had three penalties on fourth downs to give the Blackhawks first downs, and also turned the ball over five times.
The highlight for the Rangers was a 99-yard touchdown run by Isaac Figueroa. He finished with 116 yards rushing. Robert Evans had 83 all-purpose yards and a touchdown while Oliver Hopkins had 49 rushing yards and scored on a 28-yard run. Ryder Thibodeau-Kjosen had a fumble recovery.
Quilcene (0-1) next plays Concrete at home at 1 p.m. Saturday.
In other games this weekend, East Jefferson lost 47-0 to Granite Falls.
Prep Football recap
The Tuesday prep football recap contains information for the Peninsula Daily News’ print readers that was already published online and in our E-edition.
