Sequim Gazette staff

For all the big numbers Sequim’s offense put up in the first two games, Friday night’s Olympic League opener at Kingston put the spotlight directly on the Wolves’ defense.

Sequim defenders forced three key fourth quarter turnovers, capped by a Kane Stoddard interception on the game’s final play, to secure a 13-10 win against the Buccaneers.

Riley Cowan tossed a first quarter touchdown and Brandon Stamper added a one-yard plunge in the second quarter for the Wolves’ scoring.

Sequim’s defense gave up 269 yards to the Buccaneers but snagged three interceptions — two by Noah Christiansen — and forced a fumble.

Similar to the start of the 2014 season, the win puts Sequim at 3-0 heading into a showdown with North Kitsap in week four.

Cowan got the Wolves on the board in the game’s second drive. After hitting Christiansen with a 40-yard toss, the two hooked up again six plays later with a six-yard strike.

Kingston closed the gap to 7-3 in the second quarter with an Alex Barrett field goal.

The teams traded possessions on the ensuing drive. After the Bucs’ Ali Chiquiti wrested the ball from a Sequim receiver at the Kingston 5, Christiansen got the first of his two interceptions and took it to just outside the Kingston goal line, where Stamper punched it in. A blocked point-after attempt left the score 13-3, where it stayed until halftime.

Kingston looked to have the momentum in the third quarter, finishing a 58-yard drive with Chiquiti taking it in from the 1-yard-line.

The teams traded possessions from there on, with  James Thayer getting credit for forcing a Kingston fumble with 2:39 remaining that just about clinched the win.

Arnold Black led Sequim ball carriers with 77 yards on 19 rushes.

Cowan finished 8-of-15 for 81 yards, a score and an interception. Christiansen led Wolves receivers with three catches for 47 yards.

Max English led Kingston with 15-for-27 passing for 163 yards while Barrett had 53 yards on 13 rushes.

Looking ahead

The road ahead isn’t any easier, even if it’s back at home.

Sequim takes on defending Olympic League champion North Kitsap in Sequim on Sept. 25; game time is 7 p.m.

The Vikings (1-2) are coming off a 21-6 loss at Black Hills. It’s the second loss in a row, but both to two strong teams from the Evergreen League that played at state in 2014.

North topped Sequim 33-13 in last year’s matchup.

Olympic League 2A standings

Team Lg. Over.

North Mason 1-0 1-2

Olympic 1-0 3-0

Sequim 1-0 3-0

North Kitsap   0-0 1-2

Bremerton 0-1 0-3

Kingston 0-1 0-3

Port Angeles 0-1 1-2