Football: SHS can’t keep up with Spartans in rout

By Michael Dashiell • October 30, 2024 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photos by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Solomon Sheppard, left, and James Mason, foreground, corral Bainbridge’s Rowan Meek as SHS teammate Zeke Schmadeke looks on in the first half of the Wolves’ Oct. 25 home game against Bainbridge.
Sequim Gazette photos by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Solomon Sheppard, left, and James Mason, foreground, corral Bainbridge’s Rowan Meek as SHS teammate Zeke Schmadeke looks on in the first half of the Wolves’ Oct. 25 home game against Bainbridge.

A string of three tough match-ups ended last week for Sequim’s Wolves, with Olympic League power Bainbridge cruising to a win in front of the SHS faithful on Oct. 25.

Quarterback Nate Putman passed for 227 yards and four touchdowns — three to Isaiah Beyer — in the first half alone, as the visitors (5-1 in league, 6-2 overall) racked up a 41-7 lead by halftime and won 48-7.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim quarterback Zeke Schmadeke looks for running room in the first half of an Olympic League match-up with Bainbridge on Oct. 25. Schmadeke had the Wolves’ lone first half score, a 5-yard touchdown scamper.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim quarterback Zeke Schmadeke looks for running room in the first half of an Olympic League match-up with Bainbridge on Oct. 25. Schmadeke had the Wolves’ lone first half score, a 5-yard touchdown scamper.

“They came out and executed,” first-year Sequim coach Ian Henley said of the Spartans.

“We’ll figure out what it takes to bounce back.”

Junior quarterback Zeke Schmadeke had the lone score for Sequim (2-3, 4-4), a 5-yard rush in the second quarter, set up by a Schmadeke-to-Wiker 33-yard pass.

Bainbridge recovered two onside kicks and had 336 total yards in the first half.

Despite the loss, Henley said he saw some positives in the game.

Sequim running back Liam Wiker, right, looks to get past Bainbridge’s Adrian Ayling in the second quarter of an Oct. 25 Olympic League game.

Sequim running back Liam Wiker, right, looks to get past Bainbridge’s Adrian Ayling in the second quarter of an Oct. 25 Olympic League game.

“I’m really proud of the kids,” Henley said. “Everything possible that could go wrong did … [but] the kids didn’t stop fighting.”

The loss to Bainbridge runs Sequim’s losing streak to three; they dropped a 30-7 decision at North Kitsap on Oct. 10 and a 28-7 contest to Olympic at home on Oct. 19.

“Our leaders are doing a good job encouraging [their teammates],” Henley said.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Nehemiah Guzman, right, tries to bring down Bainbridge running back Garrett Goade in the first half of an Oct. 25 Olympic League match-up.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Nehemiah Guzman, right, tries to bring down Bainbridge running back Garrett Goade in the first half of an Oct. 25 Olympic League match-up.

“These kids have faced a lot of adversity over the last four years. I’m super proud of them. I can tell they’re ready to get back to work.”

Looking ahead

Sequim closes out the regular season on Halloween, taking on North Mason (1-4 in league, 4-4 overall) on the road. The Wolves need a win to assure themselves of a district playoff spot; a loss could mean a play-in game, Henley noted.

Sequim’s most recent district tourney appearance was in 2019, when they topped River Ridge 37-21 before falling 38-12 to Lakewood.