For the third consecutive week, Sequim’s Wolves played into overtime.
But a loss to their rivals from Port Angeles at Friday night’s Rainshadow Rumble has thrown a proverbial wrench into the Wolves’ playoff plans.
Quarterback Ryan Rodocker tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Landry on Port Angeles’ first play in overtime as the Roughriders (2-2 in Olympic League, 4-3 overall) laid claim to their second consecutive win in the “Rumble” rivalry series.
“This one hurts,” Sequim coach Erik Wiker said. “We knew what they were going to do. They just did it better than we could defend it.”
After a back-and-forth first half that saw both teams put their diverging offensive approaches on display end in a 14-14 tie, the Wolves had chances to break through with the lead in the second. But a series of Sequim miscues — penalties, a fumble and a fourth quarter field goal try that missed by just inches — assured that game would go into an extra period.
A pair of runs and an incomplete pass left Sequim with a fourth-and-five from the 20-yard-line in their overtime possession. SHS coaches elected to give kicker Adrian Espinoza a second chance at putting Sequim ahead, but the kick sailed left.
One play later, Rodocker — who tried just five passes all night and had completed as many to Sequim defensive backs (one) as his own receivers — spotted Landry on a wheel route and the junior wide receiver beat a host of Wolves to the end zone, sending the Civic Field crowd into a frenzy.
“Great throw, great catch,” Wiker said.
The top four teams from the Olympic League qualify for the postseason. Sequim falls to 2-2 in league and 4-3 overall, with a pair of tough opponents — olympic and Bremerton — remaining on the schedule.
“I hope they rebound big time,” Wiker said of his Wolves. “I think they can beat Olympic and Bremerton. They’re going to have to play a hell of a game to do it.”
Regulation time not enough
Boasting an advantage on the line, Port Angeles opened the game with an 18-play, 72-yard, nine-minute drive all on the ground, capped by Nathan Angevine’s one-yard plunge. The Riders’ wing-T formation kept the Wolves on their collective heels, converting three third downs and a fourth down on the drive.
Sequim, fueled by their standard spread offense, responded with a scoring drive of their own. Sequim quarterback Miguel Moroles, who had a 25-yard scamper on the drive, found Bailey Early from nine yards out on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at 7-7.
Port Angeles went back on top on the next drive. Thanks to a strong kickoff return by Sam Burton taken to midfield, the Riders drove the 50 yards in 12 plays, capped by Angevine’s three-yard scoring run on a fourth down.
Sequim once again had an answer. Moroles found Early for a 36-yard, highlight reel pass play down the right sideline. Port Angeles’ defense stiffened at their own 22. Facing a fourth-down and 12 and just 20 seconds left on the first half clock, Moroles outraced the Rider defense to the goal line to knot the score at 14-14. Dylan Lott intercepted a Rodocker pass just before the first half horn.
Both teams had chances in the second half, but a driving rain and strong defensive stands on both sides kept the game tied. Port Angeles drove to just outside Sequim’s 20 and Angevine spotted running back Miki Andrus in the end zone, but Andrus couldn’t quite get a foot down with the diving catch. Sequim took over on the next play as the Riders turned it over on downs.
The Wolves drove 75 yards down the field to set up Espinoza’s field goal try, but the kick sailed just left of the goalposts.
Following a Port Angeles punt, Sequim looked to break the tie with about five minutes left but fumbled near midfield. Sequim’s defense came up big, stuffing a fourth-and-1 play with two minutes remaining to salvage a chance to overtime.
“With injuries to multiple lineman and running backs, the kids responded really well,” Wiker said. “I’m really proud of them.”
Looking ahead
Sequim travels to Silverdale stadium to take on Olympic on Oct. 24. Game time is 5 p.m., an earlier-than-normal start time to allow for a double-header at the venue.
The Trojans (4-0 in Olympic League, 5-2 overall) share the league lead with North Kitsap and are on a collision course for a league title-deciding game with the Vikings set for Halloween (Oct. 31). Olympic is coming off 36-20 win at North Mason in which they rushed for 302 yards.
Olympic is predominantly a running team, amassing about 77 percent of their yardage per game on the ground (214 of 276 yards per game).
Sophomore Logan Madison (458 yards) and senior Keshun McGee (308 yards) pace the attack; McGee had three rushing scores last week against North Mason.
Trojan quarterback Makaleb Mcinnis, a senior, throws sparingly — he’s 35-of-91 for 439 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Last year, the Trojans topped Sequim, 28-12.
Olympic League 2A standings
Team Lg. Over.
North Kitsap 4-0 7-0
Olympic 4-0 5-2
Port Angeles 2-2 4-3
Sequim 2-2 4-3
North Mason 2-3 3-4
Kingston 1-4 1-6
Bremerton 0-4 2-5
Week 7 scores:
at Port Angeles 20, Sequim 14 (OT)
Olympic 36, at North Mason 20
at North Kitsap 30, Kingston 7
at Centralia 17, Bremerton 14
Wolves-Roughriders, through the years
(Sequim-Port Angeles football since 1990s)
2014 — Port Angeles 20, Sequim 14 (OT)
2013 — Port Angeles 37, Sequim 21
2012 — Sequim 34, Port Angeles 7
2011 — Sequim 27, Port Angeles 14
2010 — Sequim 41, Port Angeles 0
2009 — Sequim 42, Port Angeles 7
2008 — Sequim 38, at Port Angeles 7
2007 — Port Angeles 27, Sequim 20
2006 — Port Angeles 34, Sequim 31
2005 — Sequim 19, Port Angeles 6
2004 — Sequim 37, Port Angeles 6
1991-2003 — Did not play