By Oly Archibald
PORT ANGELES — When the Port Angeles Roughrider football team travels north to Blaine Friday night for their season opener, they will take on a Borderite team with a new coach; a new culture; and a roster that brings back 18 starters on both sides of the ball and several solid backups.
Former Lynden Lion prep star Andy Olson takes over the program after spending the last 3 years as the head coach at Burlington Edison. The scouting reports from Blaine say you can expect the Borderites to run the Lynden one-back-three receiver set offense.
The Borderites return 12 receivers and backs who caught at least one pass last year. The group is led by baseball star Hunter Vezzetti, a 6’3″ 185 lb. Sr who caught 43 passes for 600 yards and and 6 TDs for an average of 14 yards per catch. Riley Ihde, a 6’0″ 170 lb. senior who will also play QB, caught 35 passes for 475 yards and 5 TDs. At QB, will be 5’10” 170 lb Colin Davis a typical drop back QB. Last year Davis was 18 of 34 for 315 yards 5 TDs and no interceptions.
When Blaine runs the ball, they will hand it off to the athletic sophomore Colby Ship. Ship is 5’7″ 160 lbs. and is a high jumper on the track team. Last year, Ship rushed for 511 yards on 158 carries and 3 TDs.
The Borderites will run behind 6’0″ 236 lb. senior Victor Gervol. Last year in the heavy division of the state wrestling tournament, Gervol placed 2nd.
The Roughriders last year like Blaine gave up a load of points. While the Roughriders gave up 31 ppg Blaine gave up 44 ppg. In last year’s 33-19 Roughrider win over Blaine the Roughriders ran the ball all night. With a potent Blaine passing attack the Roughriders will want to run the ball and the clock and keep the Borderite’s lethal receivers on the sideline.
Newsradio KONP will begin its Port Angeles at Blaine pre-game show at 6 pm with the Enemy Coaches Show featuring Blaine Head Coach Andy Olson followed by the “Dustin Clark Show” and the “Roughrider Locker Room Show” featuring two Roughrider players. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
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The Sequim Wolves kick off their season at Class 2B Forks this Friday night with the kickoff at 7 pm. Newsradio KONP will broadcast the Sequim at Bainbridge game Sept. 14th with the kickoff at 7 pm.