By Oly Archibald
PORT ANGELES — It’s back to the chalk board for the Port Angeles Roughriders football team after Friday night’s 41-7 loss to the 2nd ranked Anacortes Seahawks. Anacortes will move to the #1 ranked team in the state after #1 ranked North Kitsap was blown away by 6th ranked Tumwater 34-14.
Even though the Roughriders knew exactly what the Seahawks game plan was from the first play from scrimmage when junior tailback Brock Beaner went 76 yards for a touchdown, the Roughrider defense was trying to chase down Seahawk running backs and wide receivers all night. The Seahawks led 34-0 at the half. The Roughriders played the Seahawks to a 7-7 second-half tie, but the Seahawks did play most of their 2nd and 3rd team units.
The Roughriders open up Olympic League play this week against a bad-tempered Viking team from Poulsbo who lost their first home game since 2019 against state-power Tumwater. Against NK, the Thunderbirds known for their “wing t” power-running game went to the air, throwing for five touchdowns. The Vikings were without last year’s player of the year receiver-cornerback Logan Solomon. Solomon played in the first 2 snaps of the game but never returned.
The Roughrider-Viking game Friday night is at Civic Field with the kickoff at 6:30 pm. KONP will have the live broadcast.
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The Sequim Wolves will not have a cake walk Thursday night when they open league play at class 3A Bainbridge. The Spartans got off to a great start beating Hazen 47-20 and Auburn Mountainview 42-7. Sequim blew a 14-0 halftime lead to Forks in their opener eventually losing 21-14. Kickoff at Bainbridge Thursday night is at 7 pm and you can hear that game on KONP.
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There is high school tennis action tonight, Port Angeles is at Olympic and Sequim is at North Kitsap both matches start at 4 pm.
Brian Gundersen, in his 23rd year as the Roughrider tennis coach, has another league championship contending team
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Tomorrow night is the big home opener for the Sequim Wolves girls soccer team as they host North Mason.