Though their school may be small, their gridiron prowess is mighty.
Perennial 1A powerhouse Montesano showed near-perfect execution on both sides of the ball in spoiling the home opener for Sequim, a class 2A school, in a 66-34 shootout on Sept. 9.
Montesano running back Carson Klinger rushed for 217 and accounted for seven touchdowns — five rushing, one by reception and a 90-yard kickoff return — as the visiting Bulldogs overcame a somewhat sluggish start to dominate the non-league matchup.
“We were hanging with them for a while (but) they made some great plays on defense,” Sequim head coach Erik Wiker said.
Sequim’s Gavin Velarde had a pair of touchdowns, including a 92-yard kickoff return for a score to open the game, but it was Klinger and Bulldog quarterback Trevor Ridgway who paced a potent Montesano attack.
Ridgway was 10-of-15 for 204 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for 101 yards and a score.
Sequim jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Velarde’s return just 16 seconds into the game, forced two first half turnovers and was down just one point (14-13) before Montesano ran roughshod for 27 unanswered first half points, taking a 41-13 lead into the break.
Still, Wolves coaches and players found positives in putting up a fight during a second half that saw Sequim score three touchdowns, two on kick returns by Kylor Rollness and Curtis Gorr.
“We tried our hardest,” Sequim lineman/linebacker James Thayer said. “That’s a state-caliber team. Just a couple of things kept us from (putting) more on the scoreboard.”
“We do have a very young team (but) they came out and fought,” Wiker said. “(They were) competing the whole time. They didn’t give up on themselves.”
Wiker said Montesano’s effectiveness comes from their coaching and physical fitness, which the Sequim coach attributed to offseason work.
Oh, and there’s some talent there too, particularly in Klinger, a 6-foot junior who also plays safety.
“31 (Klinger) is a stud,” Wiker said. “They utilize him well.”
Sequim quarterback Riley Cowan finished 15-of-26 for 174 yards and a touchdown. The Bulldogs stopped key first half drives, however, intercepting the sophomore three times.
SHS’s Keeshawn Whitney ran for a team-best 52 yards and a second quarter touchdown.
Velarde had three receptions for 57 yards while Rollness had five catches for 48 yards.
Montesano, a state tourney qualifier each of the past 10 seasons and a 2012 state champion, racked up 731 total yards and 33 first downs in the win at Sequim.
The 66 points were the most a Sequim team has surrendered since a 69-point outburst by North Mason in 2013.
Looking ahead
Sequim gets one more non-league foe before starting in on their Olympic League schedule. On Sept. 16 they travel to take on Centralia, which beat Mark Morris 35-14 last week to improve to 2-0.
Last season, a non-league game between the Wolves and Tigers was canceled after a threat to the Centralia school forced suspension of all after-school activities, including their Homecoming festivities.
In 2014, Centralia edged Sequim 34-28 in overtime.
Sequim stats:
First downs: 13
Third downs: 3-8
Fourth downs: 3-4
Yards: 222 (174 passing, 48 rushing)
Passing: Cowan 15-26, 174 yards, TD, 3 INTs
Rushing: Whitney 13-52, TD; Cowan 7-5; Gresli 3-(-1); Velarde 2-(-8)
Receiving: Velarde 3-57, TD; Rollness 5-48; Whitehead 4-33; Whitney 2-13; Glasser 1-23
Penalties: 3-25
Montesano stats:
First downs: 33
Third downs: 4-5
Fourth downs: 0-1
Yards: 731 (527 rushing, 204 passing)
Passing: Ridgway 10-15, 204 yards, 2 TDs, INT
Rushing: Klinger 18-217, 5 TDs; Ridgway 7-101, TD; Olson 13-98; Tagman 4-49; Reninger 4-26; Willis 5-19; Bates 4-11, TD; Chapman 1-6
Receiving: Reninger 4-86; Klinger 3-59, TD; Chapman 3-39, TD
Penalties: 6-40
