North Kitsap had the advantage in numbers Friday night, but Sequim coach Erik Wiker said the game was won weeks prior.

“NK owned the line of scrimmage,” Wiker said, following his team’s 27-10 loss to the defending Olympic League champs. “I think they worked out harder in the offseason and this is where it paid off.”

Viking senior running back Cole Rabedeaux scored three touchdowns and his 33-yard touchdown scamper two minutes into the second half — a play that saw him break a number of tackles on his way to the end zone — gave the visiting NK squad a 20-3 lead.

The Wolves struggled all evening against a stout, experienced Viking defense, but senior quarterback Nick Faunce led a third quarter possession that seemed to spark some life in the Wolves after Rabedeaux’s score. Faunce found Gavin Velarde on a short screen and the sophomore receiver took it 33 yards for a touchdown with 8:23 left in the third quarter.

But North’s next possession broke the proverbial camel’s back. The Vikings marched 46 yards on eight consecutive running plays before back-to-back possessions left them with a third-and-30 from the Sequim 46-yard-line.

That’s when the Vikings went back to Rabedeaux, who tore through the Wolves defense for a 46-yard touchdown run.

“The tackling was the worst tacking (I’ve seen) in a long time,” Wiker said.

Rabedeaux finished with 134 yards on just 10 carries.

“When we started to tackle low, we started to do better,” Wiker said. “We had him (Rabedeaux) plenty of times. He just broke (tackles).”

Sequim’s offense, which NK held to just 16 rushing yards, was unable to mount a fourth quarter comeback, sending the Wolves (1-1 in Olympic League play, 3-1 overall) to its first league loss.

“I thought the effort was pretty good,” Wiker said. “It was nothing surprising. They’re a well-coached team. They tackle well.”

Sequim committed seven penalties, four of them unsportsmanlike calls that extended Viking drives.

“You can’t beat yourself,” Wiker said. “You’ve got to have discipline in doing the little things right.”

Faunce finished 8-of-17 for 141 yards and an interception. Freshman Riley Cowan, who played the first half, was 6-for-15 for 62 yards and an interception.

Arnold Black led Sequim rushers with 27 yards on 15 carries.

Velarde led SHS receivers with five receptions for 117 yards and a score. Christiansen had four catches for 35 yards while Ian Dennis added three receptions for 42 yards.

Sequim was just three-of-12 on third downs and had seven first downs. North Kitsap was 6-of-12 on third with 13 first downs.

The Vikings accumulated a number of penalties of their own, 15 penalties for 123 yards. They also fumbled twice.

Looking ahead

Sequim looks for a bit of revenge against a non-league foe when they travel to Centralia on Oct. 2. Last season, the two teams battled to a 28-28 stalemate before the Tigers found the end zone for a 34-28 overtime win.

Centralia (2-2) is coming off a 13-0 loss at Kelso.

Sequim and Centralia have played just twice, with Centralia edging Sequim 21-14 on a last-second score in 2A state playoffs in 2008.

The Wolves host North Mason on Oct. 9 before hosting Port Angeles on Oct. 16, Sequim’s homecoming game.

Olympic League standings

Team Lg. Over.

North Kitsap  1-0  1-2

Olympic 1-0 4-0

Bremerton 1-1 1-3

Kingston 1-1 1-3

North Mason 1-1 1-3

Sequim 1-1 3-1

Port Angeles 0-2 1-3