Forks dug deep after spotting Sequim a 14-0 halftime lead, rallying behind a stingy defense which intercepted Wolves quarterback Lars Wiker three times in the second half, including in the final minutes of a 21-14 Spartans win Friday night.
Freshman Bubba Hernandez’s 78-yard option keeper touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter stood up as the Spartans inaugurated their renovated Spartan Stadium with a victory.
“He made guys miss all over the field and he hasn’t walked into the high school yet for class,” Forks head coach Trevor Highfield said.
Sequim scored twice through the air in the first half — both connections going from brothers Lars to Liam Wiker.
Adrian Aragon intercepted a Forks pass just before halftime.
“Their quarterback is pretty good, he’s an athletic kid who slings it pretty well and makes good decisions,” Highfield said of Lars Wiker.
“They were really hurting us in the screen game, tunnel screens, tailback screens. Those are plays that are tough to review and go over live for our defense in a first-game situation.”
Forks also was limited offensively with primary running back Nate Dahlgren not playing early on.
The Spartans made a switch to freshman Bubba Hernandez at quarterback on Forks’ second drive, and he produced.
Landin Davis intercepted a Sequim pass and capped off the third quarter with a 5-yard rushing TD to tie the game at 14-all.
“He did a tremendous job of running hard and playing physically for us, and he made keys plays on both sides of the ball,” Highfield said.
Dahlgren also got some carries in the second half to keep Sequim honest.
“He made some significant gains for us,” Highfield said.
A Noah Foster interception set up Hernandez’s go-ahead run to paydirt.
Sequim drove deep into Forks territory with less than a minute to go but the Spartans’ defense, helped by a Wolves’ holding penalty, stiffened in the red zone and Olson picked off Wiker to ice the game late.
The Wolves are off for a week after expected foe Tenino scheduled a different opponent for week two. Sequim (0-1) is back on the field Sept. 14 at Bainbridge before hosting their home opener against rival Port Angeles on Sept. 22.
