Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

For all of Sequim's flashiness on offense, the Wolves still know how to hit on defense.

And if the Kingston Buccaneers needed to be reminded, they certainly got the message Friday night.

One season removed from Sequim's 74-0 win at Kingston, the Wolves once again drubbed the Buccaneers, this time getting four touchdown rushes from Travis Decker in a 49-6 Nisqually League victory.

Drew Rickerson was 10-of-17 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

But it was Sequim's defense that shone brightly Friday, holding Kingston to just 76 yards of offense in the first half and giving the Wolves' offense great field position for easy scores. The defense also forced four turnovers.

"Our offense is really flashy but (on defense) it's three and gone," said Sequim coach Erik Wiker.

The Wolves had scoring drives that were one, two, two, three, three, four and eight plays long.

Sequim's first-string defense posted their third shutout of the season.

Jake Dethlefsen, a senior defensive lineman who had a sack in the victory, said Kingston improved from last year but was no match for the Wolves on this night.

"Our line stepped up in the second half," Dethlefsen said.

"We won this game in practice," said junior defensive back Joey Hall. "I just think we executed."

Wiker said his team runs 250-300 plays in practice each week, making 60-play,

two-hour games seem comparably easy.

The Wolves still have plenty of things to work on, Wiker noted, including timing in the spread offense and cutting back on penalties.



Defense sparks

a big win

It took just one offensive play from scrimmage for

Sequim to take a lead. After the defense forced a three plays-and-out and poor punt, Decker took a handoff at Kingston's 24-yard-line and raced in for a touchdown. Frank Catelli's two-point conversion made it 8-0.

Kingston muffed their next possession and punt, giving Sequim the ball on the Bucs' 2-yard-line. Two plays later, Decker was in the end zone again to put Sequim up 15-0.

Following an 11-play Kingston drive that stalled, Sequim pieced together an eight-play drive that Rickerson capped by finding Joel Anastasi from 22 yards out, putting Sequim up 22-0.

The teams traded possession to start the second quarter. At midfield with eight minutes before halftime, Rickerson misfired on a pair of passes, then used his legs to find the end zone, scoring from 27 yards out.

Sequim held the 29-0 lead at halftime

The Wolves scored four plays into the second half as Decker sliced through the porous Kingston defense for a 35-yard jaunt and 42-0 Sequim lead.

Frank Catelli recovered a fumble by Kingston quarterback Tucker Bowman at the 16-yard-line, and Rickerson found John Textor from 13 yards out two plays later for a 49-0 Sequim advantage.

Kingston's Travis Schriner managed a 5-yard touchdown scamper with 1:26 left to play to spoil the shutout.



Big game vs.

Bulldogs on tap

Sequim is back on the road this week, taking on the North Mason Bulldogs in Belfair.

North Mason (3-0 in league, 6-0 overall) is coming off a 42-22 home win against Steilacoom.

Sequim topped the Bulldogs 21-3 last season and hasn't lost to the longtime league rival since the 2000 season.

But the Bulldogs are a different team, racking up an undefeated record and getting several votes in the Associated Press and Tacoma News Tribune 2A poll this season.

Wiker said the Bulldogs like to run a triple option-style offense.

"They execute it well," he said. "You hardly see the option up here."

Wiker said he figures Friday's game in Belfair will be a more evenly-matched affair.

"We'll be a good match-up for each other," he said.



Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.



Nisqually League standings

Team Lg. Over.

Fife 3-0 4-2

North Mason 3-0 6-0

Sequim 3-0 5-1

Eatonville 2-1 2-4

Washington 1-2 2-4

Kingston 0-3 0-6

Klahowya 0-3 0-6

Steilacoom 0-3 0-6



Sequim at North Mason Bulldogs

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 16

Where: 200 E. Campus Drive, Belfair

Series (since 1977): Sequim leads 12-7

2008 result: Sequim 21, North Mason 3