For those of you keeping up with the blog, I’ve posted a few times about my favorite Sequim prep games these last 10 years. I was thumbing through the old files for this one, and thought it might be fun to revisit one of SHS’s best football games of all time.

The setting: In week eight of the 2004 season, Sequim — undefeated and ranked No. 10 in the 3A ranks — was hosting Port Townsend, undefeated and ranked No. 6 among the 2A schools.

SHS’s backup quarterback Tim Dosey got the start and threw for two touchdowns while Ryan Rutherford caught five passes for 240 yards and three scores in the 36-29 Sequim victory.

The Wolves went on to an undefeated (10-0) regular season and the first of six consecutive playoff berths.

Here’s how the story read those five years, two months and 14 days ago.



(Sequim Gazette, page B-1, Oct. 22, 2004)

Headline:
One sweet, sweet homecoming
Subhead:
Wolves top Redskins in thrilling showdown

It was supposed to be one of the top games in the state, a fall classic that would pit two evenly matched, aggressive, title-hungry teams against each other in a slugfest.

Mission accomplished.

The Sequim Wolves took their biggest and boldest step toward finishing undefeated since 1978 with a 36-29 win over cross-county rival and previously undefeated Port Townsend.

Coach Erik Wiker called it the biggest win for Sequim football he’s ever seen.

“I told the guys, I’ve never been associated with a team that’s 8-0,” he said, drying himself after Sequim linemen playfully doused him with the water cooler, an honor reserved for big wins. “This is something special.”

Tim Dosey threw for two touchdowns, and Ryan Rutherford caught five passes for 240 yards and three scores as the 10th-ranked Wolves came back from an early deficit to toppled the state 2A sixth-ranked team.

P.T. scores first

The Redskins (7-1) took an early lead after Sloan Gutierrez took the ball in from three yards out. After a quick Sequim three-and-out, P.T.’s Keith Johnson broke a 59-yard run and stunned the Sequim crowd.

“I told (the players) to just go play, relax,” Wiker said. “They were just all tense … going opposite of their tendencies.”

Down 14-0, Wiker gave Dosey the chance to perk up the standard running-style Sequim offense through the air. He did just that, finding Rutherford for 61 yards on a third down.

P.T. led at the first quarter break 14-6.

With the momentum beginning to sway, Sequim took the ball back with 9:30 in the half and went back to the ground. After a seven-yard Tim Sutton run, Brian Savage burst through the line for 58 of his game-high 177 yards into the end zone. Rutherford added a two-point conversion to tie the game at 14.

Undeterred, the Redskins answered back with a 12-play drive. They stayed exclusively to the ground, ending with a Gutierrez three-yard plunge. P.T. went up 21-14.

After a Sequim drive stalled, the Redskins went for the kill, shunning their normal running attack for long throws. But Rutherford, who doubles as a defensive back, picked off an Isaiah Sather pass.

With a few Redskin fans screaming, “Watch 85, watch Rutherford!” Dosey launched a 47-yard pass to his favorite receiver, with less than a minute to go, to set up Sequim inside P.T.’s 20. After a penalty negated a touchdown, Dosey again found Rutherford, this time from 23 yards, for a score just before the half. Savage dove in from two yards for the conversion, and Sequim led 22-21 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Sequim as well. Riding the emotional high from homecoming’s halftime celebration, the Wolves watched Rutherford catch a 30-yard pass on third down near the second half’s open, then saw Savage motor 38 yards for his second score. Sequim went up 28-21 with 10:11 to go in the third.

After holding P.T. to one first down on their next possession, the Wolves went for a little trickery. Dosey tossed the ball to Savage, who launched a pass to Rutherford. The senior wide receiver streaked down the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown. Dosey found Rutherford again for a two-point conversion and a 36-21 lead.

Port Townsend had one last gasp and nearly came all the way back. Sather led a drive that Johnson capped with a 16-yard touchdown run, and Gutierrez scored a two-point conversion to close the gap to 36-29.

Sequim recovered the onside kick, but Sutton fumbled on the Redskins’ eight-yard line.

With 92 yards and 1:33 to go, Sather looked long, lofting a pass that would hopefully find the hands of a receiver on the sideline. Sequim cornerback Stephen Printz plucked it out of the air, and with it, plucked P.T.’s chances of a league title.

Savage ran out the clock with two strong runs, and the celebration began.

‘I can’t believe it’s my last game here’

Dosey started the game because starting QB Kenny Hall was suspended for one game after an incident at Vashon the prior week.

“I prayed to God (this last week), I owe it all to him,” Dosey said after the game, soaked with sweat and smiles. “I just know I had to practice hard and bring it.”

He finished 4-of-7 passing for 161 yards and two scores.

“It’s the last time I’ll play on this field ever,” Dosey said.

Coach Wiker said he fine about starting the seasoned backup.

“He has a good arm; he’s a good leader,” Wiker said. “I knew he wouldn’t miss a beat.”

Sutton, who made several key hits Friday night, said his teammates never doubted themselves, even after falling behind 14-0.

“Our thing the entire year (is that) we keep our heads up,” Sutton said. “We’re still in the game, if we play with all our heart.”

For Sequim seniors, it was a night to say thanks and goodbye. Rutherford walked the field in a near daze, then quietly rested on the wet grass sans shirt or pads.

“I can’t believe it’s my last game here.”

Wiker, a first-year coach, looked across the football field to his seniors.

“I think this was huge; they’ll remember this when they’re 70,” he said. “For me it’s huge. For them, it’s times ten.”

Sequim is now ranked No. 10 in the state 3A rankings by the Associated Press and No. 16 by the Seattle Times.

Up next for the Wolves is Life Christian Oct. 30, who lost to Klahowya 37-22 Friday night.

With a win against the Eagles, Sequim can capture their first undefeated season in 26 years by beating North Mason Nov. 5.

Game notes:

The Redskins out-gained the Wolves in first downs 12-10 …

Sather finished 3-16 for 92 yards and two interceptions …

Sequim was penalized nine times for 65 yards …

Johnson led PT with 112 yards on 14 carries …

Sequim may have to face state 3A leader Bellevue in the playoffs. Bellevue gained notoriety earlier this year when they toppled De La Salle (Calif.) in September. De La Salle hadn’t lost a game in 11 years.