The Rangers played smart, crisp, physical and opportunistic football in an 86-28 victory against visiting Taholah, believed to be Quilcene’s first post-season win in school history.
The …
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Quilcene junior defensive back Eli Harrison snared four interceptions in an 86-28 district football win over Taholah Nov. 8. Pictured is the goal-line interception Harrison then returned 100 yards for a touchdown that forged a 28-6 lead. Photo by Patrick J. Sullivan
Quilcene's 86-28 win may be a school record. The offense scored eight touchdowns, defense scored two and special teams scored two. Pictured is senior Triston Williams after catching a conversion pass. The Rangers advance to a state 1B playoff game Nov. 15 in Aberdeen. Photo by Patrick J. Sullivan
Quilcene defenders Jarrod Smith (bottom) and Colton Pol (top) bracket a Tahola Chitwin during a district playoff game victory. Photo by Patrick J. Sullivan
The Rangers played smart, crisp, physical and opportunistic football in an 86-28 victory against visiting Taholah, believed to be Quilcene’s first post-season win in school history.
The district-level win puts the Rangers (7-2) into the 16-team state 1B tourney, starting with a game against the Twin Valley Wolfpack (6-2).
“The kids are pretty excited,” said coach Byron Wilson. “Now the goal is to keep winning.”
Kickoff is 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 on Stewart Field (one of the oldest athletic fields in Washington) at Aberdeen High School. The game’s winner advances to the state quarterfinals against the winner of Pateros vs. Neah Bay.
In terms of comparable scores, Twin Valley lost 54-14 to Lopez, beat Mary M. Knight 56-6 and beat Evergreen Lutheran 28-18. Quilcene lost to Lopez 64-20, beat Knight 52-14 and lost to Evergreen 54-14.
Wilson has seen Twin Valley (the combined team from Lake Quinault and Wishkah Valley schools) on film. "They are disciplined, not as physical as Taholah, but good.”
The Twin Valley coach scouted and filmed Quilcene’s last game, from the Ranger sideline.
“We threw a lot of offense out there this last game and it’s kind of hard to scout a team that does a lot of different things,” Wilson noted.
The Rangers did display a lot of offense, plus scores by the defense and special teams, against Taholah. Halftime score was 72-20.
Taholah’s quarterback and best player was injured early in the first quarter, and the back-up quarterback went down soon after. The Chitwin had a good mix of size and speed, and sportsmanship, players from each team were congratulating each other after big hits.
Senior Colton Pol rushed for 184 yards and 4 touchdowns. Junior Eli Harrison had 4 interceptions (11 for the season) and scored 5 TDs, including a 100-yard interception return.
Junior AJ Prater scored on an 82-yard kickoff return and 70-yard interception return.
“I’m a little embarrassed by [the score],” Wilson noted. “We don’t like to run up the score.”
The Rangers are not embarrassed to have displayed great teamwork, including tremendous hustle and blocking on interception and kickoff returns.
“We’re playing together as a team,” said senior Triston Williams. “On to state.”
