Port Townsend’s recent football dominance of Chimacum continued Friday with a 55-6 blowout.

The Redhawks scored two touchdowns in their first five offensive plays, sandwiched around a Chimacum offensive fumble. PT led 21-0 after one quarter and 42-0 at halftime, which set the “mercy rule” accelerated game clock in motion throughout the second half.

Since the two schools resumed a football rivalry in 1970 (the teams have not played every season), PT has a 27-10 edge in varsity contests. Chimacum won three consecutive games, 2010-2012, but in the five rivalry meetings since, PT has outscored the Cowboys 280-18.

Both teams can expect more equal competition as league action continues Friday. It's homecoming week at Chimacum High, and the football Cowboys (0-2 league, 1-4 overall) host Bellevue Christian (0-2, 0-5) with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Field. BC is coming off a 30-28 loss to Charles Wright Academy.

Townsend (2-0, 3-2) plays at Coupeville (1-1, 2-3), 7 p.m. on Whidbey Island, with the Wolves fresh off a 63-32 win over Vashon Island. Redhawk fans traveling to the Coupeville game should be on the 6 p.m. ferry out of PT. The last ferry from the Coupeville terminal to PT is 10:40 p.m.

RHODY BOWL

Game spectators Sept. 30 at Memorial Field brought a lot food for the "We Act" food drive at Chimacum High.

Halftime highlights were a performance by the Chimacum High School Cowboy Marching Band, and a season show debut by the CHS cheerleaders.

On the field, PT capitalized on turnovers, with two fumble recoveries and four interceptions (two each by defensive backs Berkley Hill and Noa Apker-Montoya). Four of the six turnovers were followed by Redhawk scoring drives. PT finished with 404 rushing yards.

CHIMACUM

The CHS offense was mostly unable to string together consecutive first downs. The biggest gain was a 27-yard run by senior Domenick Zack, a PTHS student-athlete until his sophomore season, and a good kickoff return by sophomore Guiseppe Glanz.

PT lost two fumbles, the last of which led to Chimacum’s only score. Senior quarterback Chris Sevilla tossed to sophomore Isaac Purser in the left corner of the end zone to put CHS for a 9-yard TD with 3:53 left in the game.

Mike Dowling, Chimacum’s third-year coach, is concerned about his team’s performance on and off the field.

“They were better than us. No excuses. We were outplayed and outcoached,” Dowling said. He could not fault a lack of effort by his available players.

More challenging for the Chimacum football program is the commitment, or the lack of commitment, from some players. Dowling didn’t want to get into specifics; “Kids make decisions,” he said, noting the absence of four starters. Chimacum had 19 players available Sept. 30 after having 24 suited the previous week.

TOWNSEND

Coach Alex Heilig, after his first Town-Chimacum rivalry game, was pleased that his players had “tunnel vision” and stayed focused on their assignments. There was improved communication on the field, and too many penalties.

“I’m happy with the defense and the offensive line,” Heilig noted. “Those two facets of the game really stepped up for us tonight.”

Quarterback Berkley Hill dipped, dived and dashed, including a 61-yard run for PT’s first touchdown, Detrius Kelsall went wide and pounded inside, and Kyle Blankenship finished with a heavily torn jersey after breaking tackles. Hill completed his one and only pass, to classmate Gerry Coker for a TD.

Hill, who has rushed for 13 touchdowns and passed for five more in five games, said the offensive line “opened the holes” and Kelsall and Kyle Blankenship “ran really hard.”

Blankenship said the rivalry game included a lot of chatter on the field, but PT players stayed true to their goal of being “one-and-oh every week.”

Chimacum 0 0 0 6 – 6

Pt. Townsend 21 21 7 6 – 55

PT – Berkley Hill 61 run (Gerry Coker kick)

PT – Detrius Kelsall 22 run (Coker kick)

PT – Hill 33 run (Coker kick)

PT – Hill 6 run (Coker kick)

PT – Kelsall 24 run (Coker kick)

PT – Coker 32 pass from Hill (Coker kick)

PT – Kelsall 12 run (Coker kick)

PT – Hill 2 run (kick blocked)

C- Isaac Purser 9 pass from Chris Sevilla (PAT failed)

PTHS YARDSTICK

PASSING: Berkley Hill 1-1, 32 yards, TD.

RUSHING: Hill 19-235, 4 TD. Detrius Kelsall 11-110, 3 TD; Kyle Blankenship 9-53; Dylan Tracer 3-6.

RECEIVING: Gerry Coker 1-32, TD.

TACKLES (solo-assist): Jonathan Smith 3/8, Blankenship 2/6, Coker 4/3, Kelsall 4/3, Hill 1/5, Kaiden Parcher 1/4, Jackson Foster 1/3.

INTERCEPTIONS: Noa Apker-Montoya 2, Hill 2

FUMBLE CAUSE/RECOVERY: Kelsall 1/1, Jacob Massie 0/1, Smith 1/0.

Sack: Robert Jesionowski