Rangers advance in football playoffs

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A 50-14-district win against Mary M. Knight has sent the Quilcene Rangers into the state football playoffs for a school-record third consecutive season.

Quilcene (7-2) plays Lummi Nation (9-0) at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 in Bellingham.

Last year in the state 1B playoff quarterfinals, the Rangers lost 40-0 at Lummi. The Blackhawks went on to the state championship game, falling 46-42.

“Lummi has a lot of people returning from last year’s great team,” said Quilcene coach Trey Beathard. “They are well coached and make you defend the whole field. They are a challenge. There is a reason why they are ranked No. 1 in the state.”

The other half of the quarterfinal 1B state bracket has Naselle (6-3) vs. Rainier Christian (5-4). The other side of the bracket leading to a semi-final match has Neah Bay (7-1) vs. Taholah (5-2) and Crescent (5-4) vs. Tacoma Baptist (9-0). See the bracket link HERE.

Last year, Quilcene lost its starting quarterback and running back to injury in the second quarter; Lummi scored on a long interception return and scored again just before halftime for a 20-0 lead. Lummi recovered a pair of onside kicks in the third quarter, scoring each time to blow the game open.

“I felt like our kids played really hard and competed physically,” Beathard said. “That doesn’t mean it will happen this year, but that’s what we aim to do, is compete.”

DISTRICT WIN

The Rangers competed last Saturday against the Mary M. Knight Owls, and took it to the visitors early and often. Quilcene scored on its opening offensive possession and the first time on defense, Robert Comstock III chased the Knight quarterback who fumbled into the end zone, where Acea Such recovered for a touchdown. The halftime score was 42-0.

All of Quilcene’s players saw action in the second half, many of them in unfamiliar positions. Turnovers helped Knight get in position to score two fourth-quarter TDs.

Coach Beathard noted that on Sept. 23, Rainier Christian and Knight played to a 42-42 tie and when the Knight coach declined to play an overtime period, Rainier Christian got the 44-42 non-league win. Rainier Christian downed Quilcene 40-26 last week, yet Quilcene beat Knight twice this season by a combined score of 102-14.

“It just goes to show, you never know and that’s why we play the game,” Beathard said.

That’s his approach to facing top-ranked and unbeaten Lummi Blackhawks.

“Maybe it’s one in a million, but we’ve got a chance; there’s always a chance. We just have to go out and play the best we can and see what happens.”

Senior leadership comes into play for Quilcene, with four of them earning SeaTac League first-team honors: Jarod Smith as defensive back, Acea Such on defensive line, Ace Elkins as running back and Hayes Beathard on offensive line. Sophomore Robert Comstock III was voted second-team offensive line.

Knight 0 0 0 14 - 14

Quilcene 28 14 8 0 - 50

Q – Acea Such 25 pass from Andy Johnston (Robert Comstock III ass from Johnston)

Q – Such fumble recovery in end zone (PAT failed)

Q – Ben Bruner 22 run (Bruner run)

Q – Olin Reynolds 9 run (PAT failed)

Q – Ace Elkins 54 run (PAT failed)

Q – Comstock 20 pass from Johnston (Bruner run)

Q – Johnston 38 run (Brenan Fillmore pass from Johnston)

K – TD (PAT failed)

K – TD (PAT failed)