Port Townsend’s first Homecoming football win since 2008, a 48-0 romp over Chimacum, also secured the program’s first Olympic League 1A football championship.

The Redhawks (5-1 league, 6-2 overall) complete the regular season and open the post season against the same team: Charles Wright Academy of Tacoma (2-1, 3-4). CWA plays PT at Memorial Field at 7 p.m. each of the next two Fridays: Oct. 31, a Halloween eve end to the regular season, and Nov. 7, pairing the No. 1 Olympic team vs. No. 2 Nisqually League finisher.

The Nov. 7 district game winner enters the WIAA state playoffs – and hosts a state playoff game.

“We’ve got the league title,” said coach Nick Snyder. “We’ve got more work to do.”

The last football league title for PTHS came in 2003, a shared title with Steilacoom, and prior to that, shared titles in 1984 and 1983.

Chimacum (0-6, 0-8) finishes the regular season Friday, 6 p.m. at Vashon Island (0-6, 1-7), and as the No. 4 Olympic entry, hosts a season-ending crossover game Thursday, Nov. 6 at Memorial Field.

Nisqually champion Cascade Christian (3-0, 7-0) hosts Olympic runners-up Klahowya (3-3, 3-5) in the league's other Nov. 7 playoff qualifying game.

TOWN V CHIMACUM

After a 56-0 win at Chimacum three weeks prior, the outcome of the Oct. 26 league game was not long in doubt. PT led 28-0 after one quarter, 35-0 at halftime.

“The power game has been excellent,” coach Snyder said. “Jeff [Seton] is throwing the ball well. Roberto Gomez runs the counter well. The line blocked really well."

Chimacum opened by recovering its onside kick at the PT 46 yard line and stalled in three plays; the Cowboy offense only crossed midfield twice the rest of the night. CHS had some success with a quick passing attack, but not much luck with rushing.

PT’s offense mounted many sustained drives, starting with a 6-play, 81-yard effort capped by Wesley Wheeler’s 10-yard scoring run. After a CHS three and out, PT went 55 yards in 7 plays with quarterback Seton scoring on an 11-yard run.

Back on defense, Jacob Ralls intercepted CHS quarterback James Porter, returning it 20 yards along the sideline to the CHS 22. Wheeler scored 3 plays later; 21-0. PT regained possession at its own 26 with 1:46 in the quarter. Wheeler converted a fourth-down run, and Seton then tossed deep to the left and Cameron Constantine gathered in a 40-yard scoring pass with 1:07 on the clock.

In the second quarter, PT went 60 yards in 8 plays; Davis Sua blasted on a 2-yard scoring run midway through the period and a 35-0 lead.

PT’s second-team offense finished out the first half, and played much of the second half.

SECOND HALF

Chimacum’s second offensive play of the second half was a pass that went backwards, and the loose ball was picked up and returned 15 yards to pay dirt by senior Zach Wilson. The PAT was Austin Khile's only missed kick of the evening. For the game, Khile converted 6 of 7 conversion kicks – making him one of the most consistent PTHS placekickers in more than 10 years.

In the fourth quarter, Carson Marx had a big punt return that set up a short drive that Detrius Kelsall capped with a 1-yard plunge with 2:52 remaining.

“We were better on pass defense,” noted junior linebacker Keegan Khile, who led the team with 11 tackles. PT had interceptions by Jacob Ralls and Detrius Kelsall.

PT's 2014 Homecoming week was different this year in two big ways: 1) The team won for the first time since 2008, and 2) a camera crew from Channel 9 spent time with the team and at school for three days last week, partially spurred by the name change this school year from Redskins to Redhawks, etc. The program should air Nov. 6.

After the game, the PTHS coaching staff talked about the “faceless” opponent, one way to deal with a schedule which now has PT playing four teams twice. No hype was necessary to be motivated against rival Chimacum; the football teams did not play last year, so this season was PT's chance to break what had been a three-game losing streak to the Cowboys. PT outscored CHS 104-0 in two games this season.

“Chimacum was depleted,” Snyder acknowledged. “Sometimes that’s the way it is. I’ve been there.”

COWBOYS

CHS had 20 uniformed players, but coach Mike Dowling admitted that was more for show; by game’s end, only 13 were available. Injuries and other issues have taken a toll on Chimacum’s thin roster and the numbers game for the next few years is not in the Cowboys’ favor: PT’s roster lists 27 ninth and 10th graders; Chimacum’s has 7.

After the game, Dowling pointed to PTHS as a program to model: strong senior leadership, commitment in the weight room, and follow-through at practice.

“We’re trying to build something like Port Townsend has done, where we can be competitive in every game,” the first-year varsity head coach said. “We’ve got a lot of support [from adults] and continue to need a commitment from the [players].”

Chimacum 0 0 0 0 – 0

Port Townsend 28 7 6 7 – 48

PT – Wesley Wheeler (Austin Khile kick)

PT – Jeff Seton 11 run (Khile kick)

PT – Wheeler 9 run (Khile kick)

PT – Cameron Constantine 40 yard pass from Seton (Khile kick)

PT – David Sua 2 run (kick failed)

PT – Detrius Kelsall 1 run (Khile kick)

PTHS YARDSTICK

Passing: Jeff Seton 3-8 48 yards, TD. Berkley Hill, 2-3, 25 yards.

Rushing: Wesley Wheeler 7-93, 2 TD; David Sua 8-74, TD; Detrius Kelsall 8-55, TD; Roberto Gomez 4-45, Austin Khile 4-25, Hill 4-11, Seton 1-11, TD; Henry Veitenhans 1-2, Ezra Easley 1-0.

Receiving: Kelsall 2-25, Liam Anderson 1-26, Cameron Constantine 1-25, TD; Sua 1-(-3).

Tackles (solo-assist): Keegan Khile 6-5, Colby Martin 3-2, Anderson 3-2, Kelsall 2-2, A. Khile 2-1, Zach Wilson 0-3, Sua 1-2, David Hoglund 0-2, Cody Mclain 0-2.