Rivals football game cancelled due to Friday’s windstorm

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The high school football game between the East Jefferson Rivals and Coupeville Wolves was cancelled Friday Sept. 17, after a windstorm hit the Puget Sound area shortly before kickoff.

The game was set to start at 6 p.m., right as the peak of wind and rain moved in, drenching the region in rain, and cutting power from some homes in the Olympic Peninsula.

Although the players and fans may be disappointed in the rare cancelation, the extra week off could greatly benefit the Rivals football team, as they are 0-2 so far in the nine-game season.

East Jefferson took on the Port Angeles Roughriders last week, on Sept. 10. East Jefferson was pummeled in the first half, with the score at 28-0. After halftime, the Rivals traded touchdowns with the Roughriders to finish the game at 35-7, with the Roughriders on top.

Sophomore Rivals quarterback Cash Holmes led the team in rushing, with 35 yards on 11 carries. On defense, senior linebacker Logan Massie had some success on the day, earning three sacks and six total tackles for the Rivals.

Head Coach Tony Haddenham was disappointed by the loss, but remained confident the Rivals would play at their best in the coming weeks.

“We had our chances to score but didn’t capitalize. It’s the little mistakes that cost us,” Haddenham said.

Practice this week for the Rivals will focus on the fundamentals, as Haddenham looks to put their season back on track.

“We’ve stressed, we’ve forgotten footwork,” Haddenham said.

The team is “going back to the basics of playing football” at practice, he said, and East Jefferson hopes to capitalize on opportunities and reduce mistakes in the coming matchup against the Klahowya Eagles. 

The coach noted how new the team is, and the challenges involved with coaching players from two different high schools.

“We’re still new together, we’ve been together since Aug. 18, we’re still learning to gel as a team,” Haddenham said. “Having school in-person, they’re trying to switch off from school to football.”

The extra week could work in favor of Haddenham’s football team, as some players on the team have dealt with minor injuries from the first two weeks of play.

“We’ve had a slew of athletes with shin splints,” Haddenham said. “We’re hopefully going to be healthier.”

The next Rivals football game is at
6:30 p.m. Friday as they take on the Klahowya Eagles in Silverdale.

The Rivals, hopefully well-rested and healed from injuries, will look to earn their first win of the season away from home.