Ben Smith, seen here last season, was one of several Wolves to rip off strong runs Wednesday in Coupeville’s first game. (Deb Smith photo)
Dylan Estes will wreck a dude.
The Coupeville Middle School football player is far from the biggest player on the field, but he makes up in heart what he might currently be shy of in inches.
That was on display several times Wednesday during the Wolves season opener against visiting Sequim, most notably when Estes chased down, then body-slammed a receiver twice his size.
Hustle plays like that, and a late offensive surge, were the highlights for CMS, as it fell 36-12 to a much-larger foe.
Coupeville rallied for both of its touchdowns in the fourth quarter, refusing to go down quietly.
Jake Mitten, who led the Wolf attack all afternoon, used a drop-the-shoulder-and-inflict-some-damage running style to rip off Coupeville’s first touchdown of the season, on an eight-yard plunge.
He then successfully pulled off an on-sides kick, allowing the Wolves to get the ball right back.
CMS quarterback Cade Golden promptly took advantage of the opportunity, guiding the Wolves down the field, before hooking up with Sage Downes on a touchdown pass to the left corner.
On the scoring play, Golden avoided a potential sack, then dropped the ball right onto Downes fingertips, giving the Wolf receiver a perfect ball to snag.
Sequim put the game away in the second quarter, using a very effective passing attack centered around a tall receiver, punching in three of their five touchdowns.
Coupeville’s own passing attack picked up the pace as the game went on, with Golden hooking up with Mitten several times.
A number of dropped passes muted the Wolf attack, however.
Along with Mitten, who ran like a battering ram on the same field where his uncle, Jason McFadyen, led the 1990 CHS gridiron squad to an undefeated season, Coupeville got big runs from Dakota Eck and Ben Smith.
Mitten was a two-way warrior, also dropping the Sequim QB on back-to-back plays where he bull-rushed the line and the blockers melted away under his assault.
Coupeville Sports 