Senior Wiley Hesselgrave has been a team leader on both sides of the ball this season. (John Fisken photo)
There is a wild beast on the prowl, and it’s leaving a path of carnage as it thrashes its way through the 1A Olympic League.
The Port Townsend High School football squad has resembled Mike Tyson in his prime so far, and nothing about that changed Friday.
After dinging visiting Coupeville 52-0, the Redhawks (4-0 overall, 2-0 in league play) have outscored opponents 197-6.
But, while the loss made for a rough night for the Wolves, hope is far from dead.
Coupeville (1-3, 1-1) slips into a second-place tie with Klahowya (2-2, 1-1), which beat Chimacum 55-18 Friday, and is still very much in the hunt for a playoff berth.
The top two teams in the four-team conference will advance to the postseason.
The Wolves, after opening with four straight road games, will finally play at home next Friday, Oct. 2, when they host Klahowya.
Coupeville plays four of its final five regular season games at home and will get a rematch with Port Townsend Oct. 9.
Friday night, the Wolves ran into a team that relies heavily on its big, bruising runners crashing away behind its even bigger, even more bruising line.
Once again, the plan worked for the Redhawks, who rolled out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter, then doubled that before halftime.
A running clock kicked in with 1:40 to play in the second quarter and Port Townsend up 42-0.
Ezra Easley and Wesley Wheeler scored three touchdowns apiece to pace the Redhawks, while Gerry Coker capped the scoring with a long field goal in the fourth.
“Port Townsend is a very good team and I expect to see them go far in the playoffs,” said Coupeville coach Brett Smedley. “Our kids fought hard all night and there was absolutely no quit in them, which is something we have been preaching all season.
“The coaching staff is extremely proud of the players for their attitudes and efforts and willingness to go out and fight hard for their brothers and the CHS community!”
While highlights were few and far between for Coupeville, one fourth quarter completion from Wolf freshman quarterback Gabe Eck to senior receiver Jordan Ford did get some love from the announcer on Sound Sports Net, which live-streamed the game.
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