By Jim Waller
Contributing writer
Justin Adams scored all 22 points as host Coupeville popped Port Townsend 22-16 last Friday in the nonleague season opener.
It was a big win for Coupeville coming off a winless 2008, defeating a tough Redskin squad which was 6-4 last year and considers itself a playoff contender this season.
Adams, a 5-foot-10-inch senior, weighing 172-pounds, put the Wolves on the board with a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter, and when the second quarter started so did the fireworks. After the Redskins scored on a short run to put Port Townsend in the lead, Adams responded by ripping off a 75-yard TD run and kicked the extra point to put Coupeville back on top 10-7.
The Wolves went up 16-7 when Adams scored again on a 15-yard run. The PAT kick failed.
Port Townsend cut the lead to two just before halftime when quarterback Eric Thomas hit Cameron Robinson on a 3-yard touchdown pass, ending the rush of 27 points scored by the two teams in the quarter.
While the second quarter featured offense, the second half was a defensive struggle as the Wolves fought to hold on to their 16-14 lead. Adams finally gave Coupeville some breathing room when he scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. The run for the PAT failed.
The strong Coupeville defensive effort was keyed by senior Jason Bagby’s two interceptions and six tackles and a forced fumble by sophomore Dalton Engle. In all, the Wolf defense picked off Port Townsend quarterback Thomas three times and limited him to just 13 completions in 35 attempts for 135 yards.
In addition to scoring all 22 points, Adams rushed for 253 yards on 24 carries and caught two passes for 89 yards.
Coupeville quarterback Bagby completed nine passes in 13 attempts and had one interception. Junior Ian Smith had three receptions for 28 yards.
Coupeville now travels to Lakeside for a Saturday afternoon game at 2 p.. Last Friday the Lions jumped to a 14-13 lead against Coupeville’s Cascade Conference counterpart Lakewood, only to fall 41-21 to the Cougars.
