BI hurts itself with miscues in loss to Sequim

Too many turnovers and Sequim’s power running game proved to be too much for Bainbridge Saturday, taking a 38-0 loss from the hosts.

The Spartans were able to move the ball against the Wolves defense, racking up nearly 300 yards, but whether it was an untimely penalty, a costly turnover or lack of execution, Bainbridge came away empty-handed despite getting five red zone opportunities.

“That’s probably the most yards we’ve ever had where we didn’t score a point,” Bainbridge coach Jeff Rouser said.

Bainbridge had a long drive early in the first quarter, which featured a 44-yard passing play from quarterback Gabriel Todd to receiver Austin Coupland. That got the team down to the 1-yard line, but a holding penalty stalled the drive, and Sequim blocked the subsequent field goal attempt.

That sums up how the day went for the Spartans. Todd and Coupland connected again for a huge play later in the first quarter, this time a 59-yard strike that took Bainbridge inside the 10-yard line. But Sequim’s Walker Ward thwarted that drive with an interception in the end zone.

“You’re going to expect sloppy football on both sides of the ball, but they’re in the same situation,” Rouser said, referring to the lack of practice time for the game due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Meanwhile, the defense simply could not handle Sequim’s power running game. After flirting with some spread concepts, the Wolves took notice that running the ball up the middle was working and simply never stopped. Ward, Sequim’s feature back, ended up toting the ball 31 times for 197 yards and three touchdowns.

Ward scored twice in the second quarter, and Isaiah Cowan returned an interception 45 yards for another score. That put Bainbridge behind 20-0 at halftime.

A late third-quarter drive featuring a 31-yard completion to Jack Mielke got the Spartans to Sequim’s 6-yard line; but a delay of game penalty and a high snap ended yet another promising drive. Sequim’s Garrett Hoesel took the first handoff following the turnover and ran 76 yards for a TD.

“It just wasn’t our day. I don’t think that’s going to reflect what we do the rest of the season,” Rouser said.

Coupland finished the day with four receptions for 115 yards, and Mielke caught seven passes for 80 yards. Bainbridge has now thrown for 475 yards in two games. Todd went 16-for-33 for 241 yards, but had four interceptions.

The Spartans will face Olympic in their first home game of the season Friday night.

Sequim 38, Bainbridge 0

BI 0 0 0 0 — 0

SQ 0 20 12 6 — 38

Second Quarter

Sequim — Walker Ward 1 run (pass failed)

Sequim — Isaiah Cowan 40 interception return (conversion failed)

Sequim — Ward 4 run (Ward run)

Third Quarter

Sequim —Cowan 2 run (run failed)

Sequim —Michael Young 40 run (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

Sequim —Garrett Hoesel 76 run (pass failed)

Individual Statistics

Passing — Bainbridge: Todd 16-33-241, 4 INT; Utter 1-2-3, INT. Sequim: Applegate 4-8-57, INT.

Rushing — Bainbridge: Bryant, 2-14; Todd 4-11; No. 45 (not on roster), 1-8; Miller 3-7; Mielke 2-4; Breen 2-1. Sequim: Ward 31-197, Hoesel 2-103, Young 4-66, Haggen 4-24, Cowan 2-8, Brown 1-5, Applegate 3-(-2).

Receiving — Bainbridge: Coupland 4-115; Mielke 7-80; Breen 3-27; Ullin 3-22. Sequim: Young 1-34, Hoesel 1-20, Ward 2-3.