By JOSH FARLEY
Staff Writer
POULSBO — Everyone expected North Kitsap’s final regular game of the season with unbeaten Shelton to be a battle, given the two teams’ league-leading powerhouse offenses.
However, no one could have expected what actually transpired — a two-day football game, thanks to a power outage, and a contest with equally as bizarre stats to go along with it.
In the end, North just couldn’t stop talented Shelton back Isaiah Taito, who had put up 263 yards of rushing and three touchdowns to lead his team to a 34-21 win.
For the Vikings, quarterback Jared Prince had 134 yards of passing offense and ran one rushing touchdown for himself.
Aside from Taito — and the distractions he created to give the Highclimber passing offense a chance to score — Shelton’s offense was inconsistent at best, amassing at least 80 yards of penalties, whereas the Vikings did not have one to their name for the entire contest.
To top it off, a nearby blackout caused North Kitsap Stadium’s lights to turn off with 1:19 left in the second quarter. Power was never fully restored and the game had to be finished the following night.
Even in the loss, Viking coach Jerry Parrish said he believes the odd battle will actually benefit his team when they open the playoffs on the road Saturday night against Edmonds-Woodway.
“Having an extra day to play Saturday gives us a little more edge,” Parrish said.
The coach was willing to give credit where credit was due, praising the Climbers’ star running back but also admitting that the team’s offensive line gives him more yardage on every play.
“I think Taito is the best back in the league,” Parrish said. “But he’s got quite the supporting crew as well.”
The only other time Parrish said he’s had the power go out in his more than three decades as coach was a game against Sequim that North won in two days of play, back in 1978.
The Vikings’ Friday night strategy revolved around senior back Jeff Camus, who they used often to analyze the Shelton defense. Unfortunately for North, the Highclimbers clamped down on that strategy and held the Vikings scoreless in the first night of play.
“We were trying to find out their formations,” Parrish said. “Find some things we could exploit.”
Shelton went to Taito at every turn, using his speed to turn to the outside and his agility and solid Highclimber blocking to make gains up the middle. But when North’s defense had finally begun to shut down the talented back, Shelton used what Parrish said he calls “trick plays” — one flea-flicker that fooled the Vikes’ D and one shovel pass that no one in the entire stadium saw coming. The flicker resulted in the opening touchdown and the shovel pass, a crucial 22-yard gain when the Highclimbers had a first and 20 yards to go situation — thanks to one of the team’s many penalties on the night — setting up a Taito four-yard score.
“What beat us was those two plays,” Camus said. “If we could have played the way we played Saturday on Friday, it would have been different.”
After the stadium’s power went out — not once, not twice, but three times in a row — the game was called, to be resumed Saturday. And indeed, a break in play benefited the Vikes, who out-scored their Highclimber opponents 21-20 in the second half.
North Kitsap had noticeably revamped its offensive strategy when play resumed, with Prince hitting his favorite targets Jordan Henry, Andy Sturza and Travis Tobin for first down gains with the remaining 1:14 to go in the remaining portion of the first half. But a Prince pass was intercepted by the Climbers’ James Sobotka to end the half.
Taito was again Shelton’s main attack, picking up a 32 yard gain on the Climbers’ first possession of the second half. Shelton QB Chris Smith hit Jerry Riley with a nine yard pass to put Shelton up 21-0.
North put its first touchdown on the board with a 59-yard, 10 play drive that ended with a Camus score from a yard out.
But Shelton again scored early in the fourth on a 46-yard reception from Smith to — guess who — Taito to put the Highclimbers up 27-7.
NK exchanged scores with their Highclimber opponents, with Taito again gaining 60 yards rushing for a score and North scoring twice — Prince taking one in from seven yards out and Tobin picking off Smith for a 40 yard return.
Parrish was honored before the game Friday night, as it was his last home contest in his 32 years as head coach.
“That was hard to begin with but not a factor at all (in the game),” Parrish said.
“All the (ex-) players that came back for the game really made it all worthwhile,” he added.
Despite the loss, the coach commented that his team is ready to face the Edmonds-Woodway Warriors in the first round of the playoffs Saturday night.
“I’m disappointed, but not discouraged,” Parrish said. “Everybody starts over in the playoffs.”
1 2 3 4
Shelton 0 14 7 13 — 34
North Kitsap 0 0 7 14 — 21
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
Shelton — Caveille 47 pass from Smith (Caveille kick)
Shelton — Taito 4 run (Caveille kick)
Third quarter
Shelton — Riley 9 pass from Smith (Caveille kick)
North Kitsap — Camus 1 run (Ottele kick)
Fourth quarter
Shelton — Taito 46 pass from Smith (kick failed)
North Kitsap — Prince 7 run (pass failed)
Shelton — Taito 60 run (Caveille kick)
North Kitsap — Tobin 40 interception return (Prince pass)
