Friday Night no lights; NK lights out Saturday

By Nicholas Zeller-Singh North Kitsap Herald • September 23, 2023 1:30 am
Nicholas Zeller-Singh/Kitsap News Group Photos North Kitsap students light up their phones during the power outage.
Nicholas Zeller-Singh/Kitsap News Group Photos North Kitsap students light up their phones during the power outage.

North Kitsap was lights out twice over the weekend.

First, on Friday night, the lights actually went out in the Vikings football game against North Mason.

And then the team played lights out Saturday night when they reconvened with NK blanking the visitors 54-0.

Before the lights went out, kicker Andrew Knott kicked a 39-yard field goal. The Bulldogs reached midfield during the next possession, but Kaden Pickard intercepted a pass across the middle and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.

On the first play of the next drive, the Bulldogs attempted a halfback pitch but fumbled the ball. Linebacker Ben Gomez landed on the ball and placed the Vikings at the Bulldogs 12-yard line. Quarterback Cole Edwards found wide receiver Logan Sloman on the next play to make it 16-0 after a missed extra point.

North Mason began to march to midfield when mayhem occurred at around 7:45 p.m., 20 seconds into the second quarter. Within seconds, the field became pitch black, and the student sections were filled with bright lights.

Since the power was unable to turn back on, the game was called off at 9 p.m.

Saturday, the Vikings began the second quarter on the ground as Carter Dungy ran through the middle of the line to boost the score to 23-0. After a three and out from the Bulldogs, Alex Elton returned the punt to North Mason’s 17-yard line. Kyree McGinity took the handoff to the house.

North Mason marched to midfield until defensive lineman Nate Thornton applied pressure and forced the Bulldogs to punt. Elton gave the Vikings another good start by placing them around NK’s 40-yard line. After a few first downs, Morgan Paul broke a 30-yard run to North Mason’s 5-yard line. Paul ended the drive with a 2-yard TD.

North Mason stalled on its final drive of the half and gave the Vikings the ball at the Bulldogs 42-yard line with two seconds left. Since NK called for a fair catch, the Vikings got a free kick. Knott placed the ball on a kicking tee and put it through the goal posts making it 40-0 at the half.

In the second half, McGinity scored a 37-yard rushing touchdown and Tanner Bacchus scored on a 6-yard run.