Last Saturday a young Vashon Pirate football team traveled to Port Townsend for its first league game of the season and showed the beginnings of future successes in a 62-30 rout over the Port Townsend Redskins.

On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Nick Amundsen hit Garrett Starr for Amundsen’s first of five touchdown passes in the game. With a two point conversion, the Pirates were up 8-0.

Port Townsend then drove over 60 yards for their first touchdown, bringing the score to 8-6.

The Pirates fumbled, one of several in the first half, leading to a Port Townsend touchdown, putting them ahead, 12-8.

On strong running from Nick Betts and Nick Amundsen, the Pirates ended their next drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Amundsen to Garrett Starr, the conversion putting Vashon ahead 14-12.

Starting the second quarter with good reads of the Port Townsend defense, Amundsen took the ball on a keeper for over 25 yards, one of his many big yardage keepers in the game. Then on first and goal Amundsen hit Ezra Ende on a three-yard touchdown pass, the conversion making it 22-12 Vashon.

The Pirate defense then gave up two long runs, earning Port Townsend another touchdown and bringing it to 22-18.

Vashon fumbled on the first play after the kickoff. The Redskins got the ball, but were stopped and punted to the Pirates. Another fumble by the Pirates led to a Port Townsend touchdown on a 35-yard run, putting them ahead, 24-22.

On the Pirates next drive Amundsen kept the ball again on fourth down, gaining a first down; the Pirates never punted in the game and converted two fourth-down plays. The drive ended with a run to the two-yard line by Betts and a touchdown run by Amundsen, putting Vashon ahead, 28-24, at halftime.

The Pirates first possession of the second half had the offensive line making some great blocks, leading to several long runs ending with a touchdown pass from Amundsen to Starr, bringing the score to 36-24. Another strong Pirate drive in the third quarter led to a 44-24 Vashon lead.

After giving up some big plays in the first half, the Pirate defense, with the help of veterans Robert Easton, Kevin Thomas and Elliott Ellingsen, held the Redskins to one touchdown in second half and three punts, one of which was blocked into Nick Amundsen’s hands and returned for a touchdown, putting the score at 50-24.

The Pirates first possession of the fourth quarter included a first down catch by Slater McVeigh and ended with a 13-yard touchdown run by Nick Betts, bringing the score to 56-24.

Port Townsend then ripped off a 66-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 56-30. The Pirates ended the scoring with a drive sustained by a pass interference call and ending with an Amundsen run for the touchdown, and the game ended with Vashon 62, Port Townsend 30.

After the game coach Clay Eastly said he “sees the growth process continuing” for his young team. “We were a little flat on defense in the first half but came back tough in the second half,” he said. “We moved the ball well, but need to protect the ball better.”

This Friday Vashon will take on Cascade Christian at home at 7 p.m.

— Brian Brenno is the president of the Vashon Bounty Club.