By CHERYL PRUETT
For The Beachcomber
The Vashon Pirates snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last Friday, Sept. 11 in Port Angeles, losing a close contest by a final score of 27-18.
The game was closer than the final score represents, with the Pirates going down 21-0 in the first quarter before gathering themselves and crawling back into contention.
Vashon’s offense amassed 423 total yards from scrimmage but squandered it away with 11 fumbles, five of them recovered by the Roughriders.
The Pirates’ grinding, relentless no-huddle running offense clearly took a toll on the Port Angeles defense, but almost every drive resulted in a costly turnover, or they would turn the ball over on downs.
Bright spots continued to be the stellar running of junior Bryce Hoisington, who ran for over 200 yards and had two touchdowns. Freshman Adrian St. Germain contributed 79 yards and a nifty fumble recovery and return for the Pirates’ third score of the night. Contributing positive yardage in the first quarter was sophomore running back Gerry Gerrior.
Defensively, the tag team tackling and sacking by the Pruett twins led the team. Senior, and first time high school player Simon Perrin, made key run-stopping tackles.
The game got off to an inauspicious start with Port Angeles’ first score of the night coming with four minutes to go in the first quarter. It was on Vashon’s next possession that the Roughriders stripped the ball, recovered the fumble and ran it in for another score. Perrin received the subsequent kickoff, but on the first play from scrimmage, a wobbly pitch from Vashon’s quarterback Connor Hoisington was intercepted by Point Angeles, and they scored their third touchdown in four minutes just five plays later.
The second quarter was off to a good start when Bryce Hoisington busted a 25-yard run out of heavy coverage. The effort was wasted with a fumble, recovered by the Roughriders. The next series was an impressive defensive stand by Vashon, driving Port Angeles back to fourth and 12, forcing the punt. The Pirates marched down the field behind the running of Bryce Hoisington and St. Germain, but could not sustain the drive, giving up another fumble. Again, Vashon’s defense stood strong, with St. Germain forcing a major loss and another Roughrider punt.
Vashon’s next drive saw a 25-yard pass completion from Connor Hoisington to senior wide receiver Edgar Polkat, whose acrobatic catch put the Pirates in great field position at the 35-yard line. Strong short running gains got the Pirates to the eight, and Bryce Hoisington ran it in for the Pirates’ first score with 36 seconds to go in the first half. The extra point conversion was no good, and the score at halftime was 21-6.
The first possession of the second half saw the Pirates eating over five minutes off the clock, wearing down the Roughrider defense before Bryce Hoisington popped out of the pile on a third and 9, sprinting 50 yards down the far sideline for Vashon’s second score of the night. The extra point conversion was no good, and the score was 21-12 with seven minutes to go in the third quarter.
Port Angeles scored on their next possession, but Vashon was able to block their point after attempt, bringing the score to 27-12.
Early in the fourth quarter, Vashon senior Hunter Stanley recovered a Roughrider fumble leading to Vashon’s longest time of possession all game. Repetitive running plays by both Hoisingtons and St. Germain kept Port Angeles moving backward before the Pirates finally turned it over on downs. After the turnover, Adrian St. Germain knocked the ball out, and the fumble was recovered by big brother, Azim St. Germain. It was a back-and-forth affair, with Vashon handing the ball back over to Port Angeles just four plays later.
The defense dug in, forcing an offside penalty against Port Angeles, and a huge tackle by Clyde Pruett and Adrian St. Germain stopped a big Port Angeles run. On the next play, Adrian St. Germain recovered a Roughrider fumble and ran it in for the last score of the night with a minute and a half remaining in the game. The extra point conversion was no good, leading to the final score of 27-18.
Seeing playing time for the first time this season were Payton Bonaventura, Will Young, Andrew McCammant, Evan Noonan, Will Hennessey and Kai Duff.
The Pirates will play at home against league foe Charles Wright at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Join the tailgate event at Sporty’s from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the parade to the game, leaving the from Chamber of Commerce parking lot at 6:20 p.m.
The Pirate JV squad will have its first game of the season on Monday, Sept. 21 at Charles Wright.
— Cheryl Pruett is the parent of two VHS football players
