By MARY KAY RAUMA

For The Beachcomber

Despite a 21-0 shutout of Chimacum, things got off to an ominous start last Friday as the Vashon Pirates football team faced off against the Cowboys at Memorial Stadium in Port Townsend. The Pirates were favored against the winless Cowboys and yet, on the second carry, the Pirates fumbled the ball, giving the Cowboys possession.

Neither the Pirate nor the Chimacum offensive lines were able to make much ground as they traded possession of the ball. Again, the Vashon defensive line was on this week, putting pressure on the Cowboy quarterback getting to the prize with sacks by sophomore Alex Sohl and junior Michael Stoffer. In the last minutes of the quarter, junior Nathan Betz sliced through the opposition for a 20-yard run into the end zone. The extra point by sophomore Nick Fox-Edele was right on. Vashon 7, Chimacum 0.

Yellow flags were flying in the second quarter as both teams struggled to make big plays amidst penalty calls and incomplete passes. A couple of wild snaps kept quarterback Quinn Holert on his toes and, at one point, scrambling backwards to jump on a loose ball. At the half, the Vashon fans were anticipating a big locker room pep talk.

The difference was noticeable right out of the gates with a powerhouse quarterback sack by junior Kyle Martin setting the tone for the second half. The pillaging Pirates were back.

Vashon took possession and drove the ball on the legs of Sohl and Betz with Sohl driving it in. Fox Edele’s PAT was right on the mark again. Vashon 14, Chimacum 0.

The Pirates seemed to heat up as the temperature dropped, with powerhouse defensive stands against each Cowboy possession.

The Cowboys pulled off a mega-pass down the right sideline, connecting with a receiver and into the end zone, but the play was called back because of a Cowboy illegal block.

In the remainder of the game, the Pirates dominated offensively nearly single-handedly by what Pirate fans fondly call the “Sohl Train.” Sohl ran for 20 yards and his second touchdown of the night, and the PAT was good. Senior Jake Theno intercepted a pass as the Cowboys were encroaching on Pirate territory. Sohl continued to chug down the tracks with one first down after another, showing no signs of tiring as the clock ran down.

The Pirates, now 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the Nisqually League, face the formidable Orting Cardinals at home at 7 p.m. this Friday as they celebrate Homecoming.