Wolves down Cougars in clutch

For 47 minutes and 25 seconds, Central Kitsap outplayed South Kitsap Friday at Joe Knowles Field.

Down 12-7, the Wolves were resurrected from the dead when quarterback Josh Fullington hit receiver Nick Anderson for a 41-yard touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the game to give SK a 13-12 lead.

The two-point conversion was good and SK’s defense quashed any hopes of a CK miracle when they batted down a trio of desperation throws.

CK coach Mark Keel, though disappointed, said the game proved his theory.

“That proves you have to play all 48 minutes of the game,” Keel said. “You have to make plays to the very end.”

SK coach D.J. Sigurdson wasn’t thrilled with his team’s play on the field, but he said he was impressed with its never-say-die attitude.

Prior to SK’s last drive, Fullington was 6 for 21 for 65 yards.

But he made his last completion matter most with his touchdown throw.

Anderson said there was no way he was going to get caught from behind after the catch.

“I was so excited when I caught it,” Anderson said. “It was like slow motion. I just ran (25 yards) like a jet on the runway.”

Sigurdson said there were countless things going wrong for his team on the field, but couldn’t avert the feelings of coming out on top in dramatic fashion.

“It was frustrating but the end result was very exciting,” Sigurdson said. “I would take this as opposed to the alternative.”

Sigurdson said the strategy going into the game was to open up the passing game because of CK’s strong inside seven defenders.

Playing without starting running back Victor Valle (strained hip flexor) compounded the game plan.

“We were going to run the ball but I wasn’t sure how much success we were going to have,” Sigurdson said.

Junior tailback Charlton Mason rushed for 77 yards in his starting debut but the running game was forced to take a backseat to the passing game.

“We talked to the receivers and quarterbacks all week about how we need to take advantage of it, and we sputtered,” Sigurdson said. “Little things threw us off and they were forcing it.”

While Sigurdson was disappointed with passing game, he was grateful Fullington and the receivers came through before it was too late.

“They came through nicely when they had to and made plays when they had to,” Sigurdson said. “They did their job...it just took them a while to get it squared away.”

Defensively, SK struggled in the first half trying to slow down’s CK’s running game, especially in the first half.

The three-headed monster of running backs Josh Martinelli (68), Adam Roy (38), and Nick Bial (60) combined for 168 yards rushing in the game, but most of those yards came in the first half.

“In the second half, we made adjustments as far as the angles we were getting at,” Sigurdson said.

After reviewing the game tape, Sigurdson said there were a lot mistakes that need to be corrected.

The game was a lot like last year, he said.

“Going into this game, CK was averaging six turnovers a game and they didn’t turn the ball over this game,” he said. “We turned the ball over and they didn’t, which is the same thing as last year.”

The biggest difference may have been the two near interceptions CK failed to convert.

Last year CK took advantage of three SK interceptions to win the game.

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