Th gap has definitely narrowed in Bridge Division

The fun and games are over. It’s time for the football teams of the Narrows League Bridge Division to get serious as league play kicks off Friday up and down the Kitsap Peninsula.

Most of the teams have a couple of games under their belts, with South Kitsap being the lone exception having taken part in a jamboree rather than a Week 1 game.

The No. 8-ranked Wolves should be in a better spot after their last-minute 28-26 loss to Snohomish last weekend, in which they gave up 306 yards on defense and were inconsistent on the pass in their first regular season loss since 2001. South did have success on the ground on the legs of Jon Shepherd and Shannon Haney combining for 137 yards.

And what better team for D.J. Sigurdson’s boys to regain their winning ways than Bremerton this weekend.

The Knights (0-2) have the worst defense in the league, allowing a combined 100 points to Foss (58) and Skyview (42.) And new coach Mike McKnight’s offense has been equally inept, going scoreless in Week 2 after grinding out only a pair of rushing TDs against the Falcons.

Three teams remain undefeated in non-league play with Gig Harbor, Olympic and North Kitsap on top of the standings at 2-0.

The No. 10-ranked Tides defense has been downright miserly, allowing only 8 points in Week 1 and shutting down rivals Peninsula 24-0 in the 25th annual Fish Bowl. Running back Dan Carter scored all three TDs for the Tides on Saturday night and junior quarterback Matt Shearer is always a threat behind an experienced offensive line.

Gig Harbor’s first league opponent is Central Kitsap (0-2), a team that chose to play tough Class 3A schools Timberline and O’Dea to better prepare for league play according to coach Mark Keel.

Junior QB Nick LaFontaine looked a bit shaky in his first start against

O’Dea, something he attributed to a case of nerves. And starting running back Mike Custer looks to be out for the season after tearing his ACL on the third play of the game Friday. He’ll be replaced by junior Daniel Mayfield.

Somebody’s going home with their first loss of the season when the Trojans face the Vikings this Friday at newly recarpeted Silverdale Stadium.

Coach Jerry Parrish has the offense firing on all cylinders, using a bruising running game to tear apart Bainbridge 45-19 and then going with junior quarterback Jared Prince’s arm for more than 200 yards in a 40-14 defeat of Kelso. Early in the season, all three running backs — Jeremiah

Doehne, Nic Stearns and Andy Sturza — have proven effective, with 10 touchdowns between them.

The Trojans’ defense found some confidence in a 30-27 defeat of Battle Ground with several key stops.

They also found the heir-apparent to Jarrell Nelson in senior running back Jonell Hodge who has 331 yards and three touchdowns. The weakness so far for the Trojans is their passing game which remains mediocre behind second-year starter Jeff Shaw.

Shelton and Port Angeles (each 1-1) have been inconsistent from week to week. PA coach Dan Novick is a strong believer in Port Angeles’ leadership, which is fueled by its high number of returning players.

The Roughriders are looking for a smoother ride in this year’s run through the Narrows League.

The Highclimbers also are deep in experience with nine starters returning on offense, including do-it-all back Isiah Taito, and eight starters back on defense for coach Matt Hinkle.

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