In a battle of teams looking to earn their first win of the season, Bremerton prevailed over Bainbridge at home Sept. 19 in blowout fashion, winning 41-14.

It was the first Olympic League game for both teams. With the win, the Knights are now 1-2 (1-0 in OL) and the Spartans fell to 0-3 (0-1 in OL).

“We’re contenders this year,” Bremerton running back Kenneth Najara said. “People were saying we’re not going to be top contenders in the league. We’re just getting there.”

Bainbridge managed to get to Bremerton’s opposing goal line with an opportunity to score on the opening drive of the game. But Spartan quarterback Nate Putman suffered an injury on a third-down scramble attempt for a touchdown that kept him out for the rest of the game. The Spartans couldn’t generate any points from the drive, leaving the game scoreless.

Najara rattled off a 90-yard touchdown on the Knights’ first play of the game, giving them an early 7 0 lead. He punched in an additional two touchdowns on the next Knight drives after Bainbridge went three-and-out, still searching for their first score.

Spartan backup quarterback Charles Cox filled in for the injured Putman for the remainder of the game. Bremerton defensive back Tyberious Allen picked off Cox later in the second quarter, ending a promising drive for Bainbridge.

“Bainbridge shot themselves in the foot a little bit,” Bremerton coach Paul Theriault said. “They had some turnovers that hurt them, and then we were able to take advantage of them.”

The Spartans found their spark in the second half with an interception returned for a touchdown by cornerback Max Fitzgerald, cutting the Spartans’ deficit to 21 at 35-14.

Bainbridge began to control the ball toward the end of the third quarter, with Cox and company putting together a long, five-minute-plus drive. Nonetheless, the Spartans fell short on the drive, keeping the score 38-14 by the end of the third.

“Our kids aren’t quitters,” Bainbridge coach Dan Schoonmaker said. “They fought, and they rallied around the next guys; we still battled.”

Knight Kenneth Najera barrels through some Bainbridge defenders in a 41-14 Bremerton home win over the Spartans Sept. 19.