BREMERTON — Under a steady sheet of fall rain, football becomes a tricky game. North Kitsap’s C-White Bulldogs splashed their way into the semi-final of the Pee Wee championships Saturday in East Bremerton.

It took some time for the youngsters’ molecules to jive in the cool November air and both teams looked tentative as the game began. But with an 80-yard drive, NK started heating up.

Kendal Gill served up multiple short passes helping to slice through North Mason territory. Then he handed off to JT Nettleton who took a counter play to the zone for the first score of the game.

“That first drive warmed the kids up,” said NK coach Joe McMullen. “I told them, ‘If you’re winning, it’s a lot warmer than if you are losing.’”

The touchdown revved up an already solid NK defense. North Mason tried to pull a few trick plays on its next drive, but the Bulldogs were not fooled.

With a funky formation featuring four players split to each side, North Mason looked for a screen pass toward the NK sideline, but Bulldog Jake Velarde stole the pass and took it to the house. The point after missed and NK led 14-0.

The morning’s conditions turned the Bremerton Junior High field sloppy and made the ball slippery — both teams fumbled more than once.

“It was tough hanging onto the ball because it was wet and slimy,” NK’s Logan Green commented.

A North Mason fumble at midfield gave North Kitsap the ball, but another score was out of reach before half-time.

On the opening second-half kickoff, North Mason fumbled again but retained possession. With the help of a questionable call, they were knocking at the red zone, but North Kitsap’s D held strong as they would all game.

“Way to dig in,” coach Rich Gill yelled to the Bulldogs.

NK players competed for umbrella space on the sideline while, on the field, North Mason tried again for a touchdown. More firm defense forced the ball back into NK’s possession at their own 10-yard-line.

After three failed attempts at a first down, North Kitsap pondered punting for the first time all season.

“We never punt,” coach McMullen said. “I always like to have at least have a chance to get the first down rather than punt.”

For good reason, it seemed, as the first punt of the season sailed only 20 yards and North Mason’s Tommy Renne returned it to the 10-yard-line. NK’s D was tested with three rushes, each one shut down. But on fourth down, North Mason’s quarterback Renne found the end zone for their first points of the game in the latter part of the fourth quarter.

It was too little, too late as cowbells helped to ring in the NK victory minutes later.

“I know you’re all freezing cold, but that was a great win; you played tough,” coach McMullen told his team after the game. “But we’ve got to get right back to the drawing board.”

With 12 teams in the C-division, the win, which would normally have landed the Bulldogs in the championship, advanced the team to the second round of the playoffs this year. North Kitsap will face Chico at 6 p.m. tonight at Chico Field to decide who goes on to the C-league championship. Last time the teams played, NK lost a heartbreaker by one touchdown in a game that came down to the last minute at the 3-yard line.

“I’m a little nervous,” Green said of the upcoming game. “But I think we will be good.”

The NK C-Black also advanced to the semi-final round of the C-league playoffs. The team is matched against South Kitsap 6 p.m. tonight at Givens Field. The winner advances to the championship to face the winner of NK C-White and Chico.