POULSBO — Running past the end zone Oct. 19 at North Kitsap Stadium, Kingston assistant coach Blake Conley summed up the excitement of the soon-to-be victory over the Vikings.
“This will be huge,” Conley exclaimed, with 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter of the “Pillage and Plunder Bowl.”
Shortly after, the Buccaneers varsity football team won over the rival Vikings 31-27.
The win means more than bragging rights. It tacks on another Olympic League win for the Bucs. The Bucs (4-2) are now tied with the Vikings (4-2) in league play for second place.
Now the Bucs and Vikings are in contention for the No. 2 playoff seed into the West Central District III tournament. A No. 2 seed would guarantee the team gets a first-round home game during the tournament, which is the qualifier for the 2A state tournament.
The Bremerton Knights (6-0) remain the top team in the league after a 46-7 victory over the Olympic Trojans Oct. 19.
It was a hard-fought battle for both teams.
Kingston struck first.
After the Vikings forced the Bucs to punt, Kingston’s Aaron Dickson recovered the kick. With favorable field placement, Kingston quarterback Bobby Reece threw a touchdown pass to Nick Tabanera.
The Bucs were up 7-0 in the first quarter with just over 4 minutes remaining. A 39-yard reception by North Kitsap’s Grant Loveless from quarterback AJ Milyard changed that. Loveless made the touchdown with 24 seconds remaining.
The Bucs’ first drive of the second quarter burned time off the clock and resulted in another touchdown. The Bucs were up 14-7.
Again, a pass from Milyard would put the Vikings in favorable field position, but only after a face-mask penalty. The pass, which was intended for Mitch Adams, was incomplete. But the penalty put the ball at the 19-yard line, and for a Viking first down.
A quick pass from Milyard to JT Nettleton tied the game, 14-14. The Bucs had one more chance to get ahead as the first half came to an end. However, a failed 3-point attempt stopped the Bucs from achieving a lead.
It was in the second half when the pace began favoring the Bucs — the rain also became a factor as it drenched the field and everyone on it.
The Bucs, unable to come up with anything in their first drive of the second quarter, forced the Vikings to punt the ball away early in the fourth. Kingston’s Mikole Hendricks blocked the punt and returned it for a touchdown. Extra-point good. Kingston up, 21-14.
“I was just pumped, we needed it,” Hendricks said of his punt block. The Vikings returned when Loveless earned a 16-yard rushing touchdown with just over 9-minutes left in the game.
A 59-yard touchdown run by Kingston’s Henry English was the beginning of the end. Now up 28-21 in the fourth quarter, Reece intercepted a pass by Viking quarterback Cody Blackmore. Two penalties following the interception placed the ball at North’s 30-yard line.
A field goal by Kingston kicker Colin Stone provided the last points the Bucs needed. After a last-minute drive down field, the Vikings were given a no-time play due to a helmet-to-helmet penalty. Milyard took advantage of the opportunity to throw for a touchdown pass. But with time out, there wasn’t a chance to get the few points the Vikings needed to tie.
The Bucs face the Port Angeles Roughriders at home Oct. 26 for their last home game.
The Vikings are up against the Trojans Oct. 26 at home for their last game. If both teams win the final game of the season, the tie will go to the Bucs for the No. 2 playoff seed, having defeated the Vikings. Playoffs are Nov. 2. The top two teams from the Seamount League, and top four teams from the South Puget Sound League and Olympic League will vie for five seeds into State.
Score table
KHS 7 7 0 17 — 31
NK 7 7 0 13 — 27
