South Kitsap wins first season opener since 2002, thumps Stadium 44-6

Season-opening kickoffs hardly have been classics for South Kitsap in recent years. But the Wolves’ first meeting against Stadium in a dozen years was all they needed to end the streak.

Season-opening kickoffs hardly have been classics for South Kitsap in recent years.

But the Wolves’ first meeting against Stadium in a dozen years was all they needed to end the streak.

Behind three touchdowns from running back Sean Allison, South captured a 44-6 win Friday night at Joe Knowles Field against the Tigers in Narrows League play.

It was the Wolves’ first win in an opener since defeating Snohomish 33-20 in 2002.

“It’s been a while on two accounts,” South coach D.J. Sigurdson said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve opened with a win, and it’s been a huge amount of time since we played Stadium.”

Getting there wasn’t easy, though. The Wolves struggled in the first quarter despite starting drives at their own 30-yard line and then at Stadium’s 33. South only managed three points on its first possession on a 20-yard field goal by Drew Klopfstein and later was forced to punt.

“We were a little shaky in the beginning,” Allison said. “We got tighter later in the first quarter and it opened up some more opportunities.”

The second drive ended when junior quarterback Gordy Anderson’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down. Anderson, who completed 5 of 9 passes for 41 yards, was elevated to the starting position when senior Bryan Dorsey tore meniscus in his right knee. The adjustment might have been a factor in a couple of dropped passes by the wide receivers.

“It doesn’t matter,” Anderson said. “We got the win.”

But Anderson found running back T.J. Rhodes on third possession for a 7-yard gain down to the Stadium 17. Two plays later, Allison scored his first touchdown on a 10-yard run to give the Wolves a 10-0 lead.

Stadium, which lost its last meeting between the teams, 61-0, ended the Wolves’ hopes of their first shutout opener — also against Stadium — since 1993 when quarterback Cameron Robak found Tyler Tryon on third-and-seven for a 47-yard touchdown pass.

That’s as close as the Tigers would get. South sophomore Isaiah Davis returned the kickoff 81 yards to the Stadium 12, and Allison scored two plays later on a 4-yard run to give the Wolves a 17-6 lead.

Defensive end Corey Galligan then recovered a Tigers’ fumble on the next series at the Stadium 17. Robert Issa scored two plays later on a 16-yard run.

South took advantage of great field position again on its next series at the Tigers’ 34. The Wolves needed just four plays before Allison, who had 68 yards on 13 carries, scored on a 5-yard run to give South a 31-6 halftime advantage.

Sigurdson, who guided the Wolves despite having his appendix removed a week ago, pulled many of his starters after halftime.

Despite that, South didn’t allow any points and added to its lead with an 8-yard touchdown run by senior Ryan Williams in the third quarter and junior Jordan Anderson rushed for a 5-yard score in the final period.

South, which hasn’t started 2-0 since its nine-game winning streak in 2002, travels to play rival Central Kitsap at 5 p.m. Friday at Silverdale Stadium. The Cougars lost their opener Saturday against Punahou, a perennial power from Honolulu, 42-19, in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic at Qwest Field. Central won last year’s meeting, 49-21, against the Wolves.

“We’re not worried about what happened last year,” Allison said. “We’re ready. We’ll go in with a full head of steam.”

At South Kitsap 44,

Stadium 6

Stadium 0 6 0 0 — 6

South Kitsap 3 28 7 6 — 44

First quarter

SK-Drew Klopfstein 20 FG

Second quarter

SK-Sean Allison 10 run (Klopfstein kick)

S-Tyler Tryon 47 pass from Cameron Robak (pass failed)

SK-Allison 4 run (Klopfstein kick)

SK-Robert Issa 16 run (Klopfstein kick)