Port Orchard residents still are two months away from casting their ballots, but Decision 2008 already is in for the South Kitsap football team.

Down by a point with second-and-goal at the Central Kitsap 6-yard line, the Wolves’ coaching staff decided to eschew taking a field goal with 10 seconds remaining and the clock running.

Quarterback Gordy Anderson’s pass into the end zone fell incomplete and an illegal man downfield penalty against South was declined to give the Cougars a 14-13 win Friday in Narrows League play at Silverdale Stadium.

“I lost the game,” South coach D.J. Sigurdson said. “That’s all you need to know.”

Sigurdson then jogged off without elaborating further.

The Wolves (1-1 overall, 0-1 Narrows) had multiple opportunities to win the game late. Allen Hewey’s punt landed just 18 yards to give the Wolves possession at Central’s 48. But three plays later — two runs and a pass — South moved two yards back and was forced to punt.

That’s when Central gave the visitors another break when the punt grazed returner Alonzo Severson’s right leg and was recovered by South’s Sean Korf at the Cougars’ 18. Ryan Williams then rushed for a 5-yard gain before the Wolves used their second timeout of the half. Sean Allison was stopped for no gain on the ensuing play before Central was called for encroachment to setup a third-and-one.

Allison gained two yards on a carry to earn the first down, and rushed for two more on the following play before the Wolves’ staff decided to forego the field goal.

The tight game was reflected in the final statistics. Central (1-1, 1-0) outgained the Wolves 278 to 190, but 71 of those yards came when H’arion Gaulden took the first carry of the game down the right sideline uncontested to give the Cougars a 7-0 advantage.

South rebounded later in the first quarter when a 17-yard Hewey punt gave the Wolves possession at the Central 29. With senior quarterback Bryan Dorsey still recovering from torn meniscus in his right knee, Anderson made his second start and immediately found 5-foot-9 sophomore Isaiah Davis for the tying touchdown.

But the Wolves’ special teams had their own breakdown to open the second half when Richie Meier recovered the kickoff at the South 32. Two plays later, 6-5 junior Christian Wesley won a jump ball in the end zone to give the Cougars a 14-7 lead.

It appeared that South would tie the game again when a nine-play drive culminated with a 1-yard touchdown run by Anderson. But the Wolves couldn’t kick the extra point because of a botched snap and the run was stopped in the backfield.