By Pierre LaBossiere

Olympic Peninsula News Group

SOUTH BEND — The Forks football team was victimized by big plays against a good 4-1 Raymond team, staying close until the fourth quarter, when the Ravens pulled away for a 40-21 victory, handing the Spartans their first loss of the year.

The Spartans were down just two scores at 27-14 in the fourth quarter.

“They’re a very well-coached team. We knew they would be well-prepared,” said Forks coach Trevor Highfield.

Big plays hurt the Spartans as the Ravens had a 45-yard run, followed by 62-yard and 87-yard touchdown runs in the first half. In the second half, Raymond had a bit of a lucky 50-yard touchdown pass on a throw that was tipped by the Spartans’ Cashtien Barajas.

“The big, explosive plays killed us,” Highfield said. The Spartans started four freshmen going up against 10 seniors on the Raymond squad.

“I’m proud of them. They played well,” Highfield said.

After Raymond got up 14-0, Nate Dahlgren, who returned to the team as the lead running back after missing a few weeks, scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7. After the Spartans gave up an 87-yard run in the final seconds of the first half to make it 20-7, one of those freshmen, Bubba Hernandez, hit Gunner Rogers with a 27-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to make it 27-14.

Landon Olson scored a touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Hernandez for Forks’ final score.

“The great thing about the scoreboard is you either win or learn. It’s an opportunity to learn,” Highfield said.

Walker Wheeler also had an interception for the Spartans and Highfield said Wheeler, Brody Lausche and Dahlgren all made a number of great plays on defense.

The Spartans (2-1, 4-1) look to bounce back with an unusual “home” game at 1 p.m. Saturday in Sequim against Friday Harbor (2-2), which has to take two ferry trips to the game, which is the reason for the location and Saturday afternoon time.

Other Scores

Neah Bay 60, Tulalip Heritage 6