Snow freezes North Kitsap high school football practice, winter sports games
The first major snow event of the 2022-23 academic year put a halt on prep sports activities across West Sound on Tuesday as several school districts — North Kitsap, Central Kitsap, Bremerton and North Mason — cancelled after-school events.
Many winter sports teams were scheduled to play their first games this week, but the appearance of snow should be a minor bump in the road at the beginning of a long season. Yet for North Kitsap's football team, a winter weather interruption isn't optimal considering the Vikings are scheduled to play in the Class 2A state championship game Saturday. No. 3 North Kitsap (12-1) takes on No. 1 Lynden (12-0) at 5 p.m. at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
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Unable to gather in-person for practice Tuesday, North Kitsap's coaches and players were limited to planning team-wide Zoom meetings. If after-school activities Wednesday through Friday are affected by snow, Vikings athletic director Matt Stanford said the football team could ask North Kitsap School District Superintendent Laurynn Evans for an exemption in order to practice.
Coming off a 29-22 win over W.F. West in the semifinals, North Kitsap wasn't scheduled to hold a heavy-duty practice Tuesday; the Vikings planned to hold a walk-through and watch some film. North Kitsap head coach Jeff Weible said getting on the field Wednesday and Thursday is more critical for Saturday's contest.
North Kitsap is familiar with its finals opponent, having played against Lynden in last year's state semifinal round at Civic Stadium in Bellingham. The teams endured three-hours of punishing wind and rain before Lynden prevailed 15-10, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 38 seconds remaining.
This year's Lynden team, which knocked off undefeated Enumclaw last weekend 41-14, runs more of a ground-and-pound style on offense, unlike the pass-happy teams North Kitsap faced in the quarterfinals (Anacortes) and semifinals (W.F. West). The Lions are big, physical and want to limit possessions/control the line of scrimmage. North Kitsap counters with arguably the top defense in the state, one that has allowed only nine total touchdowns in 13 games and that is predicated on stopping the run.
Weible said the Vikings are proud to be able to represent Poulsbo in the biggest game in program history.
"I think I got close to 300 texts from former players that I've played with an alumni, just people in the community, supporting us," Weible said. "It's great to see a community behind a football team like this one is."
North Kitsap-Lynden won't be the only championship game held in Puyallup on Saturday. In the 3A title game, No. 1 Yelm faces No. 2 Eastside Catholic at noon.
Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma is hosting two title games on Saturday: the 1B championship between No. 2 Neah Bay and No. 5 Liberty Bell at noon and the 4A championship between No. 2 Lake Stevens and No. 4 Kennedy Catholic at 5 p.m. At Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood on Saturday, No. 1. Royal and No. 10 Mount Baker face off in the 1A title game at noon, then No. 1 Napavine and No. 2 Okanogan play in the 2B championship at 5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Snow freezes North Kitsap prep football practice, winter sports games
