Heading to the season, Coupeville head football coach Tony Maggio listed among the keys to a successful season staying healthy and improving the passing game.

So when Maggio’s team was missing starting quarterback Gunnar Langvold because of an injury Friday, Sept. 20, the Wolves were hurt on both fronts.

Behind a sputtering passing game and turnovers, the Wolves lost 13-6 to Lynden Christian at Mickey Clark Field.

Coupeville (1-2), with almost its entire starting backfield missing because of injuries, fell to Port Townsend a week early. In the Lynden Christian game, the Wolves welcomed back running backs Jake Tumblin and Brett Arnold, but QB Langvold was unable to play and it was evident in the passing game.

To make matters worse, starting center Carson Risner also missed the game, hurting his knee in a season-ending injury during practice earlier in the week. And to pile on more misery, his backup, Joey Edwards, was also hurt in practice and missed the game.

Tyree Booker started and finished the LC game at quarterback, and Josh Bayne played the majority in the middle. The pair combined to hit only three of 17 passes for 25 yards and two interceptions. Not all of those throws were off target, Maggio said, as the Wolves dropped five catchable balls.

“Our passing game was horrendous,” Maggio said.

Passing and injuries weren’t the only problem. “We turned the ball over four times inside of our own 15-yard line,” Maggio said.

Only once, however, was Lynden Christian able to turn one of those turnovers into points.

“Our defense was outstanding,” Maggio said.

Lathom Kelley and Tumblin each recored 11 tackles, Wiley Hesselgrave added seven and Bayne six.

Maggio also praised the play of defensive back Wade Schaef who held LC’s leading receiver to only two catches.

The Coupeville running game was also strong, paced by Tumblin’s 125 yards on only 12 carries in “limited action,” Maggio said.

Tumblin’s load has been lightened because of a nagging hamstring injury. “He’s about 80 percent,” Maggio said. “He broke a couple of runs that I think he scores on if he is healthy.”

Arnold, who is “maybe 70 to 80 percent,” Maggio said, added 45 yards on 11 carries.

Lynden Christian (2-1) scored first in the second quarter after one of Coupeville’s turnovers.

Bayne scored from one yard out in the third quarter, but the Wolves missed the PAT and trailed 7-6.

Lynden Christian countered when Jordan Jansen ripped off a 53-yard run on an option for the game’s final points. Coupeville didn’t threaten after that.

“We had out opportunities earlier,” Maggio said, as the Wolves often drove inside the Lyncs’ 30 but couldn’t convert.

“We just couldn’t get into a flow offensively,” he said.

Maggio isn’t sure if Langvold will be ready for this week’s game at Nocksack Valley (1-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.

“We need to pull one out,” Maggio said, to help his club’s pysche and to get back into the hunt for a playoff spot.

“When we are healthy, we are a good team,” he said.