Jake Tumblin rushed for 315 yards, but it was the one yard he sacrificed that was the most memorable in Coupeville’s 54-0 feel-good win over visiting Chimacum Friday, Nov. 8, that brought a feel-good finish a frustrating season.
That one yard went to Raymond Beiriger, a reserve senior running back, who scored his first career touchdown in his final game.
Coupeville head coach Tony Maggio said his team had several goals heading into the game, including getting Beiriger a TD to reward him for his dedication to the program and getting Tumblin’s season rushing total to over 1,000 yards.
With Coupeville comfortably ahead 33-0 late in the second quarter, Tumblin slalomed through the Cowboy defense for what appeared to be a 40-yard touchdown run. He, however, purposely slid to a stop at the 1-yard line to give Beiriger a chance to score.
Beiriger carried it in from there on the next play and his appreciative teammates carried him off the field on their shoulders.
Getting Tumblin his 1,000 yards was a lofty wish. That meant the speedy senior would have to pile up more than 300 yards, a rare feat when a 100-yard game is considered an outstanding effort.
With his blockers do their part, Tumblin sealed the deal with his fourth touchdown of the game on his 23rd carry, a 65-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.
Maggio said he “felt bad” for Chimacum by playing Tumblin late in a one-sided game: “They are like us – hurt really bad (with injuries). But it meant a lot to him.”
The victory gave Coupeville four wins in nine games, far below the victory mark the Wolves hoped to accomplish this year. Coupeville began the season with a realistic chance of earning seven or more wins, but a mountain of injuries, especially to key players, scuttled that goal.
The four wins, Maggio pointed out, is still the most since the Wolves won four in 2009 and equals the total of the past three seasons combined.
Coupeville opened the game by driving inside the Cowboy 15-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. On Chimacum’s second play, Matt Shank batted a pass into the air that Tumblin intercepted and returned it to the 4.
Tumblin followed with his first TD of the night and the rout was on.
Tumblin and quarterback Gunnar Langvold each added other first-quarter scores.
Wade Schaef got a three-touchdown second quarter going with a 40-yard pick six.
Later in the period, Langvold scored again, then Beiriger capped the first half with his score.
After a scoreless third period, Tumblin tallied twice in the fourth quarter to send Chimacum home with its ninth loss in 10 games.
Langvold threw only one pass in his final game, a 13-yard completion to junior Josh Bayne.
Bayne also rushed for 71 yards on seven carries, and senior Brett Arnold added 34 on four carries.
Joel Walstad kicked six PATs.
Maggio lauded the play of Shank, who took over at center when Joey Edwards, who was subbing for Carson Risner, left the game with an injury.
“He did a nice job having never played center before,” Maggio said.
And a nice job by Maggio, Tumblin and company in recognizing the contributions of Beiriger.
