The North Thurston football team struggled on both sides of the ball, and junior quarterback Nicholas Nutu left the game due to injury for the second week in a row in a 40-7 loss to Rogers (Puyallup) Friday night at Sparks Stadium.
Nutu, who was ruled out of last Friday’s game against Shelton with a shoulder injury, started the game but was not 100%, according to head coach Deon Toliver. He was replaced by junior Mateo Henry in the second quarter. Rogers led 14-0 at halftime.
After Rogers scored an explosive 63-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, the explosive plays continued into the second half with a 66-yard scoring run and an 86-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
North Thurston’s only points came in the third quarter as Henry connected with Deyton Topasna-Toliver on a slant, and the senior receiver dashed 59 yards for a touchdown. Rogers put North Thurston away with two more long touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
In Nutu’s brief appearance, he completed 4 of 12 passes for 17 yards, while Henry’s 59-yard touchdown was his only completion on 10 attempts. The Rams lost two fumbles on offense.
“The defense was playing pretty decently, but on offense, we really couldn’t get anything going. [Nutu] was hurt going into the game, and I don’t think he was ready to play,” Toliver said. “They came with the blitz. Defensively, we missed assignments and missed some tackles. We’re at a crossroads. We’re learning if we want to be the old Thurston or the new Thurston. They’re trying to figure out who they want to be. I definitely feel like we’re better than that score.”
Toliver added that he will likely sit out Nutu in the Rams’ (1-2) Puget Sound League opener against a tough Lakes team at home Thursday, Sept. 24.
