HS Football: Peninsula wins back and forth battle with Arlington to advance

11/4/22

Peninsula 35, Arlington 29 (OT)

(Purdy, WA)

The Peninsula Seahawks advanced to the 3A State Tournament for the 7th season in a row after going to-to-toe with the Arlington Eagles and getting the 35-29 win in overtime at Roy Anderson Field.

The Seahawks went to overtime for the 2nd game in row after defeating Timberline last week 24-21, but this game was totally different.

Peninsula drove down the field and used a balanced attack on a 9-play scoring drive that lasted 4:30, and Aiden Lester found the endzone on a 9- yard run to make it 7-0.

Jacoby Falor answered late in the 1st with a 14-yard passing TD to Neil Carroll to tie it at 7-7.

On the first play of the 2nd quarter, Arlington tried a squib quick and recovered the ball in Peninsula territory, but the Seahawks defense held the Eagles to turnover on downs to avoid the scoring chance.

Peninsula took the lead at halftime as Knowles hit Dane Meddaugh on a 14-yard strike to make it 14-7 at the break.

The 3rd quarter was a defensive struggle, but an Isaac Smith fumble on punt return for Peninsula gave the ball to Arlington at the Seahawks 35-yard line, and a 20-yard pass from Faler to Kaid Hunter tied the game at 14-14 going into the 4th quarter.

Peninsula responded and took the lead early in the 4th by converting on a 4th and 8 on a long Knowles pass to Brady Laybourn, and another Knowles TD pass Meddaugh for 14 yards made it 21-14. Arlington answered on a drive of their own, as Falor found the endzone again, and a 2-pt conversion gave the Eagles their 1st lead.

Like a heavyweight fight, the Seahawks punched back with a long drive and Isaac Smith capped it off with a 7-yard TD run, and Knowles ran in the 2-point try to put PHS up 29-22 with 3:46 left.

On 4th and long with 1:38 left, Falor connected with Neil Carroll for a 67-yard TD to tie it at 29, and that forced OT.

Arlington started OT with the ball and was held to a field goal try that the Eagles missed, and Knowles took over and zipped a pass to Meddaugh for a 23-yard TD to walk it off in OT, 35-29.

The win for Peninsula improves their record to 8-2 and a spot in the State Playoffs, while Arlington’s season ends at 7-3. The loss also snapped the Eagles 4 game winning streak.