HS Football: Déjà vu: Gig Harbor 4th Quarter Comeback Nets Tides Fish Bowl Win over Peninsula

9/7/24

Gig Harbor 14, Peninsula 10

(Tacoma, WA) For the first time in Fish Bowl history, the Peninsula Seahawks and Gig Harbor Tides met at George Nordi Field at Mount Tahoma High School. With an increase in stadium size and capacity, there was a new venue but still a similar feel to the annual rivalry game. Played as a non-league game this season and as a season opener. One squad would get to start the season on a high note with a rivalry game after the highly anticipated Saturday matchup.

Both teams put together some nice drives early in the game but neither team could get out of their own way. Penalties and turnovers kept both sides scoreless through the opening quarter despite some big plays like a 52-yard run by Gig Harbor’s Ryland Geldermann. Peninsula would come up with their first really big play in the 2nd quarter. Jake Akiskalian intercepted a pass near midfield to set the Seahawks up with good field position. Mana Smythe then hit Carson Zimmerman for a 36-yard catch that moved the ball into the redzone for the first time in the game. A couple of plays later, Wyatt Abrigo made his way into the endzone with a nine-yard touchdown run to give Peninsula a 7-0 lead just before the game went to halftime.

Out of halftime, Peninsula went to a couple new running backs in Jake Martin and Nehemiah Grandorff. Despite changes, neither team could move the ball as both defenses tackled very well and controlled the line of scrimmage. Peninsula would then fake a bubble screen and Lucas Wiseman was left all alone up the near sideline. He took the ball 74-yards on the pass from Smythe to set up 1st and goal. It looked like Peninsula had found the endzone, but they were backed up on a penalty. The Seahawks ended up having to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Talen McDonnell as they extended their lead to 10-0 going into the 4th quarter.

Gig Harbor would make a change at quarterback as freshman Sawyer Hayes took over in his first high school game. Immediately the vibes began to change. A 36-yard scramble for Hayes got the Tides inside the 10-yard line. A snap would then go all the way back to the 22-yard line where Hayes had to retreat to recover it and keep the drive alive. On the next play, the freshman lobbed a ball on a corner route to Liam Green. Green would make a fantastic diving catch for a 22-yard touchdown. Gig Harbor had plenty of life with plenty of time as they cut the deficit to 10-7.

After forcing a punt, the Tides took back over at their own 48-yard line. It took one play to completely change the tides of the game. Ryland Geldermann broke his second 52-yard run, but this time it ended with a touchdown. The 52-yard scamper had put Gig Harbor in front for the first time in the game. Peninsula looked to have turned the ball over on downs, but a second sideline warning on Gig Harbor kept the Seahawks drive alive. It wouldn’t matter. The Tides forced another turnover on downs and then killed the remainder of the clock. For a second straight year, Gig Harbor had comeback from a two possession, second half deficit with a backup QB as they defeated Peninsula to win a second consecutive Fish Bowl, 14-10.

Our Cole Health MVP of the game went to freshman quarterback Sawyer Hayes. Entering the game trailing 10-0 in the 4th quarter, Hayes led the comeback and looked like a seasoned high school QB. The freshman went 3-4 for 35 yards and a touchdown while rushing the ball three times for 27 yards despite losing 19 yards on a fumbled snap. Hayes took care of the football and got a little bit of help from some older receivers as he immediately makes his mark on the Gig Harbor community leading the Tides to another Fish Bowl comeback.

Ryland Geldermann was heavily debated for the MVP as he ran the ball 15 times for 147 yards and a touchdown while recording a couple of catches for 11 yards. Kayden Hubbard added six carries for 10 yards and a 23-yard reception while making a number of tackles on defense. Receiving wise, Corey Irish caught four passes for 41 yards while Liam Green had a 22-yard touchdown catch and Jayden Martemianov added a seven-yard catch. Peyton Howard was also a standout on the defensive line.

For the Peninsula Seahawks, Wyatt Abrigo led the rushing attack with ten carries for 47 yards and a touchdown. Jake Martin and Nehemiah Grandorff both had four carries each for five yards. Kobe DeJohnette tallied three rushes for 15 yards as well. Mana Smythe went 6-15 through the air for 128 yards and ran the ball eight times for 10 yards. Carson Zimmerman netted three catches for 49 yards while Lucas Wiseman had a 74-yard catch and Hayden Bundy a seven-yard reception. Jake Akiskalian was Mr. Do It All as he ran the ball five times for 13 yards while also recording a interception on defense. Talen McDonnell would hit his only field goal attempt from 28 yards out.

Another dramatic opener this time went the way of the Gig Harbor Tides as they start the season 1-0. The Tides will head down south to California next week to take on Laguna Beach (3-0) at 7pm. Peninsula (0-1) will look for their first win next Friday as they will host their home opener against the 1-0 Curtis Vikings, also at 7pm.