Community Sports

Gig Harbor faces Yelm for league championship

The Gig Harbor football team has compiled an impressive 7-1 record this season, including six straight wins against South Sound Conference opponents, en route to a No. 10 ranking in the WIAA Class 3A RPI standings.

They have done it in impressive fashion, winning South Sound Conference games by an average of 24 points per contest. Those wins positioned the Tides for a conference championship showdown at Yelm at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in a winner-take-all game that matches two teams with exceptional talent.

Gig Harbor coach Darrin Reeves (far left) addresses his team with his assistant coaches after a victory over Central Kitsap. Photo by Bryce Carithers

The Yelm Tornados (8-0, 6-0 SSC) are the bullies of the block. Their physical style has left South Sound Conference opponents battered and bruised. They have won their conference games by an average of 49 points per game and are the reigning Class 3A state champions following an unbeaten 2022 campaign.

Matching up with the champs

The Tides are the underdogs. Yelm has several high-level Division I recruits, like running back and linebacker Brayden Platt, linebacker Isaiah Patterson, and quarterback Damian Aalona.

So how do the Tides win? Is it by quick passing or outside running, converting on fourth down, sustaining long drives? Eliminating Yelm’s quick scoring strikes, not turning the ball over, executing trick and misdirection plays? Forcing turnovers and limiting penalties?

Any of those factors could be key. But possibly the most important aspect of all is that the Tides must have the correct mentality going into the game.

Justin Gaethje, a renowned mixed martial arts fighter, said that before he goes into the ring against the world’s best he visualizes and accepts all the possible consequences of defeat. Once he’s good with the risks and the possible outcome, he’s free mentally to battle like never before. To that point, the Tides must respect everyone but fear no one.

Gig Harbor has plenty of weapons on offense, defense and special teams. Let’s take a look at the aspects that have gotten them to the conference championship game, starting with the play of quarterback Benji Park.

Park leads Tides offense

Park, a 6-foot-5 inch pocket passer who can also run, is one of the Tides’ most valuable players. He has been lights-out this season, completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,432 yards with 19 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.

His height allows a clear line of sight and his touch has been consistent on deep balls. He usually operates out of the shotgun and is proficient at firing bullet passes on quick in-breaking routes such as slants, short crossers and skinny posts. He will need to do more of the same and mix up his snap counts, as he should expect no more than 2.2 to 3.0 seconds to find a receiver and fire.

Gig Harbor senior quarterback Benji Park has thrown 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions this season. Photo by Bryce Carithers

He has also shown the ability to lead receivers and throws what receivers love: A catchable ball with a tight spiral. He has really shined at the end of close games, leading last-minute drives that beat Peninsula and Timberline by making correct pre-snap reads and then putting it on the money to his play-making receivers.

It won’t be easy against the Tornados. Their physical defensive line features strong players who look like they haven’t ever missed a meal. One scout recently rated Yelm’s exceptional linebacking crew as the best in the country. But Park has faced blitzing linebackers before and has the size, strength and durability to absorb a physical tackle.

“He’s an amazing kid, I can’t say enough about him. You wouldn’t ask for a better leader than Benji,” Gig Harbor coach Darrin Reeves said. “He’s clutch and he’s been a different player when the game is on the line. It has been fun to watch.”

Receivers

Park has capable receivers who should give the Tides options to move the ball through the air. Senior Drake Matthies leads the conference with 34 receptions and also has 482 yards and six touchdowns. He combines good size, speed and catching ability.

“Drake is as solid as they come. … He does a good job of finding soft spots in the defenses and can make strong catches in traffic,” Reeves said.

Sophomore wideout D.J. Darling is the son of former NFL and Washington State University receiver Devard Darling. The elder Darling is the Tides’ wide receivers coach.

The Gig Harbor offense has scored 36 touchdowns on their way to a 7-1 record. Photo by Bryce Carithers

It’s an athletic family. D.J. Darling’s mom, Cicely, was an All-American triple jumper at WSU. The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree.

D.J. Darling has 23 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns. He has proven hard to bring down with just one tackler and is a threat as the leading kickoff and punt returner for the Tides.

Gig Harbor also has the conference’s two time reigning 100-meter track champion at wide receiver in Ben Stevens. He is returning after suffering a sprained knee against Capital on Sept. 22. Now healthy again, Stevens will stretch the Tornado defense with his quick-strike capability over the top. He made the last-minute catch and run to the goal line that helped Gig Harbor defeat Peninsula on Sept. 15 and could be a wild card for the Tides.

Other Gig Harbor receiving options include sure-handed Liam Green; tight end Ryder Ruiz, who can block, catch and finish physical runs; and emerging senior wideout Matt Ehler, who caught a game-winner versus Timberline with less than a minute to go.

Running backs

The running back position for the Tides is handled by sophomore Ryland Geldermann, who at 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds is packed with muscle and speed. He averages 6.5 yards per carry and has six touchdowns.

His running style reminds one of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey with his low center of gravity, quick acceleration and physical nature. Geldermann rarely goes backwards after contact.

Gig Harbor sophomore running back Ryland Geldermann turns the corner during a 24-10 win over Central Kitsap earlier this season. Photo by Bryce Carithers

He provides the emotional juice that fires up the Tides. If he can get into the secondary against Yelm look out, because he has speed to burn, excellent balance and won’t go down with just an arm tackle.

Senior running back Ayden Fink has been productive after senior Jayden Mayes suffered an unfortunate knee injury. Fink averages five yards per carry. He is also a member of the Tides track team who can get down the field quickly and has shown good hands out of the backfield.

The Tides offensive line steadily improved this year, especially in their pass-blocking efforts that have allowed Park to find downfield options. They have also shown proficiency run-blocking for Geldermann and others. Offensive line regulars include Peyton Howard, Keegan Johnson, Quade Wyatt, Julien Fisher, Adam Hurley, Sebastian Peacock and Angelo Odom.

Field goal kicker Boone Leverett has been a weapon for the Tides. The junior, who was all conference last year, has made six of seven field goal attempts and 34 of 36 extra points this season.

Tough defense

Defensive tackle Peyton Howard has six sacks and 12 tackles for loss for Gig Harbor. Photo by Christi Adams

The Tides defensive line has been stout against the run and has applied constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks. It is one of the Tides’ best and deepest position groups and will be counted on versus the Tornados. Defensive linemen include Howard, Ryder Truttmann, Josh Riggs, Keegan Johnson, Odom, Jorden Felton, Ryland Heckman, Ruiz, Josh Page and Evan Cook.

Howard has been a game wrecker with six sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 55 tackles. Riggs has six sacks, seven tackles for loss and 57 tackles. Truttman has two sacks, six tackles for loss, 18 tackles and plenty of batted-down passes. Johnson has two sacks, five tackles for loss and 26 physical tackles.

The Tides linebackers are also a strength. Middle linebacker Geldermann is a heat seeker and leads the team in tackles with 59, including five tackles for loss and a fumble recovery and touchdown. Green has 28 tackles with three fumble recoveries. linebacker Nic Lang, who has 22 tackles, gets off blocks quickly and both will smack you if they get a chance.

The defensive backs are certainly a strength for the Tides, as they have only allowed three touchdowns passes  all year. That’s not a misprint. Some secondaries allow three per game.

Cornerback Fink has been sticky to receivers all year and has proven to come up in run support aggressively. Matthies has been the Tides’ most consistent safety with 14 tackles and a interception.

Coaching staff

Another aspect that deserves attention is the emergence of a strong Tides coaching staff that Reeves has assembled. Collectively the coaches have brought intensity, emotion and intelligence to the sidelines and the results are definite.

The Gig Harbor defense smothers a Central Kitsap runner during a game earlier this season. Photo by Bryce Carithers

The assistant coaches are offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Reggie Ford; offensive line coach Everett Jenkins; receivers coach Devard Darling; running backs coach Jacob Lawson; tight ends/quarterbacks coach Jordan Williams; defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jason Geldermann; defensive line coach Trey Farber; special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach Kale Wong; and defensive backs coach Jack Lanier.

The Tides are a quality football team with a difficult task in front of them against the defending state champions. Their head coach is optimistic.

“Our mindset hasn’t changed from any other week. Our goal is to be 1-0 at the end of Friday night, this is the biggest game of the year because it’s our next game.” Reeves said.

The SSC title will belong to the winner; the league’s second seed into the Class 3A playoffs will go to team that loses. The Tides should go to Yelm hungry, intense and pressure-free as they have a fighters chance to shock the state. But either way this game turns out one can’t help but think of the strong foundation that the Tides have created and the positive momentum of a football program that is on the rise.