Community Sports

Banged-up Peninsula Seahawks fall to Timberline

The Peninsula Seahawk (4-5, 4-3 South Sound Conference) football team played the Timberline Blazers (5-4, 4-3) on Friday, Oct. 27, for a chance to claim the league’s third place playoff spot, but fell to the Blazers at home, 35-0.

The Seahawks, Blazers and Capital Cougars all ended the regular season with 4-3 SSC records. Those teams will play a mini-playoff on Halloween night to determine the league’s final playoff team.

Peninsula defense dominates early

A large crowd was in attendance for Peninsula’s senior night, which recognizes players in their final year. Each senior was introduced to the crowd before running out to midfield to celebrate with their supportive and emotional families, who are almost always wondering, “How did the time go by so fast?”

The two teams traded punts on their first two drives before the Peninsula defense made the first big play of the night, forcing a fumble and recovering it at midfield. Both teams battled back and forth on ensuing possessions but neither team could manage many yards as the first quarter ended scoreless, a defensive struggle.

The Peninsula defense earned its second turnover of the game in the second quarter, when Gabriel Paradiso leaped to intercept a pass before racing up the sideline to give the ball back to the offense at midfield.

Peninsula High football during a game earlier this season. Photo by Bryce Carithers

The Seahawk defense had very little time to rest on the sideline before having to return to the field but had done an adequate job up to that point. They were playing without their leading tackler, Wyatt Abrigo, who suffered a knee injury in a previous game.

Timberline finally found some room to maneuver against the Seahawk defense later in the quarter, hitting a couple deep passes before Ramar Reed ran up the middle untouched for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. After another stalled Peninsula drive, Timberline scored again for a 14-0 lead.

Leading rusher out with injury

The Peninsula offense had to rely on more running from quarterback Mana Smythe as leading rusher and leave-it-all-on-the-field player Connor Burton was out of action after a hard hit to the helmet in a loss to Yelm on Oct. 20. Without Burton, the rushing attack was mainly handled by Smythe and Landon Watson, who has had a very productive high school career for the Seahawks.

Smythe had the offensive play of the night when the ball slipped out of his hands on a passing play. He picked it up and ran, leaving several defenders lunging for air as he juked his way down field for a 25-yard gain with the clock winding down to halftime.

With time for one play left, down 14-0 and the ball at midfield, Seahawk offensive coordinator Jim Fairfield called a timely flea flicker that fooled the defense. Smythe got a pitch back and threw a beauty to an open Henry Ganisin near the goal line, but the pass went through the hands of the usually sure-handed receiver and the first half ended.

Senior night also involved the Peninsula marching band, which delivered a on point performance of a James Bond classic. The Seahawk cheerleaders showed the synchronization of a team that has invested multiple hours of hard work during the season.

Peninsula quarterback Mana Smythe during a game earlier this season. Photo by Bryce Carithers

Timberline pours it on

The Seahawk offense was unable to generate yards on its first second-half drive and was forced to punt. But the snap two-bounced to Smythe, who doubles as the Seahawk punter. He tried to run but was tackled on the Seahawk 25-yard line.

One play later, Darrell Gipson Jr. caught a long pass and raced up the sidelines, taking a Seahawk with him near the goal line. The defender stripped Gibson of the ball and it looked like the Seahawk defense had forced their third turnover of the night. But the referees conferred and determined Gibson scored before fumbling, making the score 21-0.

Peninsula moved the ball well on a couple second-half possessions. One sustained drive ended on a fake-punt, double-pass that fell incomplete. On another, Watson bolted 17 yards before a teammate inadvertently knocked him down in a play that summarized Peninsula’s night.

Timberline kept the pedal down, with touchdowns on a short run from Reed and a swing pass to Cedric Ragland to complete the scoring.

Peninsula got down the field late in the game when Smythe — who showed excellent competitiveness throughout the game — threw a dart to Watson, who made a tough over-the-shoulder catch look routine.

With time running down in the fourth quarter and the Seahawks trying to avoid the shut out, Fairfield called for the Philly Special — a hand off reverse with a throw back to the quarterback — but the throw was slightly off.

What’s next

Both teams and the Capital Cougars will all meet Tuesday, Oct. 31, at South Sound Stadium in Lacey. Peninsula will play a shortened game against Timberline at 7 p.m. and Capital at 7:45. Timberline and Capital meet at 8:15 p.m.

Gig Harbor fell to Yelm, 57-7, on Oct. 27 in the titular South Sound Conference championship game. Yelm (9-0, 7-0) won the league title while Gig Harbor (7-2, 6-2) finished second.

The Tides advance to the postseason as the second seed out of the SSC. Their opponent is also to be announced.

The Peninsula offensive line. Photo by Bryce Carithers