Sports

Filkins: Seahawks ‘tremendously disappointing’ in season opener

After more than a year without fans filling the seats, Peninsula’s season-opener against the 3A powerhouse Bellevue Wolverines was not how the Seahawks envisioned their return to Friday night lights in front of a packed home crowd.

On paper, the non-league football matchup appeared enticing. The Seahawks and Wolverines entered the contest ranked No. 6 and No. 4 in the state among Class 3A teams, respectively, but Bellevue dominated from the start, blowing out Peninsula 51-13 at Roy Anderson Field.

Peninsula quarterback Jake Bice sits after a lost fumble in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines’ defense was trouble for the Seahawks all night. Kevin Doucette / Gig Harbor Now

The Wolverines and their Wing-T offense ran the ball 60 times for 447 yards. In the first half, they scored on each of their four possessions. Bellevue ran for  295 yards in the first half alone, led by senior running back William Wang’s 110. The Wolverines’ defense kept the Seahawks at bay as well, limiting them to just seven rushing yards in the first half.

“This was a tremendously disappointing opener for us,” Peninsula head coach Ross Filkins said. “We felt good going into this one, and we played well in the jamboree the week prior, but once the game started the wheels just fell off.”

“(Bellevue) is a really good, very well coached, and very disciplined team. We did not execute, and did not run block. We need to just take our lumps on this one, and we have got to improve.”

Down 35-0 with 9:03 left in the third quarter, the Seahawks showed signs of life when senior quarterback Jake Bice handed off to senior Josh Hinkle, who cut to the outside and scored from seven yards out. Three minutes later, Peninsula converted its longest play when senior running back Ethan Hogan burst through a gap and raced down the sideline for 63 yards.

The Peninsula offense exits the field. The offense didn’t get much going until late in the fourth quarter when it showed signs of life. Kevin Doucette / Gig Harbor Now

“I just cut to the outside and saw the open lane and turned on jets,” said Hogan.

While the 63-yard run did not amount to any points, the Seahawks refused to go down without a fight late in the game.

With less than two minutes remaining, Bice showed off his arm strength, connecting with junior receiver Dane Meddaugh for gains of 27 and 35 yards. Hogan capped the drive with another stellar run. From 15 yards out, he raced outside, stumbled, stayed on his feet and dove into the pylon for the Seahawks’ second touchdown. It came with just 19 second left.

Filkins said the effort his team showed and how it finished strong were bright spots.

“Our kids love this game and they love each other,” he said. “(Hogan’s) effort on that last touchdown was kind of an exemplar for the belief our kids have in each other and our willingness to learn and grow”

Hogan said the team needs to work together to be its best, which is its slogan for the season — “11 as 1.”

Filkins echoed those words.

“We need to play Seahawk football,” he said. “It is not about who we play, but how we play.”