Community Sports

Game gets away from Peninsula after competitive first half

The Curtis Vikings (2-0) football team came to Purdy and unleashed a punishing defense on their way to a 42-6 victory over the Peninsula Seahawks (0-2) on Friday, Sept. 13, at Roy Anderson Field.

The Seahawk defense applied some physical hits early during a competitive first half. They rattled Viking ball carriers and forced several turnovers.

A key first-half takeaways for Peninsula was an interception by Wyatt Abrigo deep in Viking territory. Abrigo made an athletic catch and ran the ball back to the Vikings’ five yard line as the large Peninsula student section roared their approval.

Seahawks led early in game

Peninsula senior quarterback Mana Smythe rolled out to his right and looked like he had receiver Carson Zimmermann open in the flat, but his third-down pass was batted down. The Seahawks settled for a chip-shot field goal by Talen McDonnell to take a 3-0 lead.

The Seahawks also recovered two Curtis fumbles in the first half. Their defensive line, led by the Charles brothers, Prince and Royal, clogged the middle. Linebacker Nehemiah Grandorff dished out a couple of jarring hits in a game that was exceptionally physical.

Nehemiah Grandorff of Peninsula returns a kick against Curtis on Sept. 13. Photo by Dennis Browne

Curtis got on the board in the first half thanks to a 50-50 ball that was caught in the end zone. Curtis receiver Parker Mady and Seahawk defensive back Hayden Bundy battled for the catch, but the Viking senior came down with the ball. The Vikings took a 7-3 lead into halftime.

At that point, the Seahawks had to feel good about their chances to win. Peninsula held its own against the visitors while matching the much larger Vikings physicality.

A 15-yard run by junior Jacob Martin set up a 38-yard McDonnell field goal to close the gap to 7-6 in the third quarter. McDonnell’s kicking has been a pleasant development for the Seahawks. His third-quarter boot had plenty of distance, clearing the cross bar by 10-15 yards. The kicker remained perfect on field goal attempts this season.

Curtis quickly struck back, scoring on a 22-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-6 third-quarter lead.

A bizarre turning point

Peninsula punted on its next possession, setting up the game’s biggest play after an excellent Seahawk defensive stop deep in Curtis territory.

The Vikings faced fourth and 15 and came out in punt formation. But the snap sailed five feet over the punter’s head and the ball skidded towards end zone.

Peninsula receiver Carson Zimmerman looks to turn upfield during the Seahawks’ loss to Curtis on Sept. 13. Photo by Dennis Browne

Four Seahawks gave chase, eyeing a recovery in the end zone and a chance to tie the game. But the punter got there first. He scooped up the ball, made a couple of moves, and snapped a pass over the defenders’ heads. A Viking receiver caught the ball and broke a couple of tackles on his way to an improbable, 75-yard, backbreaking touchdown. Curtis led 21-6.

From there the floodgates opened. Mady got behind the Seahawks safeties for a 42-yard touchdown catch and Curtis scored on a 60-yard interception return to make the score 35-6.

The Seahawks got some nice runs from backs Martin and Jake Akiskalian, who both did all they could after running back Abrigo was unable to continue because of a fierce collision with a Viking defender.

Curtis had several de-cleating hits in the second half as their defensive line shut down the Peninsula rushing attack and wouldn’t allow Smythe time for deep passing routes to develop. Consequently the Curtis linebackers and defensive backs were sitting on short routes and nailing Seahawk receivers with their heads turned while awaiting passes.

Although they absorbed multiple hits and were clearly undersized, the Peninsula running backs and receivers deserve respect for continuing to pop back up and return to the huddle in an impressive display of toughness and competitiveness.

Ex-Tides coach leads Curtis

Viking head coach Darren McKay is a former head coach at Gig Harbor High School who had plenty of encounters with the Seahawks in Fish Bowls past. The rivalry looked like it may still exist. McKay had his foot on the gas pedal and was still throwing to the end zone with two minutes to go in the game and his team leading 35-6.

After a pass to the end zone was incomplete a Curtis fan yelled, “just run the ball,” hoping to end a game that was well over three hours long. McKay might have heard the fan and called for a jet sweep — but the result was a winding 32-yard touchdown run through a tired defense, as the Curtis players celebrated their 42-6 victory.

Peninsula quarterback Mana Smythe stares down a Curtis pass rusher on Sept. 13. Photo by Dennis Browne.

The Vikings amassed 376 total yards, with 251 passing yards and 125 yards rushing. The Seahawks had 34 rushing yards and 107 yards passing.

The Seahawks will look to get into the win column at Bonney Lake against the 0-2 Lions, who just lost to a fellow Puget Sound League team, the Lakes Lancers, 55-0. Peninsula plays at Bonney Lake at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20.