Community Sports

Playoff preview: Peninsula hosts Arlington, Gig Harbor at Kelso

The football regular season concluded last week and that means it’s playoff time for Peninsula and Gig Harbor.

The Seahawks (7-2, 6-1 South Sound Conference) finished second in a tough league, losing only to state powerhouses Yelm and Enumclaw.

In their final regular-season game, Peninsula beat Timberline on the road despite trailing by eight in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game and ultimately won in overtime.

Peninsula fans at a game earlier this year. Bryce Carithers

The opponent

They will host the Arlington Eagles (7-2) of the Class 3A Wesco league at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Roy Anderson Field. Arlington, seeded 22nd and ranked 17th in the WIAA’s latest RPI poll, finished third in the Wesco.

The winner of Friday’s game advances to the round of 16 in the state tournament.

The Eagles lost by three to Ferndale and got overwhelmed by Stanwood, 37-6, but blew out everyone else in their league.

Arlington scored 30 points per game while only allowing only 10. Peninsula averaged 41 points per game while giving up 17.

Keys to victory

Three keys to victory for the Seahawks:

• The Seahawks must control the line of scrimmage and create running lanes for their capable backfield. The Seahawks usually get stronger as they go, with four talented runners sharing the load and a dual-threat quarterback in Payton Knowles.
• Peninsula must shore up its run support to the outside of the field. The Seahawks’ corners and outside linebackers have to get off blocks quicker to not allow big plays on outside runs.
• The Seahawks must continue to win the special-teams battle, as they have most of the year. They are disciplined in their kickoff and punt coverage and have capable return men who can run one back or shorten the field for their offense. They have a good punter that can also throw and a field goal kicker with plenty of leg.

Pick: Peninsula, 28-17. The home team prevails in front of a large crowd and moves on to state, an annual destination for coach Ross Filkins and his Seahawks.

Peninsula’s physical defense pressures opposing quarterback.  Bryce Carithers

Gig Harbor at Kelso

The Gig Harbor Tides (6-3 , 4-3) are seeded 23rd and finished fourth in the competitive SSC. They will travel to Kelso High School to play the 10th-seeded Hilanders (6-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.

The two teams have a couple common opponents in Capital and Timberline. The Hilanders swept those teams, while Gig Harbor beat Capital but lost in overtime against Timberline.

The Gig Harbor offensive line gets ready to attack the defense. Bryce Carithers

The opponent

Kelso’s losses came to Class 2A power Tumwater and Class 4A Camas. They won their last two games in nail-biters, beating Mountain View and Evergreen by a combined 6 points.

This game could be a shootout. Kelso averaged 35 points per game while surrendering 17 during the regular season. Gig Harbor averaged 38 points per game while allowing just under 14.

Gig Harbor has faced the injury bug but is recovering. Senior running back Blaze Herbert is returning to health along with senior cornerback Christian Parrish, who will be locked on Kelso’s best receiver in man-to-man situations.

Quarterback Will Landram can spin it and has proven his accuracy during the season. If the Tides’ wide receivers can get separation, they can score in a hurry. Even if they don’t get to the end zone they can produce points thanks to sophomore kicker Boone Leverett.

Gig Harbor senior tailback Blaze Herbert sets up a defender for a cutback run In a game played earlier this year. Bryce Carithers

Keys to victory

Three keys to victory for the Tides:

• Limiting penalties. They are averaging almost eight penalties a game. They have only played one game in which their opponent had more penalties — Capital had nine to Gig Harbor’s eight.
• The offensive line must provide time for Landram to find receivers Gavin Nash, Ben Stevens and Carson Griffin for chunk plays downfield.
• They must win the turnover battle, as they have all year. The Tides’ offense has committed just four turnovers all year, while their ball-hawking defense has forced 19.

Pick: Gig Harbor, 27-24, in a road upset to keep their season alive, get to state and give first year head coach Darrin Reeves his first playoff victory.

Gig Harbor fans at a game earlier this year. Bryce Carithers