It’s been said that when a football team has two quarterbacks, it has none.
You won’t convince Gig Harbor of that theory.
Senior Jake Ayers ran for two touchdowns and threw for one and junior Garrett Gallanger added two rushing TDs as the Tides swamped Graham-Kapowsin, 42-7, in a nonconference game Thursday night at Bethel High School.
“We knew before the season started that we’d have a two-quarterback approach,” Gig Harbor coach Darren McKay said. “Jake is a very quick kid and an excellent runner, and Garrett has the big arm. But neither one of them is one-dimensional.”
The plan works out particularly well for Ayers, who starts at outside linebacker on defense and also plays on most of the Tide’s special teams.
“It would be tough to play an entire game on both sides of the ball,” he said. “When it’s Garrett’s turn to play quarterback, that’s fine with me. I can get a breather and be fully rested when our defense goes back on the field.”
Gallanger gave Gig Harbor a 7-0 lead when he capped a 38-yard, six-play drive with a 1-yard sneak at the 6:41 mark of the first quarter.
Graham-Kapowsin (0-2) tied the game at 7-7 later in the period when senior quarterback Drew Austin rifled a 6-yard TD pass to Marcus Van Scoyoc.
But from there, it was all Gig Harbor (1-1).
A nifty 25-yard punt return by sophomore Garrett McKay advanced the ball to the Eagles’ 25-yard line midway through the second period. Three plays later, Ayres gave Gig Harbor the lead for good when he scampered 12 yards to pay dirt.
On the Eagles’ next possession, junior linebacker T.J. Turnbull intercepted a pass from Austin in the flat and returned it 28 yards untouched for another Gig Harbor score.
And the rout was on.
“We were in a zone coverage and I jumped in front of their tight end for the pick,” Turnbull said. “I read the quarterbacks eyes and he threw it right to me.”
Turnbull’s TD made it 21-7 at halftime. Ayres fired an 18-yard TD pass on a fade pattern to Dillion Alexander on the third play of the fourth period, widening the gap to 28-7.
Gallenger and Ayres later added rushing TDs, with Ayers sprinting 37 yards on a counter play to close out the scoring with 5:40 to play.
Ayers completed just the one pass to Alexander, but he ran the ball 11 times for 82 yards. Gallanger was 5 of 10 passing for 86 yards.
Gig Harbor’s defense, meanwhile, limited Graham-Kapowsin to just 200 yards of total offense.
Austin completed just 7 of 23 passes for 81 yards, one TD and two interceptions before leaving the game with a sprained knee in the fourth quarter.
SPSL NORTH
At Jefferson 24, Kentwood 7: The Raiders made an early-season statement, toppling the defending league champion Conquerors. Jefferson quarterback KW Williams ran for three TDs.
Jefferson will face perennial power Auburn and tenth-ranked Kentlake in the next two weeks.
NISQUALLY LEAGUE
Charles Wright 47, at Port Townsend 14: Raheem Hughey and Jacob Lawson ran for two TDs a piece in the league opener for each team. The Tarriers built a 35-0 lead at halftime and added two unanswered TDs in the third quarter.
NONLEAGUE
At River Ridge 26, Steilacoom 7: Brad Wallace had TD runs of 24, 67 and 32 yards in the second half, lifting the Hawks to the win. Wallace rushed for 194 yards on 15 carries.
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