The Mount Tahoma Thunderbirds trailed almost the entire way in Thursday’s Class 4A Narrows League football opener at Gig Harbor.
But with the game on the line in the final minutes, the T-Birds managed one gallant drive to wrestle the win away from the Tides and stay unbeaten.
Roy Tabios scored on a 1-yard run with 56 seconds left, capping Mount Tahoma’s 14-10 win over Gig Harbor at Roy Anderson Field in Purdy.
The Tides (1-2 overall, 0-1 league) managed only 96 yards of offense but twice took advantage of good field position to grab a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Coming off wins against Lincoln and Foss, Mount Tahoma didn’t panic.
Linebacker Joey Gillies fell on a fumble in the Gig Harbor end zone in the third quarter, bringing the T-Birds (3-0, 1-0) to within 10-6.
Mount Tahoma got the ball back with just over 6 minutes to play and went 81 yards in 17 plays to win it.
“It feels great to know that we can come together as a team,” said Mount Tahoma running back Rondie Pate, who hurt the Tides in the second half with several big runs and catches.
“We just got our mind-set to win the game, to stop worrying about our mistakes, to forget about the first half and just give out 150 (percent) in the second half and pull out the win.”
The Tides struggled a week after putting up 42 points to beat Graham-Kapowsin. Quarterback Garrett Gallinger was out with an illness, and running back Jesse Cauble is out for the season with a knee injury.
SPSL NORTH
At Kentwood 24, Tahoma 17: The Conquerors built a 17-point lead, fended off a Bears rally and recovered an onside kick to secure the league victory.
Kentwood built a 17-0 lead by the end of the third quarter when Tahoma came alive.
The Bears kicked a field goal early in the fourth quarter and Jason Smith hauled in a 19-yard touchdown midway through the period, pulling Tahoma within 17-10.
The teams traded touchdowns, with the Bears scoring with less than two minutes to play. Kentwood halted the Bears’ comeback attempt when it recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
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