Junior Lewis emerging as featured running back in Peninsula High offense

Last season, when the first four running backs on the Peninsula High depth chart were out with injuries on the road at Sumner, coach Ross Filkins went to his fifth-string option with the game on the line, sophomore Cameron Lewis.

Despite his rank in the hierarchy, Lewis didn’t disappoint, rushing for a 12-yard touchdown to seal a wild, 26-20 overtime win for the Seahawks.

It was Lewis’ breakout moment. Now, this looks like it will be his breakout year.

Lewis received the bulk of the carries this week in Peninsula’s 45-3 blowout at Roy Anderson Field, after splitting them evenly in last week’s Fish Bowl.

The junior racked up 149 yards and a touchdown on the ground against South Kitsap on Friday night and added 71 yards and a touchdown as a receiver.

“The O-line just stepped up today,” Lewis said. “The screen pass, all the (offensive line) guys met me in the end zone. It was a great feeling.”

Lewis dazzled on a 69-yard screen pass touchdown play, juking defenders, breaking tackles and showing good straight-line speed.

“It always helps you get into a rhythm when you get more of the carries,” Lewis said. “It gets you in your zone. The guys I split carries with, (running back) Kenny Easton, he really blocked his (butt) off for me today. So did (running back) Evan Johnson.”

Filkins was happy to see Lewis have a big game.

“He’s a great player,” Filkins said. “We want to try to spread the ball around. We’ve got a long way to go, as far as that goes. But yeah, Cameron is a workhorse and did a great job tonight.”

Senior linebacker Chance Stolz anchored the defense, making tackles all over the field.

“It feels great,” Stolz said. “That was Seahawk football. Last week, I don’t know what we were doing.”

The Peninsula defensive line was in South Kitsap quarterback Jake Taylor’s face all night, bringing him down several times and hurrying him on many other occasions.

“That was a major emphasis all week, to be able to create pressure,” Filkins said. “I feel good about the growth we demonstrated on the D-line this week.”

Stolz played a key role in limiting the SK offense to just three points.

“I was feeling good,” he said. “When you start getting on fire, it feels good. You can just focus on one thing and do it right.”

Filkins had high praise for Stolz after the game.

“He’s tough,” Filkins said. “There’s a reason why the kids selected him as one of our captains. I love watching that kid play in all three phases.”

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 9:26 AM with the headline "Junior Lewis emerging as featured running back in Peninsula High offense."