High school football roundup: Peninsula cruises to victory behind steady run game

PENINSULA 50, CAPITAL 6

Consider this a statement from the Seahawks that they are primed, playing their best football at the right time, and are ready to take on the challenge of the upcoming 3A playoffs. After opening the game with a 91-yard kick return by senior Austin Hansen, the scoring didn’t stop.

Senior running back Ethan Hogan added three rushing touchdowns to the Seahawks’ scoring spree as he carried the ball 12 times for 167 yards against the Cougars. Hogan scored twice in the first quarter to make the game 21-0, then he got his hat trick in with an 18-yard run early on in the fourth quarter.

Hogan wasn’t the only Seahawk to have a big night as senior quarterback Jake Bice completed 10-of-14 passes for 101 yards and two touchdown passes. Bice even scored on a one-yard touchdown run himself. Bice then was allowed to sit and let junior Payton Knowles get some reps, who completed three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.

One of the biggest factors the Seahawks stayed ahead and maintained their lead was that in spite of the endless waves of water raining from the sky, the offense did not allow a single turnover.

BOX SCORE

P: 21-14-7-8--50

C: 0-0-6-0--6

SUMNER 49, OLYMPIA 13

Bo Carlson ended Sumner’s regular season in style.

The Sumner quarterback threw six first-half touchdowns, and the Spartans cruised to a 49-13 win over Olympia on Friday night.

Before Olympia could blink, Sumner led by 28 after one quarter. Sumner’s Eric Buck punched in a two-yard run for the game’s first points, but it was Carlson’s night from then on.

The Spartans’ signal-caller threw a trio of touchdowns in each of the first two quarters, including a first half-closing 60-yard passing strike to Matthew Spurbeck.

Spurbeck, along with Dylan Coffey and Tristan Dunn, caught a touchdown from Carlson. Isaiah Watkins caught two.

Carlson finished with 303 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception against the Bears. Spurbeck, Sumner’s leading receiver, caught two passes for 72 yards.

Olympia scored in the second quarter when quarterback Gabe Downing found Mason Juergens for a two-yard passing score. But Olympia trailed by 42 at halftime, and they wouldn’t score enough to remain competitive. The Bears found the end zone again in the third quarter — this time on an eight-yard Downing rush — but a five-score deficit remained.

A scoreless fourth quarter held the score at 49-13.

Spurbeck added 166 rushing yards on just six carries. Sumner’s Wyatt Redding banged through all seven on his extra-point attempts.

BOX SCORE

S: 28-21-0-0--49

O: 0-7-6-0--13

YELM 43, CENTRAL KITSAP 6

A two-headed rushing attack, a three-touchdown night for quarterback Palaina Hooper, and a scoop-and-score defensive touchdown: you name it, Yelm had it.

The Tornados clicked on all cylinders, and Yelm took down Central Kitsap 43-6 on Friday night.

Hooper threw a touchdown in each of the first three quarters. He found Ray Wright for a six-yard touchdown for the game’s opening score, and Yelm took a quick seven-point lead.

Wright added 69 rushing yards on eight carries.

William Caretto exploded for a 90-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter, and Yelm scored another pair of touchdowns in the second. Kyler Ronquillo found the end zone on a 14-yard run, and Hooper hit Nathan Paul for a four-yard touchdown to close out the first half.

Yelm’s lead was 29.

Central Kitsap scored first in the second half on a 17-yard touchdown pass, but Hooper would find Paul for a second time soon after. This time, it was a 21-yard Hooper-to-Paul connection that extended Yelm’s lead to 30.

In the fourth, linebacker Brayden Platt picked up a fumble and ran 28 yards for a Yelm touchdown. Central Kitsap wouldn’t score again.

Hooper completed 21 of 29 passes for three touchdowns in Yelm’s win. Ronquillo notched 183 receiving yards on ten catches, and Paul added 72 yards on six catches — and two touchdowns.

Wright and Dylan Conklin recorded nine tackles apiece for the Tornado defense. Wright added a sack.

BOX SCORE

Y: 14-15-7-7--43

CK: 0-0-6-0--6

GIG HARBOR 28, RIVER RIDGE 6

The Tides have risen to the occasion and rattled off their third straight win in a row behind the arm of junior quarterback Will Landram and senior linebacker Parker Born.

Landram was dialed in against the Hawks as he finished his night going 23-for-41, throwing for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Where Born was a benefactor from Landram’s distributions, he nabbed six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown, his biggest mark was on defense.

Born on defense led the team with six solo tackles, three assisted tackles and he got a sack as well. Senior linebacker Hudson Cedarland also had a big two-way night as well. Cedarland caught five passes for 102 yards and a score, all while recording five solo tackles and three assisted tackles.

BOX SCORE

GH: 7-14-7-0--28

RR: 6-0-0-0--6

ENUMCLAW 31, WHITE RIVER 6

In the 2021 version of the Battle of the Bridge, Enumclaw took the lead early against White River and did not look back thanks to the boost of energy the return of senior running back Dawson Harding had.

Harding missed last week with an injury, but his return to Enumclaw meant that the duo of him and junior running back Emmit Otero would be back to eating yards on the ground. And Harding did exactly that as he carried the ball 10 times for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Enumclaw got it done through the air as well with senior Malcolm Harper completing 9-of-19 passing, throwing for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those touchdown passes went to senior wide receiver Dylan Watterson, who caught a total of three passes for 56 yards.

BOX SCORE

E: 7-10-7-7--31

WR: 6-0-0-0--6

STEILACOOM 49, FIFE 7

De’Andre Napier’s 70-yard touchdown clinched a hat trick.

The Steilacoom running back found the end zone three times, and the Sentinels rolled for a 49-7 win over Fife on Friday night.

Napier scored the game’s final touchdown, but he also scored the first; roughly three minutes into the game, he scampered for a seven-yard rushing score.

But Napier scored a second time in the opening quarter, this time on a 24-yard rush. Steilacoom’s defense also forced a safety, and Sentinel quarterback Caleb Crider found Demari Ross for a 37-yard touchdown pass.

The second quarter — at least, one minute of it — belonged to Cole Miller. On 14 and 37-yard runs, respectively, Miller scored twice within 60 seconds.

By halftime, Steilacoom led, 35-0.

And Steilacoom padded their lead in the third. Crider found Ross again for another 37-yard passing score.

Fife avoided a shutout when Dylan Goldstrom ran for an 11-yard touchdown. Napier’s 70-yard touchdown rush with three minutes remaining sealed a Steilacoom win.

BOX SCORE

S: 22-13-7-7--49

F: 0-0-0-7--7

This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 9:58 AM.