Gig Harbor's Ian Shearer ran 29 times for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while Wilson West and quarterback Sawyer Hayes each added one apiece as the Gig Harbor Tides beat the Peninsula Seahawks 35-21 in the 47th Fish Bowl at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma Saturday afternoon, Sept. 6.
It marked Gig Harbor’s first three-game Fish Bowl winning streak since 2013-15, giving the Tides a 24-23 edge in the annual cross-town rivalry.
“Congrats to Gig Harbor coach Jeff Scoma on his first win and first Fish Bowl,” said Peninsula’s debuting coach Clay Mauro. “We started fast, but as our team learned, we can’t shoot ourselves in the foot.”
Seahawks junior defensive end Aidan Muilenburg recovered a fumble on a Gig Harbor punt on the first series of the game, giving the Seahawks good field position for their first possession. Quarterback Talen McDonnell found tight end Jacob Martin for a 15-yard touchdown pass four plays later, putting the Seahawks up early, 7-0, with 9:02 to go in the first quarter.
Gig Harbor took advantage of a Martin fumble on the Seahawks’ next possession, and two plays later, Shearer broke free for a 23-yard TD run to tie it at 7.
Mauro was referring to Gig Harbor (1-0, 1-0 Puget Sound League), which converted two first-half Peninsula (0-1, 0-1 PSL) turnovers, a fumble, and an interception into touchdowns for a 21-7 halftime lead.
Shearer’s second score, a 3-yard run with 6:25 left in the third quarter, stretched the lead to 28-7.
McDonnell was able to close the lead after a 2-yard touchdown run on a quarterback sneak near the end of the third quarter, but that was as close the Seahawks would get. Two minutes later, Shearer capped his night with a third touchdown to make it 35-14. McDonnell answered with an 80-yard drive, 78 of it in the air, going 6 of 8 before finding receiver Jake Johnson in the rear right corner of the end zone with a 15-yard floater.
Gig Harbor controlled the clock for 33 minutes — about 70% of the game — behind its Wing-T offense, which ran on all but two plays, wearing out the Peninsula defensive line. Seven different players recorded a carry for the Tides.
McDonnell completed 20 of 25 passes for 179 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, connecting with eight Seahawk receivers, and added a rushing score.
“He made a few young QB mistakes, but he made some veteran throws, as well,” Mauro said about McDonnell’s first start. “He is going to be a quality player for us, and we are lucky to get to work with him.”
McDonnell also handled all kicking (making all three of his extra points), punts, and kick-offs, including a near-perfect 12-yard onside kick that the Seahawks almost snagged with 4:08 left in the game.
Martin had 13 carries for 66 yards and caught four passes, including his first-quarter touchdown, for 36 yards. On the defensive side, Thomas Marzano led the Seahawks with nine tackles from his middle linebacker position, followed by Kainoa Coit with eight.
The 14-point margin was the largest in the rivalry since Peninsula’s 36-12 win in 2021, which was played without fans under COVID-19 restrictions.
The Fish Bowl series has been streaky since 2009. Peninsula won four consecutive games beginning that year, then Gig Harbor won three straight, before Peninsula’s seven-game winning streak ended in 2023.
“Moving forward, we have to make sure we’re focusing on clean football and doing all the little things right,” Mauro said. “I know we’re going to go and figure it out. Our whole season is in front of us.”
The Seahawks had little time to make adjustments, with a quick turnaround at Curtis Senior High School Sept. 11 (23-0, Curtis), while Gig Harbor met Eastlake Sept. 13 (39-20, Eastlake).
Editor’s note: Updated with official stats.
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