Sweet Homecoming for Seahawks, young players get chance to shine

Keith Stiles, Special to the KP News

Friday, Oct. 17 was Homecoming for Peninsula High School classes stretching back over 60 years, and the Seahawks demolished the White River Hornets 61-0.

Within the second half Coach Ross Filkens and his staff ran a program of very liberal substitutions, giving younger and less experienced Hawks playing time that many might not have gotten under other circumstances.

Seahawks ball, and the teams face off for the Peninsula High School Homecoming game. Photo by Hugh McMillan

To a great extent the issue was decided in the first quarter with Brandon James scoring three touchdowns on runs of 18, 40, and 4 yards, and Wyatt Wilkerson adding two extra points. In the second quarter James came back with two more touchdowns on short runs, and Grant added a third with a 55 -yard pass interception. Three more points after the touchdowns brought the score to 41-0 when the teams left the field at halftime.

In the third quarter JD DeVaga broke loose for two scores with long runs of 28 and 33 yards, and Alex Walker added another touchdown with a three-yard plunge, bringing the score to 61-0.

The fourth quarter was scoreless as the Seahawks' coaching staff pulled many of the first and second team regular players on both offense and defense and sent in younger and less experienced players to work against the Hornet's strongest line-ups.  Throughout the game it appeared that the team pairing was somewhat of a mismatch with the Hornets not able to meet the Hawks on average size, speed, experience, and manpower reserves. In their success the Seahawks retained a tight hold on second place in the SPSL 3ADivision with two games, one each against Enumclaw and Franklin Pierce, remaining on the regular schedule. Should they win those two games the Hawks would be in line for an opportunity to break into post-season action.

The game was broadcast live on KGHP-FM.