Tides’ QB Chet Thompson leads spread offense over Bellarmine

Gig Harbor defense contains athletic Lions; interception helps win

Brian McLean

of the Gateway

It was all about finding a rhythm, and once the Gig Harbor Tides fell into step, little could be done by Bellarmine Prep.

The Tides’ read-and-react spread offense had many options Friday night, but most started — and finished — with senior quarterback Chet Thompson, who compiled 309 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns during Gig Harbor’s 28-14 win over the Lions at Roy Anderson Field.

Running out of the shotgun formation, Thompson rushed 32 times for 154 yards and two scores. He also completed 7 of 16 passes for 138 yards with two TDs and one interception, and he added 17 yards on a pair of punt returns.

It might have been an even bigger night for Thompson if a penalty hadn’t erased his long first-quarter touchdown on a punt return.

Regardless, Tides coach Darren McKay called the game a must-win following a season-opening loss to Olympia.

And win, they did.

“This was a game we felt we had to win, because we can’t start out 0-2,” said McKay, who emphasized the Tides’ top-heavy schedule that includes games at Central Kitsap and South Kitsap in the next two weeks, plus the Fish Bowl against Peninsula on Oct. 3.

Outside of a scoreless first quarter, it wasn’t close Friday night.

Bellarmine Prep senior quarterback Lucas Schindele did all he could to keep the Lions close, but even his 306-yard all-purpose effort wasn’t enough.

Schindele and the Lions ran a similar spread-option attack. He rushed for 92 yards on 27 carries and went 13-for-16 passing for 214 yards and a touchdown.

McKay said Gig Harbor put in a game plan to stop Schindele because he felt the 6-foot-1, 196-pound quarterback was the only player on the field who could beat them.

“We didn’t feel like they could beat us between the tackles,” McKay said. “But it’s scary because, even if you have (Schindele) boxed in, he’s a good enough athlete that he can still make some plays.”

This time, the Tides made more.

After Thompson missed on his first six passing attempts, he connected on his final three of the first half, including touchdown passes of 29 and 43 yards to seniors Louis Lanza and Ben Reimer, respectively.

Lanza’s reception was a spectacular grab on a diving play in the corner of the end zone.

Once Bellarmine stepped back to respect Thompson’s passing ability, the running lanes opened up.

“The first week, we weren’t sure where to go or how to run (the offense),” Thompson said. “The second game definitely helps. We just came out here and limited mistakes.”

Thompson rushed for 107 yards in the second half alone. Senior Nico Youngren provided a change of pace, chipping in 26 yards on six rushing attempts.

“The offense just had to work the kinks out,” Thompson said. “After the line started picking up what they were blitzing, their defense started to get tired out there.”

Bellarmine pulled to within 21-7 when Schindele scored on a 7-yard run with 4:32 left in the third quarter, but Tides senior Tanner Davis picked off Schindele on the first play of the fourth to give the Tides the momentum.

Davis said the second-down play was key because the Lions were at midfield, and in high school football, that’s four-down territory.

“It gave us the push to go all the way in this one,” Davis said.

Thompson’s 9-yard scoring run with 6:33 left all but sealed it for the Tides.

“It always feels good when you develop a rhythm on offense, because that lifts the pressure of what you can do on defense, too,” McKay said.

UP NEXT:

Tides take on Cougars Friday

The Gig Harbor Tides face a tough test when they play the Central Kitsap Cougars at 7 p.m. Friday at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

Gig Harbor (1-1 4A Narrows League and overall) got its running game going last week with quarterback Chet Thompson, who compiled 292 yards of total offense — 154 yards on the ground.

Central Kitsap (1-0, 1-1 overall) edged the South Kitsap Wolves 14-13 last week after a physical 42-19 non-league loss to Punahou, Hawaii.

Reach Editor Brian McLean at 253-853-9245 or by e-mail at brian.mclean@gateline.com.