Huddle up: Rivalry reaches 30th year and continues to grow

Teams respect each other, but both want bragging rights

Marques Hunter

Huddle up

The timing of this year’s Fish Bowl couldn’t be better. After Peninsula and Gig Harbor high schools split into separate leagues in 1993 — Gig Harbor now in the Class 4A Narrows League and Peninsula is in the 3A South Puget Sound League — the Big Game was held at the beginning of the season.

This year — for reasons unbeknownst to me — they used the Fish Bowl as the halfway point. It’s the only non-league game for both schools.

Whoever wins Friday night’s game will be able to use it as a huge momentum boost for the last four games.

For Gig Harbor, the schedule gets easier with Foss, Wilson, Mount Tahoma and Shelton. It’s conceivable that, with a victory over Peninsula — and with their tougher games behind them — the Tides could finish the season with just their one loss to Olympia.

If Peninsula beats Gig Harbor, it’s impossible to think there’s a better team in their way. The second half of the Seahawks’ schedule doesn’t look too daunting with Bonney Lake, White River, Enumclaw and Franklin Pierce remaining on the docket.

After all, the Seahawks shut out Sumner 24-0 and Sumner has already beaten White River, 23-12, and Enumclaw, 30-7.

But there’s a long way to go. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Although Friday night’s Fish Bowl won’t affect either school in their respective league standings, that confidence level may play a huge role in the latter part of the season.

Personally, this will be the first time I’ve seen a Fish Bowl. What better time to step in than to watch the 30th anniversary of the game?

Last year, Gig Harbor routed Peninsula 35-7 to take a 16-13 advantage in the series. The Seahawks have won just twice in the past 10 years.

I love rooting for the underdog, but what I’m really hoping for is a great game; preferably high-scoring.

After seeing both teams play, I can’t whole-heartedly pick one over the other.

Both teams are good this year. Tides quarterback Chet Thompson is getting more comfortable in the spread offense, and the Gig Harbor defense has allowed jus 34 points in the last three games.

Peninsula, on the other hand, has been solid in the running game, with Brandon James scoring a touchdown in every game so far this year.

They couldn’t have planned this year’s game any better.

In hindsight, I wasn’t surprised to hear some of the comments from the Gig Harbor and Peninsula football players. I asked many of them if this Fish Bowl meant more or less than the other league games.

Tides senior running back Nico Youngren said: “I think you play harder in that game than any other.”

Seahawks sophomore quarterback JR Grosshans said a win would be big for Peninsula.

“Gig Harbor is our crosstown rivalry, so ... yes, it’s more important.”

Put everything aside, folks, and come to this year’s edition of the Fish Bowl. I can sense it’s going to be a good one.