30 years of tradition

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

Friday marks a historic time for local high school football: It’s the 30-year anniversary for one of the biggest crosstown traditions in the state.

The Fish Bowl between the Class 4A Gig Harbor Tides and 3A Peninsula Seahawks will mark the midway point this season, contrary to years past, when it has either kicked off or concluded their seasons. The winner of Friday night’s contest may get a much-needed injection of confidence to finish their nine-game schedule.

“Fish Bowl is a game you think about all year,” Gig Harbor senior safety Tanner Davis said. “It’s a rivalry game where anything can happen. It’s one of those games you put a little more time and effort into.”

Although the Fish Bowl doesn’t hold any league implications, the emotions and history tied to it are irreplaceable.

For the seniors for both teams, it’ll be their last chance to compete against their peers. Most Gig Harbor and Peninsula players grew up competing with or against each other — possibly as early as a youth football program in town.

Peninsula senior wide receiver Tony Lewis said that, despite the game’s non-league status, it’s bigger than any other league game this year.

“It’s important,” he said. “There are a couple things to remember through the year. One of them is playoffs and the other is Fish Bowl. We’re excited to see how we match up against them.”

While school pride and bragging rights are at stake, both teams come into the game with solid records and are looking to continue their momentum.

Peninsula (3-1 South Puget Sound league and overall) is coming off a 35-26 victory against Clover Park and sits in second place behind Lakes.

Gig Harbor (3-1 league and overall), which beat South Kitsap on Friday, began the season with four tough games.

With both teams looking for a way to keep their winning streaks alive, Tides senior linebacker Dane Burki said it’s cool to see both teams doing well.

“We’re more excited to play them because it sounds like they’re better than in years past,” Burki said. “We’ve been playing those guys all through youth football, and it’s going to be fun playing them one last time.”

Last year, the Tides beat the Seahawks 35-7.

Although Seahawks quarterback JR Grosshans is a sophomore, he knows how much this game means to the seniors. Plus, he’d like to erase last year’s result and replace it with a victory.

“Every Fish Bowl is a special game,” Grosshans said. “Every year it seems to get more intense. Knowing we have a solid team, this would be a big confidence-booster knowing we can play against anybody.”

Grosshans said he knows at least a half-dozen Tides players dating back to Peninsula Youth Football. His counterpart, Gig Harbor’s senior versatile quarterback Chet Thompson, knows if they lose, it’s going to be heard all around town.

“We’ve grown up with these guys,” Thompson said. “All of them are our friends. It’s a big win to beat them.”

Thompson said it will be an honor to play in the 30th Fish Bowl.

“The fact they wanted to keep it (Fish Bowl) going is a big tradition,” he said. “The fact we get to be here on the 30th year is special. It’s going to be fun.”

Outside of the milestone, both teams have made adjustments this year.

The Tides have incorporated a new offensive scheme, spreading the field with an option attack from the shotgun.

After losing to the Olympia Bears in the first game of the season, Gig Harbor has won three straight, surprising both Central Kitsap and South Kitsap.

The Tides also will have middle linebacker Dalton Darmody back from an injury.

Peninsula has meshed well during its first season in the SPSL. It, too, has a three-game winning streak.

Seahawks senior offensive lineman John Breskovich said they want a win over Gig Harbor in their trophy case.

“There’s going to be a lot of emotions and competitiveness out there,” he said.

Breskovich and the other Peninsula linemen have had the difficult task of going up against defensive linemen who outweigh them. Such will be the case against the Tides.

“We’ve been facing teams that have been bigger than us,” Breskovich said. “For us, we have to execute every play.”