Tides extend winning streak to six games

Gig Harbor trounces Wilson Rams on homecoming night

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

The Gig Harbor Tides didn’t disappoint their fans on homecoming night.

Gig Harbor (5-1, 6-1 overall) shellacked the Wilson Rams 64-0 in a Class 4A Narrows League game Thursday night at Roy Anderson Field and extended its winning streak to six games.

If theTides beat Mount Tahoma on Friday, they will host a crossover playoff game against a 4A South Puget Sound League team on Nov. 7 for the right to advance to the state tournament.

The Rams (1-5, 2-5) came into Friday night’s game with only one league win. Tides coach Darren McKay said Wilson players tried to get into the Tides’ players’ heads before the game even started.

“(Wilson) kind of came off the bus jawing a little bit and got our kids fired up,” McKay said. “To come here at our home field, that doesn’t sit well for our kids.”

Gig Harbor silenced the Rams quickly, scoring 26 points in the first quarter. At halftime, it was 57-0.

Tides senior running back Nico Youngren started the scoring spree with a 35-yard run on the first drive.

Then Gig Harbor’s Ben Reimer, a senior wide receiver, caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from senior quarter Chet Thompson.

The Tides tacked on two more touchdowns in the first quarter. By the end of the game, they amassed 379 total yards to Wilson’s 102.

Six players scored touchdowns for Gig Harbor, including a punt return by senior safety Tanner Davis, who went up the middle for a 45-yard return.

McKay took the Tides’ starters out the second half and gave backup quarterback Troy Castle plenty of repetitions. He took advantage in the fourth quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass on a fade to senior wide receiver Drew Burghardt, his first of the year.

“It felt great ... It’s hard to explain. It’s amazing,” said Burghardt, who returned from a collar bone injury that sidelined him for five games.

“I got off the coverage and saw the ball in the air and just came down with it.”

The Tides worked the clock down to its final seconds every possession and kept the ball on the ground. Castle said one advantage of the blowout was that he saw more playing time.

“It’s a lot more fun to get out there and play,” he said. The guys were blocking and we were able to make plays.”

Gig Harbor methodically worked its way up and down the field, establishing 16 first downs to Wilson’s five. The Tides gained 353 yards on the ground.

Jeff Filmer led the Tides in rushing with 141 yards and two touchdowns.

With a short week of practice to prepare for a Thursday game, McKay said his team focused well.

“The key for us is we want to hold onto the No. 2 spot (in the Narrows League),” he said. “The kids came out and played well. Everybody got a chance to play who was eligible. That’s exciting.”

The Tides have two games remaining on their schedule. They host Mount Tahoma on Friday and Shelton, which hasn’t won a game all season, on Oct. 30.

Reach sports reporter Marques Hunter at 253-853-9246 or by e-mail at marques.hunter@gateline.com.