Peninsula stomps Sumner 33-0 in 2009 season opener

Seahawks QB does it by air and ground, amassing 255 yards

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

The concern for Peninsula High School football team’s size has been put to sleep — at least for now.

Against a noticeably bigger opponent at Roy Anderson Field, the Seahawks speared the Sumner Spartans, using their speed to sprint to a 33-0 shutout victory in their season opener.

Peninsula junior quarterback JR Grosshans took matters into his own hands — or legs — during the Class 3A South Puget Sound League matchup. He scored the game’s only first-half touchdown when he scrambled for 48 yards with 7:08 remaining in the second quarter.

The play, which was aided by a couple down-the-field Sumner mistackles, was slated to be a screen pass to the far side of the field.

Grosshans saw it had been snuffed out. So he improvised.

“I saw a running hole to the right side,” Grosshans said. “I was going for however many (yards) I could get, and whatever we needed for the win.”

On the ground, Grosshans finished with a game-high 127 yards on 10 carries with two scores.

Caught in the moment, Grosshans spiked the football, bringing a 15-yard penalty that would was assessed on the ensuing kickoff.

It appeared as if Sumner would use it to its advantage, because the Spartans wound up with the ball near the 50-yard line.

But on a third-and-short play inside the Peninsula 20, Spartans sophomore quarterback Aaron Clark ran an option toward Peninsula’s sideline. He pitched it to his running back, but the ball bounced off his chest.

Peninsula recovered, dismissing Sumner’s only red-zone attempt of the game with 3:13 to play in the first half.

The Seahawks’ defense held strong after an uncharacteristic mistake on offense. Peninsula lost fumble — the team’s first in 16 games — but the team settled down in the second half.

Afterward, Peninsula’s offense scored a touchdown on three consecutive drives, and the defense didn’t allow a first down for the rest of the game.

The Seahawks’ execution was near perfect, scoring 23 points in the second half.

Grosshans connected with senior Jonny Johnson on a 36-yard touchdown pass on the team’s opening drive of the second half. Johnson’s pattern resembled a short flare route that he had been successful during the first half, but he faked the route to the sideline and cut it straight up the field — and he was wide open.

It set the tone for the rest of the game.

“The first half was a bit of the pre-game jitters,” said Johnson, who finished with four receptions and a game-high 111 yards. “We wanted to hit a different color.”

Peninsula’s defense forced two interceptions, one fumble and a turnover on downs against a Sumner offense that featured mostly a veer option.

Sumner’s rushing attack came in spurts. The Spartans had 110 yards the first half but were held to just 30 yards on the ground the rest of the game. The team’s aerial attack was absent. Clark went 2-for-8 passing for 4 yards.

Grosshans finished with seven completions for 128 yards and one interception.

Peninsula head coach Ross Filkins said Grosshans did a much better job of managing the game in the second half.

“He’s a special athlete and showed people he can run a little bit, too,” Filkins said.

Peninsula — ranked ninth by The News Tribune of Tacoma — will have its hands full on Friday when it goes on the road against No. 2 Lakes.

Individual statistics

Peninsula

Passing — Junior quarterback JR Grosshans was 7-for-17 for 128 yards, with one touchdown (36 yards to wide receiver Jonny Johnson) and one interception.

Leading rushers — Grosshans rushed for 127 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns (48, 4).

Senior Darrian Creamer rushed for 63 yards on 15 carries and a 1-yard touchdown.

Leading receivers — Senior Jonny Johnson caught four passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Geoff Grant caught two passes for 18 yards.

Total offense — 393

Turnovers — Two. A fumble 46.4 seconds left in the first quarter and an interception with 31 seconds remaining in the first half.

Sumner

Passing — Aaron Clark went 2-for-8 for four yards and two interceptions.

Leading rusher — Alex Griffith rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries.

Total offense — 210

Turnovers — Four. A turnover on downs in the first quarter, an interception with 9:59 to play in the first half, a fumble with 3:13 to play in the half and an interception with 1:02 left in the third quarter.