Huddle up: Tides football team must find a way to win

Marques Hunter

Huddle up

After I watched the Peninsula High School football team two weeks ago, I was excited to watch Gig Harbor play on their home turf against rival South Kitsap at Roy Anderson Field.

I heard from many of the players, plus Tides head coach Darren McKay, that this was an inexperienced team. I remained optimistic, though, knowing Gig Harbor runs a very solid football program.

It was one of the most interesting football games I had ever covered. The momentum swung between both teams like a pendulum.

South Kitsap scored 14 points in the second quarter. Then Gig Harbor tied it with 14 points.

And with the Wolves up 28-14 in the fourth quarter, Gig Harbor charged back and scored a touchdown with plenty of time remaining to get the ball back, which it did.

Gig Harbor had regained the momentum. It seemed as if it was going to be one of those games where the team that had the ball last was going to win.

That, or it was going to be decided in overtime.

Each quarterback threw for more than 250 yards. Both teams had a talented group of wide receivers. And the run defenses were pretty much even.

The difference, in the end, was turnovers.

If you don’t take care of the ball against a solid opponent, you’re likely going to lose.

Each team went blow-for-blow on the offensive end. But the Tides coughed the ball up twice and Gig Harbor quarterback Barrett Schmidtke tossed two interceptions.

It wasn’t what one team didn’t do in the end. It was what one team did do that proved costly.

The Gig Harbor secondary had a very tough time with Wolves wide receiver Leon LaDeaux, who simply ran by people. He caught two touchdowns and finished with 188 yards receiving.

LaDeaux was a first-team all-Narrows League selection last year. He played like it last week.

Give South Kitsap credit. The Wolves executed on a number of big plays against a team that is still working on a defense that can stop the pass.

The Tides have all the right tools in the skill position set. They have a strong-armed quarterback in Schmitdtke, a group of talented wide receivers, including 6-foot-7 Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and some tailbacks, like Spencer Manjarrez, who are athletic and strong.

If the Tides’ offensive line can do a better job of blocking and the defense can eliminate the big plays, this team will start to win.

I’m sure McKay will redirect his troops and get them prepared for Central Kitsap.

McKay and the Gig Harbor fan population know turnovers are not an option. It helps to have a high-caliber offense, but against good teams, it won’t suffice.

All in all, I was impressed with how hard they fought back in the fourth quarter.

A team that never quits, to me, is a team that never fails.

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