Peninsula knocks off Bonney Lake, makes push for No. 2 playoff seed

Defense holds strong on goal line for a 27-22 victory

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

A goal-line stand with just more than three minutes to play helped the Peninsula Seahawks beat the Bonney Lake Panthers 27-22 in an important Class 3A South Puget Sound League game last Friday at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.

Peninsula’s Alan Wheat stuffed quarterback Cole Schuler on a sneak up the middle, and the Seahawks’ Al Rasmussen rushed for more than 100 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The victory put Peninsula (5-1 overall, 4-1 league) closer to a No. 2 finish. The Enumclaw Hornets (5-1, 4-1) are the most formidable opponent left on Peninsula’s schedule. Both teams have lost to first-place Lakes (6-0 overall and league).

Peninsula and Enumclaw play Oct. 23 at Roy Anderson Field, and the winner could host a state preliminary round game.

But Peninsula had to get by Bonney Lake first, and the Panthers didn’t simply go away.

Bonney Lake defensive back Austin Marshall intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter that led to the fourth-and-short stand by the Peninsula defense.

Marshall was a force on offense, too. He finished with 109 receiving yards and two touchdowns, one of which gave the Panthers a late lead.

But Peninsula senior quarterback JR Grosshans did what he’s done on all but one occasion this season: Carry his team to the victory. Grosshans finished with touchdowns passes to Jake Boley and Johnny Johnson, and he added 9-yard scoring scamper. He totaled 223 yards through the air and completed 10 passes.

Peninsula will travel to Buckley on Friday to play the White River Hornets at 7 p.m.

Injury report

Peninsula senior running back and kick returner Darrian Creamer injured his leg in the first half of Friday night’s contest and missed the entire second half.

The severity of the injury and how long he’ll be sidelined was unknown at press time.

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