Late drive leads Peninsula past White River, 17-13

Offense overcomes 11 fumbles in thriller over Hornets

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

BUCKLEY — Peninsula head football coach Ross Filkins said something strange always happens when the Seahawks travel to White River.

It started with a 2,000-pound bull roaming the pasture during the pivotal Class 3A South Puget Sound League game Friday night.

It ended with backup quarterback Saul Wiles replacing an injured JR Grosshans to help finish a game-winning drive as the Seahawks edged the Hornets 17-13.

Peninsula senior running back Darrian Creamer, who had been sidelined during the first half due to a knee injury that occurred against Bonney Lake on Oct. 9, gave the Seahawks the go-ahead score when he ran it in from the 1-yard line with 1:52 remaining in the game.

It was Peninsula’s first lead, and it came at a perfect time.

“These guys were able to step up,” Filkins said. “Playing well or not, these kids played hard and they believe. And there’s a lot to be said (about) that.”

While the nine-play final drive was well-executed, Peninsula struggled with other fundamental issues earlier on.

The snap from center to quarterback had never been so difficult for Grosshans. The oddity amid a torrential downpour was 10 fumbled snaps in the first half that led to two turnovers.

But the Seahawks’ defense pressured White River senior quarterback Marc Anderson — Peninsula sacked him three times on the Hornets’ final series to thwart a last-minute comeback — and limited White River tailback Blake Tidwell to 23 yards on 13 carries.

Peninsula junior Henry Selfors dropped Anderson to the turf with less than a minute remaining. He said the Seahawks’ defense stepped up.

“I felt like we were non-stop trying to get to the ball,” Selfors said. “We wanted to pressure him (Anderson) and make him run around.”

The Seahawks (6-1 overall, 5-1 league) will host Enumclaw (6-1, 5-1) at 7:45 p.m. Friday at Roy Anderson Field. The matchup may decide second place in the division, which will bring home-field advantage during the state preliminary playoffs. Both teams trail the undefeated Lakes Lancers (7-0, 6-0).

Peninsula, which trailed 13-10 midway through the fourth quarter, suffered a big loss when Grosshans was injured while he ran the ball.

With 5:36 left in regulation, it was up to Wiles to finish the charge. The inexperienced varsity quarterback and a banged up Creamer were suddenly offensive cogs who contributed to Peninsula’s late momentum swing.

“It felt good, but I can’t take all the credit,” Creamer said. “Without my line and all the guys on offense, it wouldn’t be possible. They worked their butts off the whole game.”

Wiles converted twice on third down during the final drive, including a clutch 13-yard pass to senior Jonny Johnson that put the Seahawks inside the red zone.

“We just had to keep our composure,” Wiles said about Grosshans’ injury. “It’s one of those things you think about when you see him go down or get hit, and then it’s your opportunity. And you gotta do what you gotta do.”

After numerous botched snaps and very little offensive production the first half, both teams settled down.

It was the Hornets who stung first. On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Anderson threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Alex Williams, who escaped several defenders in a crisscross pattern on his way to a 10-3 White River advantage.

As the rain subsided, Grosshans ran a sweep toward the Peninsula sideline and broke at least two tackles before he sprinted for a 70-yard touchdown. He finished with 102 yards rushing on 16 carries, but he struggled through the air, completing just two passes for 12 yards.

Trailing 13-10 with 5:36 remaining, Peninsula senior Jonny Johnson gave the Seahawks good field position with a punt return into White River territory.

But on the next play, Grosshans injured his left shoulder on a 3-yard run.

After an incomplete pass, Wiles completed a 13-yard strike to Johnson for a fresh set of downs inside the 20.

Creamer followed with a pair of runs to set up a third-and-two situation. Miles fumbled the snap — the team’s 11th — but he scooped up the ball and fell forward for 3 yards and another first down.

That’s when Creamer took the ball up the gut twice, and the second time gave Peninsula the lead.

With 90 seconds left, the Seahawks’ defense held on.

White River’s Anderson, who finished with nine completions for 167 yards, moved the Hornets into Peninsula territory on a pair of 21-yard strikes.

But the Seahawks collapsed the pocket and sacked him three times to end the threat.