Seahawks clinch home-field advantage with win

Peninsula’s Darrian Creamer goes for 250 yards of total offense in 28-13 win over Enumclaw

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

Peninsula senior running back Darrian Creamer feels pain; he just doesn’t complain about it.

His 250-yard performance at Roy Anderson Field last Friday helped the Seahawks to a 28-13 victory and home-field advantage in a 3A crossover playoff game.

Creamer gashed Enumclaw (5-2 league, 6-2 overall) by totaling 191 yards rushing, including two touchdowns. Although his knee nagged him throughout the game, he carried the ball 28 times and averaged 6.8 yards per carry.

“We knew we had to execute and that’s what we did,” Creamer said. “I knew I had to get it started this week since Al (Rasmussen) was out. I knew I had to step it up.”

Creamer did most of the groundwork since running back Al Rasmussen was sidelined with an injury.

Peninsula (6-1 league, 7-1 overall) needed the win to secure the No. 2 seed in the South Puget Sound League 3A behind unbeaten Lakes (7-0 league, 8-0 overall).

Creamer’s rushing was more apparent the second half. He carried the ball just four more times than he did in the first half but gained 119 more yards in the second half. He also caught a 39-yard touchdown from quarterback JR Grosshans with 29.6 seconds remaining in the first quarter to tie the game, 7-7.

His sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee was said to be healed, although he hobbled back to the huddles and took longer getting up from being tackled.

Peninsula coach Ross Filkins said Creamer has the heart of a lion.

“We put this game on the offensive and defensive line’s shoulders and he (Creamer) ran downfield,” Filkins said. “Being able to establish the run was incredibly important. We had to establish the run to shorten the game.”

The Hornets scored their pair of touchdowns in the first half. Senior quarterback Riley Carol led his team down the field on the opening possession for an 11-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Tyler Carlson.

Then in the second quarter — with the help of a pass interference call on a third down — Carol found wide receiver Clyde Coleman for a five-yard score and a 13-7 lead.

From that point on, Peninsula’s defense turned stingy.

Enumclaw was shutout for the remainder of the second quarter and the rest of the game. The Seahawks intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. Peninsula junior linebacker Michael Sly said the defense came out fired up.

“It was determination,” Sly said. “Our front four defensive linemen helped me out.”

Andy Holdener, Enumclaw’s leading rusher, was contained to 61 yards on 15 carries.

And when they tried to throw, the windy conditions affected Carol’s accuracy. He completed nine passes for 91 yards.

Peninsula senior defensive end Christian Doucett said the defense is playing to its potential.

“Our defense has a lot of heart,” Doucett said. “The second half we figured out what we were doing wrong and how to stop them.”

Grosshans made a bigger impact in the game using his legs. He rushed for 40 yards including touchdown runs of six and eight. He completed five passes for 68 yards and an interception.

Who do the Seahawks play?

The Peninsula football team will host the Westco No. 2 seed Glacier Peak (2-1 league, 6-2 overall) 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at Roy Anderson Field in a crossover playoff game. The winner will advance to the 16-team state playoffs tournament at the Tacoma Dome.