9/19/2026
*Note there were internet issues at the game and several portions of the game broadcast skipped or were missed. We apologize for the technical issue, however, we had not had any issues doing multiple game at Moutn Tahoma already this year, we attempted other hot spots and connection solutions but the system was overwhelmed. We’re working with Tacoma School District officials for possible solutions to avoid this in the future.
Peninsula 37, Gig Harbor 8
(Tacoma, WA) It’s been several years since the cross-district showdown between Gig Harbor and Peninsula or “The Fishbowl”, has taken place at their shared stadium, Roy Anderson field, and not because neither team wants to play at their storied shared home field but because it’s simply not big enough.
They have been playing at Mount Tahoma high school’s George Nordi field, where they host the state 2A, 3A and 4A track meets each spring.
Saturday showed again why this was necessary as Roy Anderson field has a seating capacity of about 2,000. Mount Tahoma has 5,000 covered seats at Nordi and it was fully packed on both sides of the field.
Coming into the 48th playing of the Fishbowl, Gigi Harbor held a 24-23 advantage, winning the last 3 straight.
Slow Start for the Offenses
Neither offense could get much going in the opening quarter with several mistakes that should have led to scores, but the defenses were ready.
On the opening drive Gig Harbor began with the ball on their own 20 and were held on a 3 and out. The punter then bobbled the snap and put his knee down when grabbing the ball and was down on the Tides’ own 6-yard line handing the Seahawks a 1st and goal.
The Tides defense rose up and denied Peninsula taking the ball on their own 2. They would drive the field in 9 plays but throw an interception in the end zone as the Hawks Landon Schultz made the pick.
Peninsula drove the ball the other way and tried a 32-yard field goal, but it was blocked. Gig Harbor then was forced 3 and out and Peninsula got the ball back on their own 49 with 10:38 to play in the half.
Peninsula breaks through
The Seahawks were the first to finally finish a drive when Thomas Marzano blasted in from the 3 but the Tides blocked the PAT and Peninsula led 6-0 with about 7 minutes left in the half.
After forcing the Tides to punt, the Hawks got the ball back on their 16-yard line with just 1:10 to go in the half. A 70-yard catch and run by Brycen McAnally from QB Talen McDonnell led to a 1-yard TD plunge from Marzano. McDonnell ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0 with about 30 seconds to play.
The Hawks weren’t finished yet as the Tides dropped back to pass with the ball on their own 31 when Jace Shanburn picked the pass on their own 48, giving the Seahawks another shot at scoring before halftime.
With 23 seconds on the clock, McDonnell found Malachi Peterson for 26 yards down to the Tides’ 26. On the next play, McDonnell is intercepted by Charlie Ghent and runs out the clock.
But a roughing the passer penalty gave the ball back to Peninsula on the Tides’ 23 and they had one untimed play. McDonnell is also the kicker and lined up a 30-yard attempt and split the uprights giving Peninsula a 17-0 lead at the half.
2nd Half Peninsula ices the game
The two teams traded possessions to begin the 2nd half. Peninsula’s second possession began on the Gig Harbor 44. With a balanced
attack of 3 runs and 3 passes on the 6th play McDonnell dropped back to pass and found McAnally in the left flat and McAnally did the rest sprinting 21-yards for the score. Ther PAT was good and the Seahawks led 24-0 about halfway through the 3rd quarter.
Gig Harbor would then answer, beginning with a huge kick return. Lucas Olivas looked like he was behind the goal line when he came out of the end zone but the official rules the ball was never in the end zone, so it was not blown dead and given to Gig Harbor on their own 20.
Instead, Olivas headed to his right the Tides’ sideline found a gap and returned it 66 yards to the 34 but fumbled the ball before he was down and it rolled to the Seahawks 29 where Tyson Francisconi fell on it saving the turnover giving Gig Harbor a 1st down on the Peninsula 29.
After 5 plays, Taylor Carey would bust off a brilliant 18-yard run around the end for 6 to get Gig Harbor on the board. The Tides went for 2 and QB Sal Nuuhiwa Alob ran it in to make it a 2-score game trailing 24-8.
Seahawks Defense closes out the Game
The Tides got the ball back on a Charles Ghent interception, but Peninsula returned the favor when Landon Schultz snared his 2nd INT of
the game on the final play of the 3rd quarter.
Peninsula would score again on a 7-yard TD pass from McDonnell to Logan Johnson with about 6 minutes to play. The Hawks defense would strike again when Jett Ortega picked off a Tides pass.
Peninsula finished off the scoring with a 4-yard run by Xavier Jones for the final 37-8 final.
Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP
Peninsula’s Landon Schultz was named the MVP for his defensive effort including a pair of momentum killing interceptions. QB Talen McDonnell and Brycen McAnally’s 3 catches for 104 yards and a TD were also in the running.
What’s Next?
Peninsula’s first win of the season evened the storied series with Gig Harbor as both teams have won and lost 24 games of the 48 game series. The Seahawks are 1-2 in non-league play and open conference play at Timberline next friday night at 7pm.
Gig Harbor drops to 1-2 in non-league play as well and will host Bellarmine Prep at roy Anderson field next Friday also with a 7pm kick-off.
Stats of Note
For Peninsula, QB Talen McDonnell was 13-20, 245 yards with 2 TD and an int. He was 1 of 2 kicking field goals hitting the 30-yarder to end the 1st half. RB Thomas Marzano had 12 carries for 46 yards and scored 2 touchdowns, Brycen McAnanlly ran the ball 9 times for 37 yards and hauled in 3 passes for 104 yards and a TD.
The Seahawk defense were ball hawks in this one with 4 interceptions. Landon Schultz with 2 while Jace Shanburn and Jett Ortega with one each. Peninsula held Gig Harbor to 202 yards of offense with just 37 through the air.
Peninsula’s offense racked up 382 total yards with 245 through the air.
Watch the game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Sports Postgame Show
Game Highlights
Talen McDonnell finds Brycen McAnally in the flat and he takes it in for 6
Gig Harbor gets on the board with a big run by Taylor Carey
Schultz deflates the Tides plans to get back in the game
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