Community Sports

Gig Harbor wins third consecutive Fish Bowl, 35-21

Gig Harbor won its third consecutive Fish Bowl, 35-21 over Peninsula on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Mount Tahoma Stadium.

Ian Shearer scored three touchdowns for Gig Harbor, which won its debut under new coach Jeff Scoma. Running back Wilson West and quarterback Sawyer Hayes also scored for the Tides.

Peninsula struggled with turnovers and penalties in the season opener for both teams. Seahawks turnovers led directly to at least three Tides scores.

The Gig Harbor High School football team celebrates after their 35-21 win over Peninsula in the Fish Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Mount Tahoma Stadium. Photo by Vince Dice

Dominant second quarter

The Seahawks struck first, on a 15-yard pass from Talen McDonnell to Jacob Martin at the 9:02 mark of the first quarter. But Gig Harbor dominated the second quarter, scoring three times to take a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Hayes, a sophomore quarterback who led Gig Harbor’s winning rally in 2024, may have broken Peninsula’s back late in the first half. Playing as a safety on defense, he intercepted a McDonnell pass with 50 seconds left in the second quarter and returned it to the Peninsula 4-yard line.

Hayes scored on a plunge as time expired in the half. Peninsula never got any closer than 14 points after that.

Hayes, a sophomore, has now been part of two Fish Bowl victories in his first two years of high school.

“I like this performance a lot better though,” Hayes said. “Not as much nerves going into it, because I’ve been here. We were ready for them this year.”

Even second half

The second half was much more even. Shearer scored his second touchdown with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter on a four-yard run. Peninsula responded when McDonnell scored from two yards out after the Seahawks recovered a Gig Harbor fumble.

Shearer put the game away at the 10:09 mark of the fourth with his third touchdown of the game.

The Tides dominated on the ground in their first outing running Scoma’s Wing T offense.

“The kids did a great job, especially since that’s there first game ever running it,” Scoma said. It’s “really just a testament to them, buying in 100% and working really hard, taking coaching.”

Gig Harbor coach Jeff Scoma speaks with his team after the Tides defeated Penisula, 35-21, in the Fish Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Photo by Vince Dice

Peninsula plays at Curtis at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. Gig Harbor plays at Eastlake at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.

Gig Harbor 35, Peninsula 21

GHHS — 0-21-7-7 — 35

PHS – 7-0-7-7 — 21

First quarter

9:02 – Pen, Jacob Martin 15 yard reception from Talen McDonnell

Second quarter

11:55 — GH, Ian Shearer 7-yard run

1:31 — GH, Wilson West 6-yard run

0:05 — Sawyer Hayes 1-yard yard run

Third quarter

6:25 — GH, Shearer 4 run

0:31 — Pen, McConnell 2 yard run

Fourth quarter

10:09 — GH, Shearer run

4:08  — Pen, Jake Johnson reception from McDonnell

Hunter Parris of Gig Harbor celebrates with fans in the stands after the Tides’ 35-21 win over Peninsula on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Photo by Vince Dice