The coveted Fish Bowl trophy is coming back to Purdy.
Peninsula quarterback Talen McDonnell threw two touchdown passes, running back Thomas Marzano added a pair of first-half scores, and the Seahawks dominated crosstown rival Gig Harbor on Saturday night, 38-7, in a runaway win at Mount Tahoma High School.
Peninsula seized its first win over the Tides since 2022 and the first of head coach Clay Mauro’s two-year tenure.
“Our kids did such a good job,” Mauro told The News Tribune. “This is a team win from those guys. They get all the credit in the world, and we love them.”
The Seahawks silenced Gig Harbor’s Wing-T offense, which thrived in last year’s 35-21 win. For Peninsula’s senior class, Saturday marked their last chance to hoist the trophy themselves.
“My brother played football (at Peninsula) and they won seven years in a row,” Marzano said. “It was embarrassing the last (three) years. … I’m glad we got it back in Purdy, got that trophy back.”
Marzano drew first blood with a 3-yard touchdown run, set up by a long throw and catch from McDonnell to receiver Jace Shanburn inside the 10.
Marzano added a 1-yard touchdown and McDonnell, a versatile QB/K/P, drilled a 30-yard field goal before the half.
Peninsula’s Brycen McAnally opened the floodgates with a 21-yard touchdown catch in the third.
“We cared about physicality,” Mauro said. “We cared deeply about it.
“We said, ‘Hey guys, we’re Peninsula. Peninsula starts with a P, so does physicality. Figure it out.’”
McDonnell tossed his second touchdown to WR Logan Johnson, a seven-yard score in the fourth quarter.
When running back Xavier Jones punched home a three-yard score that pushed Peninsula’s lead to 37-8, the Seahawks could officially celebrate.
“Just staying calm,” McDonnell said. “Knowing that the blitz is coming, but just making sure I get the ball off at the right time. I trust my receivers with the ball, so I know I can throw it up to them and they’re going to go get it.”
Gig Harbor’s Taylor Carey raced 18 yards for the Tides’ only touchdown late in the third quarter.
Peninsula scheduled non-league Franklin Pierce in Week 2 for a glimpse of the Cardinals’ Power-T run game. The Seahawks lost, 42-14, but walked away with valuable intel for what to expect from Gig Harbor’s similar formation Saturday night.
“That’s why we did it,” Mauro said. “(Franklin Pierce) is a great program. They run it perfectly, and guess what? It was time for us to see that, and that applied to today. … That film is what led to tonight.”
Peninsula (1-2) opens its 3A PSL Nisqually schedule at Timberline on Sept. 25.
“This year, we’re definitely focused on 11 as 1,” McDonnell said. “Just caring about us, ourselves, and just making sure that we give 100 percent.”
