On a perfect night for high school football in Bonney Lake, the Panthers hosted the Peninsula Seahawks, with both teams in search of their first win of the season. The Panthers, adjusting to life in the SPSL 4A division, and the Seahawks, newly relocated to the 3A South Sound District, entered the game 0-2 overall and yet to play a divisional matchup. Both teams took the field eager to iron out the kinks before league play kicked off, and from the start, it was clear that neither would go down without a fight.
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Defense dominated early, as both squads held strong through much of the first quarter. With 3:53 left on the clock, the Seahawks' offense broke through when their quarterback found his receiver on a quick short pass, just inches over the goal line for the first score of the game. It was a drive that nearly stalled, but those extra few inches made all the difference, putting the Seahawks up 7-0.
The Panthers responded with a clock-eating drive of their own, methodically working their way from their own 20-yard line to the Seahawks’ 30, thanks to sharp play management from quarterback Clete Gilbert and the relentless running of Brendan Powell. Despite the momentum, Bonney Lake couldn't capitalize, and the promising drive ended without points.
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As the second quarter wound down, Peninsula added to their lead. With 5:16 remaining before halftime, their running back bulldozed his way in from six yards out, giving the Seahawks a 14-0 advantage that would hold as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
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Out of the break, Bonney Lake emerged with renewed energy, looking to flip the script. A well-executed drive brought the Panthers to the Seahawks' 7-yard line, but once again, they couldn't find the end zone. Still, kicker Francisco Garcia Martinez came through, drilling a field goal to get the Panthers on the board and close the gap to 14-3.
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For much of the third quarter, Bonney Lake controlled the ball, keeping Peninsula's offense on the sideline. But as the clock ticked toward the final seconds of the quarter, the Seahawks quarterback made a statement, launching a 34-yard bomb that set up a 20-yard touchdown pass to the back of the end zone, extending the lead to 21-3.
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The fourth quarter was a defensive slugfest, as both teams struggled to move the ball. Peninsula tacked on a late field goal to seal the game, 24-3, leaving Bonney Lake still searching for its first win.
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Next up for the Panthers is their first league test, a road game against Graham-Kapowsin. It’ll be a tough matchup against last year’s state runner-up, but if Bonney Lake can build on the fight they showed against Peninsula, they might just surprise some people when league play begins.
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