Enumclaw High mercifully ended a woeful 2-7 grid campaign with a 38-7 setback Friday at the hands of Peninsula.
When the Hornets hosted Peninsula at Orting’s stadium, with a postseason appearance awaiting the victor, it quickly became obvious how much EHS missed the services of offensive tackle Kevin Knapp, who suffered a broken arm during an earlier loss to Bonney Lake.
Enumclaw got off on the right foot, winning the coin flip and electing to receive the opening kick.
Things went south from there, as EHS’s return man couldn’t find the handle on the football and Peninsula recovered the loose pigskin inside EHS’s 10-yard line.
The early break furnished the Seahawks with optimism, but Peninsula was unable to capitalize on the gift.
Peninsula squandered its first scoring chance, but there was no cause for alarm, as the Seahawks would be presented with several more opportunities.
For example, a short Enumclaw punt put Peninsula near the red zone.
Peninsula broke the scoring ice five minutes into the rendezvous, when back Danny Webstad burst through the line and galloped 32 yards to paydirt.
The maroon and gold was behind 21-0 as the siren sounded to signal the close of the first 12 minutes.
Enumclaw was successful in slowing Peninsula’s offensive progress in the second quarter.
It seemed no matter what look EHS showed offensively, signal caller Dylan Podolak was forced to forego searching for prospective targets, in favor of self-preservation.
After Webstad bashed the rock into EHS’ end zone from 1 yard out and PHS placekicker Austin Miller tacked on a 43-yard field goal, Peninsula owned a 31-0 upper hand at halftime.
In the fourth quarter, Enumclaw finally devised a scheme to give Podolak a few extra seconds to locate his receivers. He found Derek Joshlin for a 31-yard TD.