POULSBO — Tides by name — and Tides by reputation.
Gig Harbor showed no mercy in a 42-6 shellacking of North Kitsap Friday night, utilizing a multifaceted backfield of speed and power that washed over NK for 333 rushing yards and provided further evidence that the Tides are the team to beat in the Narrows Bridge.
Gig’s Gary Cole delivered three touchdowns for the Tides (3-0), resembling a blitzing bowling ball that plowed through the pins of the Viking defense. His offensive back counterpart, Jake Merrill, provided two more touchdowns using his speed and finesse to fool the North line.
Vikings coach Steve Frease said he knew that Gig Harbor’s backs had already emerged as a force in the league but felt that North was prepared for the onslaught. It just happens that the Vikings couldn’t make the stops on the field.
“I think if we had a good defensive scheme,†Frease said. “It comes down to their Xs beat our Os.â€
Offensively, North Kitsap (1-2) could get little going against a steady Gig Harbor defense. The Vikings scored just one rushing touchdown early in the second quarter when Jerrell Smith followed a 68-yard scamper with a two-yard run into the zone.
When it seemed North had made a stop on one of Gig’s big two, the Tides would simply switch to the other running back to do the ball carrying, or even go to the air, as GH quarterback Troy Burki threw for 104 yards. Frease said his gridders did all they could to contain their opponent’s offense, but not much was halted.
“(The Tides) were picked to win this game,†Frease said. “We gave it our best shot and at some point, you’ve just got to tip your hat to them.â€
The Vikings had hoped to carry the momentum of a 15-13 win versus Wilson last week, after the opening loss to Bainbridge. Frease said the Tides proved just too tough not only on offense, but on defense and special teams — an area the Vikings have proved successful at this year — as well.
“They beat us in all three phases of the game,†Frease said.
North Kitsap will go back to the drawing board for Friday’s game, but they’ll be seeing the other end of the Narrows’ Bridge division spectrum: Bremerton. The Knights lost to fellow league cellar dwellers Olympic last weekend.
