HS Football: Special Teams Boost Leads Mount Tahoma to Win Over Gig Harbor

10/17/25

(Gig Harbor, WA) While most leagues in the state entered week 7 with three games left in the regular season, the Puget Sound League would enter their penultimate week on Friday night. With just two more league games before the playoffs start early in week 9, teams are scrambling to try to position themselves in a playoff position in the quest to Husky Stadium

For the Mount Tahoma Thunderbirds, they entered their week 7 matchup with a perfect record and a chance to clinch at least a share of the PSL Narrows Division title. A dominant season for the T-Birds, they would not be satisfied with just a share of a league title as they looked to take care of business in their final two games to secure a spot in the round of 32. For the Gig Harbor Tides, a win would flip the Narrows Division on its head with four one-loss teams entering the final week of the PSL season. It would all go down at Roy Anderson Field as the Tides looked to spring the upset.

Mount Tahoma 27, Gig Harbor 14

Gig Harbor received the opening kickoff and started hot after a big 33-yard run from Wilson West on his second carry of the game. A 15-yard penalty against the Tides and an injury would set them back, but Max Schwab made up for it with another explosive play for a 28-yard run. The ground and pound style was working for the Tides as they worked their way down to the one before a QB sneak by Sawyer Hayes gave Gig Harbor the first points of the game with a 7-0 lead.

Mount Tahoma’s opening drive was a promising one as well. Nezie White picked up 11 yards on his first two carries and Mikkah Cordero used his arm and legs early with a 19-yard pass to Elijah Durr and a 19-yard scramble on third down. The T-Birds got inside the 10 and down to the six-yard line for third and goal before back-to-back false start penalties moved them back to the 16. Cordero took a shot to the endzone by Trystan Hill was there for the interception to end the drive and keep the T-Birds off the board.

A punt would prevent Gig Harbor from adding onto their lead and Mount Tahoma would get the ball back with a much slower and more methodical drive. Nezie White, Felix Diaz, and Keshawn Hines led the ground game while the T-Birds started to get some momentum and worked down to the one-yard line. A QB sneak would be stuffed the first time, but the second time was the charm as Cordero fought his way into the endzone to tie the game at 7-7.

The next drive for the Tides would stall out and Mount Tahoma would get the ball at the Gig Harbor 49 to begin their next drive. Nothing was doing for the Thunderbirds as a turnover on downs would give the ball back to Gig Harbor. The Tides went right back to their rushing attack behind Wilson West and Max Schwab. West had the big run with an 18-yard run and a facemask added onto that. For the first time in the game, the Tides would throw the ball and Sawyer Hayes dropped a 16-yard pass into the back of the endzone to Max Schwab. They would stop Mount Tahoma’s final drive of the half and we headed to halftime with Gig Harbor leading 14-7.

Fortunately for Mount Tahoma, they got the ball to start the second half. Unfortunately for them, the Gig Harbor defense came out fired up and forced a quick three-and-out to get the offense the ball back. Mount Tahoma’s defense answered immediately and pinned the Tides deep in their own territory. A punt was caught by Elijah Durr at the 46-yard line and he already had a full head of steam and was off to the races. A punt return for a touchdown is what the T-Birds needed as they tied the game at 14-14.

Defense continued to steal the spotlight for both teams as Felix Diaz and Peter Leiato made big plays for Mount Tahoma in the backfield while Johan Gerl and Will Cody did the same for Gig Harbor. Another punt by Gig Harbor would give Elijah Durr another opportunity and once again special teams would be the difference maker. Durr would receive the punt at the T-Bird 35 and went to the left side of the field and once again couldn’t be stopped. A 65-yard touchdown was the result and Mount Tahoma had their first lead thanks to Durr’s two punt return touchdowns with the score 21-14.

Starting the 4th quarter, Gig Harbor continued to try to find offense but some penalties hurt them as they couldn’t seem to put together a long drive. the Tides would decide to punt the ball away from Durr but it resulted in a bad punt that went just nine-yards and gave Mount Tahoma the ball at the Tides 14-yard line. It didn’t take long for Mount Tahoma to capitalize on the great field position as Mikkah Cordero found Elijah Durr for a three-yard score and Durr’s third touchdown of the day. A missed extra point wouldn’t hurt them as Mount Tahoma led 27-14 late.

Gig Harbor would have one last opportunity but with time ticking down they had to abandon their strength which is the rushing attack. Sawyer Hayes had to take some chances down the field but the T-Bird secondary was just too strong. An interception would seal the deal as Mount Tahoma remained perfect despite a very game Gig Harbor side as the T-Birds got the 27-14 win.

Stats and MVP

Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP of the game was Elijah Durr for Mount Tahoma. The T-Bird’s receiver was held silent for the first half but made up for it and then some in the second half on Friday night. Two punt returns for touchdowns flipped the scoreboard in Mount Tahoma’s favor and Gig Harbor had to punt the ball short to avoid kicking it to him again. He took advantage of that short field with a touchdown catch to give him four receptions for 35 yards and three total touchdowns in a game that needed someone to step up.

Mikkah Cordero went 9/18 passing for 55 yards and a touchdown while running the ball five times for three yards and a touchdown as well. Nezie White had 15 carries for just 19 yards while Felix Diaz had eight carries for 12 yards and a couple of catches while Keshawn Hines with five carries for 18 yards. Anthony Quintanilla Jr. and Xavier Harris each had an eight-yard reception and Logan Walker had a seven-yard catch. Felix Diaz also had a tackle for a loss while Peter Leiato had a TFL and a sack.

For Gig Harbor, Wilson West carried the ball 17 times for the Tides for 101 yards while Max Schwab had nine carries for 50 yards. Schwab also did damage in the receiving game as well with two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown. Troy Arnold had six yards on his only carry before leaving the game with an injury and Sawyer Hayes had eight carries and a touchdown. Hayes also went 2/7 through the air for 21 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Trystan Hill and Micco Colyer each had an interception and Will Cody and Johan Gerl each had 1 1/2 sacks as well.

With the win, Mount Tahoma remains perfect with a 7-0 record including a 4-0 record in the PSL Narrows division. The T-Birds wrap up the regular season next Friday night when they visit the Silas Rams at 7pm. Gig Harbor falls to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in league play but have secured at least a playoff game in week 9. The Tides will visit the Bellarmine Lions next Friday at 7pm to decide the #3 and #4 teams in the Narrows division.

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