Here's the story I just filed:

BY DOUG PACEY
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com

Jamaal Kearse didn’t see the first part of the fourth quarter in Lakes’ South Puget Sound League 3A matchup at Peninsula on Thursday night.

Instead, the junior was on his back on the sidelines, getting his cramped legs stretched out. When Kearse finally returned to the field, he made his presence known. First he drew a pass interference call that kept alive a Lancers drive that eventually resulted in a touchdown. Moments after that, he sealed Lakes’ 42-26 victory with an interception he returned to the Seahawks’ 1-yard line,

“Man, did Jamaal make some plays tonight,” Lancers coach Dave Miller said.

After Lakes went up 35-26 late in the final period, Peninsula took over at its own 38 with five minutes to play. On first down, Seahawks quarterback JR Grosshans fired the ball over the middle to Johnny Johnson, but Kearse stepped in front of Johnson and returned the interception 44 yards.

“We’d been studying that play in film this week,” Kearse said. “I was watching the quarterback’s eyes and dropped behind the receiver. When he went to throw, I ran in front of him and got the ball.”

Running back Jordan Rivera scored his third touchdown of the game on the next play, all but clinching the win.

Miller said he was glad Peninsula pushed his team, which beat Bonney Lake 49-0 last week.

“So often in the regular season we don’t face adversity,” he said. “It’s we get to do it now so it’s not new when it happens later in the season.”

The Seahawks hung with the Lancers, scoring a couple quick-strike touchdowns that answered Lakes’ scores.

“We wanted to go out and attack them,” Peninsula coach Ross Filkins said. “A lot of teams play Lakes and they try to stay back and not make mistakes. We wanted to be aggressive.”

The strategy worked until the very end.

“This was a big win for us,” Kearse said. “They are one of the best teams in our league.”

Known for a wide-open passing attack, Lakes has taken on a run-first approach this season. Tailback Willis Wilson led Lakes with 124 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries and Rivera added 106 yards on 17 rushes.

“We’re going to set up the pass with the run,” Miller said. “In the past we’ve set up the run with the pass. We have new players and I believe that we should play to our personnel.”

Rivera might shoulder more of the carries next week. Wilson was ejected in the fourth quarter after being flagged for a personal foul. Players that are thrown out of games automatically are ineligible for the following game – Lakes plays next week at White Rivera – but Miller said he appealed the decision.

Quarterback Dylan Gervais was an efficient 10-of-14 for 114 yards and a touchdown. But the junior signal-caller’s biggest play of the night was a run. Leading 28-26 and facing fourth-and-4 at the Peninsula 28 with about eight minutes left, Gervais kept the ball for the first time in the game, running up the middle for 11 yards. The first down kept alive a drive that lasted nearly nine minutes and Gervais capped with a 1-yard sneak for a touchdown that put Lakes ahead 35-26.

Running back Brandon James scored all four of Peninsula’s touchdowns on runs of 3, 1, 26 and 4 yards. He finished with 80 yards on 16 carries.

Darrian Creamer helped Peninsula stay close in the first half. The junior set up the Seahawks’ first touchdown with a kickoff return to Lakes’ 15.

Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271

blogs.thenewstribune.com/preps

We've got a few interesting games on Friday night, but tonight we've got a SPSL 3A showdown when Lakes travels to Peninsula.

The Lancers easily dispatched Bonney Lake 49-0 last week, showing that talent still abounds even after losing a dozen players who went on to play college football. Peninsula is expected to be one of the better teams in the SPSL 3A, but so is Bonney Lake. Tonight's game will tell us quite a bit about where Lakes and Peninsula are headed this season.

Just a reminder, if you want scores from around the area sent to your cell phone, sign up at Twitter and "follow" tntsports.

Here's a sneak peek at Friday night's top matchups.

SPSL NORTH
No. 9 Kentwood (1-0) at No. 8 Auburn (1-0)
7 p.m. Friday at Auburn Memorial Field
The lowdown: Both teams are coming off big wins. Kentwood rallied from a 14-point first-quarter deficit to beat a talented Kennedy squad 28-14 at Qwest Field. Auburn held off defending SPSL North champion Federal Way on the road. If the Trojans win this game, they are clearly in the driver’s seat in the SPSL North.
Why the Conquerors will win: Kentwood has one of the better offensive lines in the league and a great backfield, too. Running backs Darius Coleman and Joseph Banks can grind between the tackles and sprint around the end.
Why the Trojans will win: Auburn’s linemen played well last week, creating holes on offense and plugging them on defense at critical moments. RB/LB Jeff Gouveia is a rock and capable of carrying the team at times. QB Carlo Lavoie returns this week.
The News Tribune pick: In a nearly even matchup, the Trojans get the edge.
Auburn 14, Kentwood 13

SPSL SOUTH
Spanaway Lake (1-0) at No. 7 Rogers (1-0)
7 p.m. Friday at Sparks Stadium
The lowdown: The Sentinels get a chance to knock off reigning SPSL South champion Rogers, but they might be at less than full-strength. RB Shay Patton, who ran for 270 yards and three touchdowns last week, hasn’t practiced all week because of an infection on his heel.
Why the Sentinels will win: RB Devin McKinney and Marquise Miller, a flanker-turned-running back, will get the bulk of the carries if Patton can’t play. McKinney showed he can have success, rushing for 94 yards on seven carries last week.
Why the Rams will win: Rogers simply has too much firepower. The Rams have an effective running attack in QB TylerVan Sligtenhorst, RB Bennett Bontemps and RB Keith Arnold. The defense, is pretty stout, too.
The News Tribune pick: Rogers has too many weapons for a Sentinels team heavy on sophomores and juniors.
Rogers 28, Spanaway Lake 14

NON-LEAGUE
No. 5 Olympia (1-0) at No. 9 Capital (0-1)
7 p.m. Friday at Ingersoll Stadium
The lowdown: Outside of gubernatorial elections, the Spaghetti Bowl is as big as it gets in Thurston County. The Olympia School District rivals are each ranked in their respective classes.
Why the Bears will win: Known as a running team under coach Bill Beattie, Olympia will try to be more balanced this season, passing more. Bears QB Willie Willard is effective throwing the ball and his mobility will keep defenses honest.
Why the Cougars will win: A preseason favorite to win the Olympic Western League, Capital has to be seething over letting last week’s game against No. 2 O’Dea slip away, losing 14-13. Expect the Cougars to be looking to exact some revenge in Week 2.
The News Tribune pick: Olympia’s 38 seniors don’t want to lose their final Spaghetti Bowl. Beattie will get his 100th victory with the Bears.
Olympia 26, Capital 20

NARROWS LEAGUE
Bellarmine Prep (0-1) at Gig Harbor (0-1)
7 p.m. Friday at Roy Anderson Field
The lowdown: Both of these teams began the season with dreams of a league title and postseason berth. One of these teams will find itself starting at a 0-2 record tonight.
Why the Lions will win: QB Luke Schindele makes game-planning difficult for defensive coordinators. He’s one of the best runners in the area and that will keep defenses honest. Bellarmine Prep’s line will hold its own against any opponent.
Why the Tides will win: The Tides’ postseason path will become awfully rocky if they start 0-2 in the Narrows League, so there’s no way they lose this game, right? The youthful Tides worked out the kinks of the new spread offense on the season-opener and will come back much smoother and more confident.
The News Tribune pick: With another week to work on the spread offense, Gig Harbor has smoothed out the bumps.
Gig Harbor 26, Bellarmine Prep 20