Gig Harbor Defeated Lincoln in 31-28 Thriller

Gig Harbor secured a narrow victory over Lincoln after a clutch field goal in the final minutes of play.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Football

Gig Harbor Defeated Lincoln in 31-28 Thriller

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Gig Harbor bested Lincoln with a final score of 31-28 at the Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma. A 31-yard field goal from Caleb Kalafatich broke the tie to seal the win for Gig Harbor.

Why it matters

The game was a back-and-forth battle that saw multiple scoring shifts, ultimately decided by a precise field goal in the closing minutes of the matchup. This victory marks a significant outcome for Gig Harbor as the team looks ahead to its next scheduled appearance.

Gig Harbor secured the win with a 31-yard field goal, following Sawyer Hayes’ two 1-yard rushing touchdowns. Lincoln responded with a 37-yard touchdown run from JT Williams and a 50-yard scoring pass from Sione Kaho to Aamir Foy.

The players

Max Schwab

He was named the game MVP after recording an interception and a touchdown for Gig Harbor.

Sawyer Hayes

He led the Gig Harbor offense by scoring two 1-yard rushing touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass.

Sione Kaho

He served as the primary playmaker for the Lincoln offense, throwing touchdown passes to his teammates.

Caleb Kalafatich

He successfully kicked a 31-yard field goal in the final minutes to secure the victory for Gig Harbor.

JT Williams

He contributed significantly to the Lincoln scoring effort with a 37-yard rushing touchdown and a successful 2-point conversion.

The details

Max Schwab, named game MVP, recorded an interception and a 7-yard rushing touchdown to bolster the Gig Harbor effort. Tristan Shipley also contributed a touchdown reception, while Lincoln fought back with touchdown passes to Elijah Carney and Shyne Pastores.

October 3, 2026: Gig Harbor played Lincoln in Tacoma.
October 9, 2026: Gig Harbor is scheduled to play Central Kitsap.
October 9, 2026: Lincoln is scheduled to play Mt. Tahoma.

Season Trajectory

This narrow victory shifts the momentum for Gig Harbor as they prepare for a mid-October matchup against Central Kitsap. Meanwhile, Lincoln must regroup before their upcoming game against Mt. Tahoma to maintain their position in the current season standings.

Gig Harbor maintains a winning record heading into the next week of play, while Lincoln must address their defensive gaps following the late-game field goal. The result directly influences the upcoming week's playoff pathing and divisional rankings.

The takeaway

Close games in the late regular season often hinge on special teams performance and late-game defensive stops. Keeping composure during high-pressure scoring drives in the final minutes remains the key difference between a win and a loss.