Having spirited vocal support from hometown fans isn’t something that goes unnoticed by players and coaches involved in any level of athletics.

This past week I had the opportunity to cover the Eastlake Wolves/Gig Harbor Tides non-league football game. In the grand scheme of things the contest didn’t mean much with regard to playoff positioning or the standings, but you couldn’t tell by the amount of fans in attendance for Eastlake’s second home game of the 2014 season. The parking lot was full to the brim and the bleachers were standing room only. The fans were raucous, but respectful during Eastlake’s thrilling come-from-behind 24-21 victory.

Following the game, I interviewed Eastlake head coach Don Bartel on the field about the particulars of the game as the large contingent of fans filed out of the stadium. During our three-minute conversation he made it a point to thank those fans for supporting his team in an exuberant manner.

“I love our crowd, I love our kids and I love our community,” Bartel said. “There is no place like this.”

The student section was especially packed for the matchup against the Tides.

“To get 1,000 kids on a Friday night to come to a non-league game, that is just amazing to me,” he said. “Our fans, our student body and our community are just awesome. I love it.”

According to Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Washington State Report Card, Eastlake High School had a total of 1,578 students in May of 2014. To have nearly 64 percent of the student body in attendance for a high school football game just shows much school/community spirit exists in the Eastlake community.

The fans boisterous nature was evident during a critical juncture of the fourth quarter. With the Tides clinging to a 21-17 lead with a little more than five minutes left in the contest, Gig Harbor kicker Garrett Wenrich lined up for a 34-yard field goal attempt. Before Wenrich attempted the field goal, the amount of noise reverberating from the crowd noticeably increased. Wenrich’s kick fell two yards short of the crossbar. Two plays later Eastlake got the lead for good on a 78-yard touchdown pass from Mark Whitley to Rudy Gonzalez, giving the Wolves a 24-21 lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game.

Did the increased crowd noise play a factor in the missed field goal and ensuing momentum swing? There’s no tangible proof to say that it did, but it’s certainly a viable possibility.

Passion on the field and passion in the stands were the perfect recipe for a Friday night victory.

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com