High school football season preview: 4A South Puget Sound League
High school sports have returned, with traditional fall sports now underway in February. The News Tribune is previewing different high school football leagues around the area as games approach. For most leagues in the area, official league games begin Friday, Feb. 19. Up next in the preview series: The Class 4A South Puget Sound League.
4A SPSL: OVERVIEW
The league looks a bit different this year because of the pandemic. Olympia and South Kitsap left, joining leagues in their counties for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Class 3A schools Peninsula and Gig Harbor took their place as temporary members. Bethel is also a newcomer in the 2020-21 school year but is a permanent member of the league after moving up to 4A during the last reclassification cycle. Not every team in the league will play each other in the six-game season. The winner will be determined by total wins and losses.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE?
Graham-Kapowsin, which won the league in 2019. The Eagles lost TNT All-Area first-team selection Malaki Roberson to graduation and will have to replace that production at receiver. Junior dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood replaces Nate Thomas, who also graduated. Despite those losses, Graham-Kapowsin’s front seven is one of the best units in the state, and the Eagles will have strong line play on both sides of the ball. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, junior offensive tackle Vega Ioane has several Pac-12 offers. Twin brothers Hunter and Curtis Hill are maulers on both sides of the ball, while senior linebacker Jonas Waugh was one of the team’s top players last season. Teams will struggle to run the ball on G-K’s defense. Even if it takes some time for Wood to settle in at quarterback, expect a strong running game from the Eagles on offense, paced by sophomore Jalen Davenport, who transferred from Curtis. Junior receiver Julian Mason is a strong bet to replace some of the production lost from Roberson.
If Graham-Kapowsin is 1A, Puyallup is 1B. The league title could very well be decided when the teams meet in Week 4. Senior QB Luke Holcomb is back and should take the next step in his development. Junior 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman Dave Iuli, who has offers from a number of Power Five schools, returns to action after missing his sophomore season to injury and is complemented by linemen Ron Laupola, Tyler Lawrence and Sermon Wilson. Receivers Jordan Dwyer and Angel Sanchez are weapons at Holcomb’s disposal.
COULD ANYONE BE A SURPRISE CONTENDER?
Take your pick. This is one of the deepest and most talented leagues in the state this year.
Temporary newcomer Peninsula won the Class 3A South Sound Conference last season and returns a strong group of seniors, including Eastern Washington signee Sean Skladany, the 3A SSC MVP in 2019. The Seahawks are a regular in the state tournament, and longtime coach Ross Filkins believes this might be his best team ever. Running back and linebacker Landon Sims, who missed most of the 2019 to injury, is a dynamic player. The question is how Peninsula adjusts to the 4A SPSL, which is a tougher league than last year’s 3A SSC. If the Seahawks adapt quickly, this team is a legitimate league title contender.
Sumner is another team with strong line play, and the Keith Ross-coached Spartans are always physical and play hard. They also boast one of the state’s rapidly rising recruiting prospects in junior safety and receiver Tristan Dunn. He’s a 6-foot-3, physical player with 4.5 speed. He’ll play in coverage, but Ross also will bring him into the box this year. Think a Jamal Adams or Tyrann Mathieu-type role.
Bethel is another league newcomer with a strong team, which reached the Class 3A state tournament last season. Eastern Washington signee Kekoa Visperas is one of the area’s most explosive quarterbacks and figures to be even better this year after a year of starting experience under his belt. UW signee Will Latu is a load at running back and blows up plays at linebacker. Sacramento State signee Oge Feo will complement Latu to form one of the area’s most intimidating linebacker groups.
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Luke Holcomb, Puyallup, sr.
QB Kekoa Visperas, Bethel, sr.
LB Will Latu, Bethel, sr.
OL Dave Iuli, Puyallup, jr.
S Tristan Dunn, Sumner, jr.
OL Vega Ioane, Graham-Kapowsin, jr.
WR Julian Mason, Graham-Kapowsin, jr.
DL Curtis Hill, Graham-Kapowsin, soph.
LB Jonas Waugh, Graham-Kapowsin, sr.
DE Sermon Wilson, Puyallup, sr.
RB Sean Skladany, Peninsula, sr.
RB Landon Sims, Peninsula, sr.
WR Denzel Boston, Emerald Ridge, jr.
RB Cameron Beck, Rogers, jr.
DE Jake Jennings, Gig Harbor, sr.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH
Graham-Kapowsin
Puyallup
Peninsula
Sumner
Bethel
Emerald Ridge
Bellarmine
Gig Harbor
Rogers
Curtis
This story was originally published February 18, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
