High school football season preview: 2A South Puget Sound League
Some high school football leagues in the area have begun playing in the past week. This week, the Class 2A South Puget Sound League kicks off its season. Here’s what to watch for.
2A SPSL: OVERVIEW
The league looks similar to last year, with a couple of changes. Eatonville dropped to 1A during the last reclassification cycle, but will remain in the 2A SPSL for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year because of the coronavirus pandemic. River Ridge moved up to the 3A South Sound Conference during the last reclassification cycle. The 2A SPSL Sound division no longer exists, with Evergreen, Highline, Renton, Lindbergh and Foster moving to the 2A KingCo. The big addition is Enumclaw, which dropped all the way down from the 4A NPSL during the last reclassification cycle. The 10-team league consists of these schools for the 2020-21 school year: Clover Park, Enumclaw, Fife, Foss, Franklin Pierce, Orting, Steilacoom, Washington, White River and Eatonville.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE?
Steilacoom, which won the league in 2019. But there’s a glaring omission from this year’s Sentinels roster. Five-star recruit Emeka Egbuka, who was on pace to become the state’s all-time leading receiver in career yards, decided to forgo the winter season to enroll early at Ohio State. It’s hard to overstate how big of a loss Emeka’s absence is for Steilacoom. He’s possibly the best receiver to ever come out of Washington. He was a threat to take any kickoff or punt return to the house. He was The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area Player of the Year as a junior, when he racked up 1,607 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns on 83 receptions. He had 2,240 all-purpose yards and 35 total touchdowns. And on defense, Egbuka tallied eight interceptions at corner for the Sentinels. He was also named the state’s 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year. Oh, and he led Steilacoom to its first ever state championship game.
Those are big, impossible shoes to fill. But there’s still plenty to like on the Steilacoom roster. Western Kentucky signee Chance McDonald returns for his senior season at QB, after a breakout junior season. Arizona signee DJ Fryar, a 6-foot-3 linebacker with size and speed, is one of the area’s top players. Air Force signee Tre Horner and Central Washington signee Logan Brady are legitimate weapons at receiver at McDonald’s disposal. And TNT All-Area defensive lineman Judah Jackson returns for his junior season.
WHO ARE OTHER POSSIBLE CONTENDERS?
Newcomer Enumclaw has a strong chance to win the league. And we’ll find out early: The Hornets face Steilacoom in the first game of the league season on Saturday, Feb. 27. It’s not like Enumclaw was overmatched in 4A, either. The Hornets won games against Tahoma, Todd Beamer and Bellarmine Prep in 2019. The drop to 2A makes Enumclaw an instant league title contender and in a normal year, a probable state tournament team. The Hornets have a physical running game and take plenty of pride in their offensive line play. At home games, linemen emerged from a cattle trailer during starting lineup announcements, the spotlight fully on them. Left tackle Ryder Popke and right guard Lorenzo Luchi highlight this year’s line, with a strong running back room led by Royal Snyder and Ricky Bonthius.
Eatonville is another contender. 6-foot-3, 245-pound UW signee Caden Jumper is an absolute load at quarterback and was one of the area’s best — if not most unconventional — dual-threat quarterbacks last season. Jimmy Lake hopes to use him as an H-back for the Huskies. Jumper rushed for 1,117 yards and 13 touchdowns in eight games in 2019 and threw for 992 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior Trevor Scantling moves from offensive line to running back. 6-foot-6 sophomore lineman Kyle Cox was an all-league second teamer as a freshman and sophomore Job Kralik is the team’s top returning receiver. On defense, coach Gavin Kralik is high on the defensive line group, led by senior Adam Jensen and junior Waylan Mettler.
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Caden Jumper, Eatonville, sr.
OL Kyle Cox, Eatonville, soph.
QB Chance McDonald, Steilacoom, sr.
LB D.J. Fryar, Steilacoom, sr.
RB Royal Snyder, Enumclaw, sr.
OL Ryder Popke, Enumclaw, sr.
OL Lorenzo Luchi, Enumclaw, sr.
WR Tre Horner, Steilacoom, sr.
WR Logan Brady, Steilacoom, sr.
DE Caden Gottfried, Orting, sr.
LB Dathan Taape, Orting, sr.
LB Blaine Hanly, Eatonville, jr.
DL Matthew Mika, Washington, sr.
LB Donovan Hartman, Franklin Pierce, sr.
LB Malakai Koke, Fife, sr.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH
Steilacoom
Enumclaw
Eatonville
Fife
Franklin Pierce
Orting
White River
Washington
Clover Park
Foss
This story was originally published February 26, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
