High school football season preview: 4A North Puget Sound League
High school football is back in the South Sound. Practices are underway as programs across the state prepare for the beginning of the 2022 season in September.
The News Tribune and The Olympian will be visiting schools in the area and previewing local leagues as the first week of games approaches.
Follow along with us throughout the two-week preseason for previews on the 4A NPSL, 4A SPSL, 3A NPSL, 3A PCL, 3A SSC, 2A SPSL, 2A EvCo and more.
4A NORTH PUGET SOUND LEAGUE
Who’s the favorite?
Kennedy Catholic hasn’t lost a league contest since the 2018 season, and will look to secure a fourth consecutive league title this fall. The Lancers bring back nearly every starter on offense and defense from the team that advanced to the 4A district playoffs last season, including a pair of Division I-bound seniors in lineman Micah Banuelos (USC commit) and linebacker Xe’ree Alexander (Arizona State commit). Banuelos was the 4A NPSL Red Division offensive lineman of the year in 2021, as well as a first-team pick on both sides of the ball, while Alexander was a first-team selection on defense. Behind an experienced group, Kennedy Catholic is eyeing a return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Lancers will get their first big test of the season early, playing 3A power Eastside Catholic in Week 1.
Any other contenders?
Federal Way could contend atop the league standings, returning seven starters each on offense and defense from last season’s district playoffs team, including Oregon State commit Andre Piper-Jordan Jr. — the 4A NPSL Red Division defensive back of the year, returner of the year and a first-team wide receiver and cornerback last season — and three more defensive backs with Division I offers. … Kentwood was the only 4A NPSL team to advance to the state playoffs last season, losing to eventual state champion Graham-Kapowsin in the first round. The Conquerors have made back-to-back appearances in the 4A state bracket in 2019 and last fall, and will look to make it three in a row with first-year coach Matt Roth. Kentwood’s only league losses the past three seasons have been against Kennedy Catholic. … Tahoma first-year coach Zach Myers — longtime coach Tony Davis retired after leading the Bears for 28 seasons — brings back 10 starters from the 2021 team that advanced to the district playoffs.
Save the date
▪ Friday, Sept. 2 — Kennedy Catholic vs. Eastside Catholic, 7:45 p.m. at Memorial Stadium (Seattle)
▪ Thursday, Sept. 15 — Kennedy Catholic vs. Kentwood, 6 p.m. at French Field (Kent)
▪ Friday, Sept. 16 — Federal Way vs. Lake Stevens, 7 p.m. at Lake Stevens High School
▪ Friday, Sept. 30 — Kennedy Catholic vs. Federal Way, 7 p.m. at Federal Way Memorial Stadium
▪ Friday, Oct. 21 — Kentwood vs. Federal Way, 7 p.m. at Federal Way Memorial Stadium
Did you know?
▪ The NPSL will not be split into three divisions this season, instead returning to separate 4A and 3A leagues, which are each represented by seven schools. The 4A league includes Decatur, Federal Way, Kennedy Catholic, Kentridge, Kentwood, Mount Rainier and Tahoma. The 3A league includes Auburn, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn Riverside, Kent-Meridian, Kentlake, Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer.
▪ Four players set to begin their final seasons in the 4A NPSL this fall are committed to Pac-12 schools in Kennedy Catholic’s Xe’ree Alexander (Arizona State) and Micah Banuelos (USC), Federal Way’s Andre Piper-Jordan Jr. (Oregon State) and Kentridge’s Dorian Thomas (Oregon State). Banuelos and Thomas are both considered top-10 recruits in Washington in the 2023 class by 247Sports.com. Banuelos is considered the top offensive lineman and No. 4 overall recruit in the state in this cycle, while Thomas is considered the top tight end and No. 9 overall recruit. Piper-Jordan Jr. is considered the No. 11 overall recruit in the state this season, and Alexander the No. 16 overall recruit.
10 players to watch
LB Xe’ree Alexander, Kennedy Catholic, sr.
OL Micah Banuelos, Kennedy Catholic, sr.
DB Rahshawn Clark, Federal Way, jr.
DB Roman Hutchinson, Federal Way, sr.
DB Jaylon Jenkins, Federal Way, sr.
RB Antoine Lee, Kentwood, soph.
DB Andre Piper-Jordan Jr., Federal Way, sr.
ATH Dorian Thomas, Kentridge, sr.
LB Jabez Tuaoa, Kentwood, jr.
WR Maclane Watkins, Kennedy Catholic, sr.
Predicted order of finish
Kennedy Catholic, Federal Way, Kentwood, Tahoma, Kentridge, Mount Rainier, Decatur
This story was originally published August 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
