High school football season preview: 2A South 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.
2A SOUTH PUGET SOUND LEAGUE
Who’s the favorite?
Ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answers. Of all the leagues in the South Sound, the 2A SPSL feels the most wide open of any. There are multiple teams that have a legitimate shot to win the league title.
As for us here at The News Tribune, we’ll roll with the Enumclaw Hornets. There’s a good football culture at Enumclaw under 11th year coach Mark Gunderson, a foundation built on controlling the line of scrimmage and protecting the football. It’s a philosophy that mirrors the town, in many ways: gritty, blue collar, tough. Where else will you see linemen emerge from a smoke-filled cattle trailer during pregame introductions? Expect a heavy dose of running the football up the gut and some play action downfield shots once the defense is sufficiently lulled to sleep.
Returning all-SPSL running back Emmit Otero will run the football behind 2A SPSL lineman of the year, center Zeke Luchi and mates that include guard Ryan Fehr and big tight end Austin Paulson. Enumclaw returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense, including first-team defensive linemen Keanu Lafaele and Fernando Reyes. This team has the personnel and experience to play the punishing brand of football Gunderson wants to run.
Enumclaw reached the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A state tournament last season after beating Hockinson in the opening round, 38-28. This team seems poised to make another run in state this fall.
Any other contenders?
Yes, plenty. Steilacoom is the reigning league champion after stifling Enumclaw’s offense in a 14-7 road win last season. The Sentinels always have athletes, but will need to grow up in a hurry; Steilacoom returns just one starter on offense and none on defense. This year’s team is young but has some talent at the skill positions. Sophomore Drew Macdonald will start at quarterback for the Sentinels and will have some explosive players around him, including junior running back Jaycion Cain.
Steilacoom coach Kyle Haller feels good about the receivers, led by Jaydus Green, Michael Tambulo and Josiah Morley. Green, a 6-foot-4 junior, is the most intriguing player on the roster. He looks the part and took third in the Class 2A state track and field meet in the high jump, jumping a personal-record 6 feet last spring as a sophomore. Also a basketball player, Green has the athleticism and measurables to blossom into a big-time player and recruit.
Fife, by its own standards, has been a bit down the past couple years. Longtime coach Kent Nevin feels the Trojans will benefit greatly from having a full offseason, getting stronger and getting back to a tough brand of football and running the Wing-T. Senior two-year starter Dylan Goldstrom returns at quarterback and Fife has an experienced line, led by Christian Polo and Elgin Faraimo. The loss of senior linebacker Matai Sarte (transfer to Lakes) stings for the Trojans.
Watch out for Washington. The Patriots have the athletes to win a 2A SPSL title this fall, led by the league’s best player in running back Unterrio Latin-Henley, a transfer last season from Eastside Catholic. The 5-11 junior has legit explosiveness and speed and colleges have taken notice. He has offers from UW, USC, Utah and others. At the 2A level, teams can ride one great athlete to a league championship. But there’s more to like from Washington, too. The Patriots return eight starters on offense and seven on defense. Senior quarterback Luke Elliott returns for his second year as Washington’s starter. Washington returns receivers Breydan Fisher and Rai Elliot and figures to have solid line play on both sides, led by Felix Kiama, Let’l Tanupo and Matt Lefeau. Keep an eye on defensive back Jay’von Harrison and linebacker George Maiava, too.
Don’t count out Orting, either. The Cardinals return seven starters on offense and six on defense from a team that reached the 2A state tournament as a 12 seed, before falling in the opening round to Ridgefield, 27-14. Orting coach Tom Bannan feels good about the offensive line, which returns four of its five starters from a season ago and has better depth than in years past. Orting returns all-league senior guard Kodie Bravetti, junior center Lane Thomas, senior tight end Tanner Peavler and all-league junior middle linebacker Kaiden Whitaker. Senior Mason McCall will start at quarterback and junior running back Gannon Greenan will get plenty of touches behind a veteran line.
Save the date
Enumclaw at Peninsula, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.
Eatonville at Orting, Sept. 9, 6 p.m.
Washington at Enumclaw, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.
Washington at Orting, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.
Steilacoom at Fife, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
10 players to watch
RB Jaycion Cain, Steilacoom, jr.
QB Luke Elliott, Washington, sr.
WR Jaydus Green, Steilacoom, jr.
RB Unterrio Latin-Henley, Washington, jr.
OL Zeke Luchi, Enumclaw, sr.
RB Emmit Otero, Enumclaw, sr.
OL Christian Polo, Fife, sr.
TE Jacob Rennaker, White River, jr.
OL Derryck Wallace, Franklin Pierce, sr.
LB Kaiden Whitaker, Orting, jr.
Predicted order of finish
Enumclaw, Washington, Steilacoom, Orting, Fife, White River, Franklin Pierce, Clover Park
This story was originally published August 29, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
