These South Sound high school football teams could surprise people this fall
We’ve been all over the South Sound since high school football practice began on Aug. 17, bringing subscribers coverage of what to expect this season.
We’ve laid out who the favorites are in most leagues in the area, but aside from the heavy hitters, which teams might surprise people this fall? Here’s our list of potential breakout candidates.
Auburn
League rival Auburn Riverside finished undefeated in the regular season last fall — including closing out a 40-38 comeback win over Auburn last September — to win the 3A NPSL, and will look to repeat this fall, but Auburn could also contend for the league’s top spot. The program’s only other loss in league play last year was to Auburn Mountainview the following week, 41-26. After that, the Trojans won five consecutive games before their season ended against 3A powerhouse O’Dea in the district playoffs. Auburn will look to build on last season’s 6-4 record behind an experienced group that brings back all eight of its 4A/3A NPSL Blue Division first-team selections from last season, including the division’s player of the year in senior quarterback Amari Goodfellow. Auburn last advanced to the state bracket as a 4A team in 2012.
Curtis
After finishing 4-5 last season and securing the 4A SPSL’s sixth spot in the district round, the Vikings will look to make a jump in the league standings this fall and a longer postseason run. Curtis brings back 16 starters from the 2021 team — eight on each side of the ball — ready to compete in one of the state’s toughest leagues, which includes reigning 4A champion Graham-Kapowsin as well as state bracket regulars in Sumner and Puyallup. The Vikings will try to secure their first trip to the state playoffs since 2018, led by junior quarterback Rocco Koch, who was a 4A SPSL first-team selection as an athlete last season after piling up 1,500 yards through the air, another 1,150 on the ground and 26 touchdowns.
Emerald Ridge
We could see it coming last season, when Emerald Ridge had a rising quarterback in sophomore Jake Schakel and a pair of productive pass catchers in Denzel Boston and Tony Harste. Boston’s now at Washington, but Harste returns alongside Pierce Kelly and senior transfer receiver Kai Olsen. With an experienced offensive line led by Danny Meade and Ezekyl Setefano. UW commit Jacob Lane is a stud at defensive end and will feature at tight end this fall, too. This figures to be a high-powered offense, making Emerald Ridge a contender in the 4A SPSL and giving the program a real shot at making its first state playoffs appearance this fall.
Federal Way
The Eagles bring back seven starters on both offense and defense from the team that finished 4-5 last season and advanced to the district playoffs before losing to eventual 4A state champion Graham-Kapowsin. Four Division I recruits in Oregon State commit Andre Piper-Jordan Jr. — the 4A/3A NPSL Red Division defensive back of the year last fall — seniors Roman Hutchinson and Jaylon Jenkins and junior Rahshawn Clark return in the secondary. Federal Way will be one of the programs looking to challenge three-time defending league champion Kennedy Catholic for the 4A NPSL title this fall. The Eagles will also look to return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Gig Harbor
Yelm is the clear-cut favorite in the 3A SSC this fall and Peninsula is always in the hunt under longtime coach Ross Filkins. Could Gig Harbor sneak into the conversation, too? Don’t forget that it took a heroic second-half comeback for Peninsula to top Gig Harbor in last year’s Fish Bowl. Gig Harbor led at half, 28-0, before Peninsula stormed back to win in overtime, 35-28. Gig Harbor quarterback Will Landram is one of the league’s top athletes, and the Tides return an experienced line.
Mount Tahoma
The T-Birds finished 4-4 in 2021, and return plenty of experience as they look to compete for a postseason spot this fall alongside 3A PCL powers like Lakes, Lincoln and Spanaway Lake, which all advanced to the playoffs last year. Mount Tahoma brings back 19 starters — including 10 on offense, all five starting offensive lineman and nine on defense — and several players who earned league honors last season. Mount Tahoma last advanced to the state playoffs as a 4A team in 1984.
Orting
The Cardinals finished 3-2 in the 2A SPSL last fall, collecting wins over White River, Washington and Clover Park. Their two losses to Enumclaw and Steilacoom — the league’s first- and second-place teams — came by a combined eight points. It goes to show how close it was for Orting, which advanced to the 2A state playoffs. One reason for optimism this fall — the Cardinals return four of their five starting offensive lineman from a season ago and senior quarterback Mason McCall should benefit. There are a handful of teams that could contend in the 2A SPSL this fall. It wouldn’t surprise us to see Orting earn a top-three finish and maybe even win the league.
Washington
Could a team that posted just a 3-3 record in the 2A SPSL win the league this year? It wouldn’t surprise us in the slightest. A big reason why? Junior running back Unterrio Latin-Henley, who transferred late last season from Eastside Catholic, is the league’s most dynamic player. Colleges have taken notice, too — the 5-foot-11, 195-pound back holds offers from Washington, Utah, USC and others. Senior quarterback Luke Elliott will have good command of the offense in his second year as the starter and there’s experienced line play, led by Felix Kiama.
