Grab your popcorn: 10 high school football games in South Sound we can’t wait to see
The high school football season is upon us, and league titles and bragging rights will be on the line.
Each week will feature several intriguing matchups for local programs. These 10 games, in particular, are sure to entertain fans in the South Sound this fall.
Puyallup Vikings vs. Emerald Ridge Jaguars
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 at Sparks Stadium (Puyallup)
There will be pivotal games played in the 4A SPSL every week throughout the nine-week regular season, but this Week 1 duel between projected league contenders could set the tone early. Puyallup is the most recent 4A SPSL team to win the league title before defending 4A state champion Graham-Kapowin’s recent run of three straight — the Vikings won back-to-back undefeated league championships in 2017 and 2018 — and will look to compete for that top spot again this season, as well as secure a fifth consecutive trip to the state playoffs later on. School district rival Emerald Ridge should also be in the mix in the 4A SPSL, returning many of the key playmakers that took the program to the district playoffs last season, and the Jaguars will be motivated again to play their way into the state bracket for the first time in school history.
Camas Papermakers vs. Yelm Tornados
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 at Yelm High School
Maybe the game of the week statewide in Week 1, this game should give us a clear indication of just how good Yelm is this season, at least early on. The Papermakers are a perennial contender in 4A, advancing to the 4A state playoffs bracket in 10 of the past 11 seasons, and winning undefeated titles in 2016 and 2019. Yelm returns perhaps the state’s best group of linebackers, led by four-star recruit Brayden Platt, Ray Wright and Skyview transfer Isaiah Patterson. If the Tornados pull off this season-opening win, expect the hype train to pick up even more steam.
North Kitsap Vikings vs. Tumwater T-Birds
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 at Tumwater District Stadium
This Week 2 meeting of the reigning 2A Olympic and 2A EvCo champions will provide an early glimpse at two programs expected to challenge for a title at the state level again this fall. Both were considered top-three teams in the 2A bracket last season, and both will be looking to find early momentum after their seasons ended just short of a state championship trophy in 2021. North Kitsap carried an undefeated record into the state semifinals, but was upended by Lynden in the game’s final minute last fall. Tumwater advanced to a second consecutive 2A state championship game after winning an undefeated title in 2019 — the sixth in program history — but also lost to Lynden. The Vikings have made seven straight trips to the 2A state playoffs, the T-Birds have made 11 consecutive, and both are set to contend among the classification’s top programs again, along with the reigning state champion Lions.
Washington Patriots vs. Enumclaw Hornets
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 at Pete’s Pool (Enumclaw)
There are at least six teams that could realistically have a path to winning the 2A SPSL this fall, but these two may have the best shot. Enumclaw returns a strong offensive line, led by the reigning 2A SPSL lineman of the year in center Zeke Luchi. Running back Emmit Otero has legit speed. Washington, meanwhile, has perhaps the best athlete in the league in running back Unterrio Latin-Henley, who already holds multiple Division I offers. There could be some big rushing yards put up on both sides in this Week 3 contest.
Kennedy Catholic Lancers vs. Federal Way Eagles
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at Federal Way Memorial Stadium
Kennedy Catholic has won the past three 4A NPSL crowns. Will the Lancers win a fourth this fall? This Week 5 game could play a big part in deciding the league winner. Kennedy Catholic returns most starters on both sides of the ball from the group that swept their league opponents and advanced to the district playoffs last season. But, the Eagles also bring back several key playmakers from their district playoffs run in 2021, including their stacked secondary. Both programs have proven talent. This game is set to feature three Pac-12 commits in Kennedy Catholic offensive lineman Micah Baneulos (USC) and linebacker Xe’ree Alexander (Arizona State), and Federal Way cornerback Andre Piper-Jordan Jr. (Oregon State), as well as several more players with Division I offers.
Sumner Spartans vs. Graham-Kapowsin Eagles
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at Art Crate Field (Spanaway)
This matchup between two perennial 4A powers is a can’t-miss game every season. Remember Connor Wedington’s 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that shocked Graham-Kapowsin late in the fourth quarter and lifted the Spartans to a 34-27 win and eventually an undefeated 4A SPSL title in their first season in the league in 2016? How about the rematch the following season, when the state’s top-ranked quarterback Dylan Morris guided the Eagles to a 34-28 victory? That win opened a streak of five consecutive for Graham-Kapowsin in this series, including a 41-14 win last October on the way to a third consecutive undefeated 4A SPSL title. The Eagles went on to win the 4A state title, and their GEICO State Champions Bowl Series game against Georgia 7A state champion Collins Hill, completing a perfect 15-0 season. Graham-Kapowsin has not lost a league contest since an overtime defeat against Puyallup in 2018 and returns some playmakers from last season’s historic run. But, if there is a 4A SPSL team that can end the Eagles’ recent stretch of dominance this fall, it could certainly be Sumner, which also brings back some key contributors from last season’s 4A state quarterfinals team.
Eatonville Cruisers vs. W.F. West Bearcats
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at W.F. West High School (Chehalis)
This nonleague contest in Week 7 matches up two programs looking to make long postseason runs in their respective classifications, and sets up to provide a tough test for both as they gear up for the playoffs. Eatonville won an undefeated 1A Evergreen title last season, and cruised to the program’s first state championship game appearance since 1992 before losing to 1A powerhouse Royal in the final. The Cruisers are the favorite to win a second consecutive 1A Evergreen title in their second year in the league behind an experienced line, and should be a contender for the 1A state crown again, too. W.F. West, which could prove the toughest test in 2A EvCo play for three-time defending league champion and perennial state power Tumwater, returns 17 starters from the team that advanced to the first round of the 2A state playoffs last fall, losing to Prosser after a two-season absence in the bracket. Before that, W.F. West made 10 appearances in the state playoffs from 2006-17, including five consecutive at the end of that run.
Lakes Lancers vs. Lincoln Abes
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 at Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma)
This rivalry never fails to entertain. In the 2021 shortened spring season, Gabarri Johnson ran for a two-point conversion to seal a comeback 22-21 win for the Abes. Last season, Lincoln beat Lakes, 36-34. It was the Johnson show once again, as he rushed 29 times for 164 yards and four touchdowns. Lakes will be eager to snap the three-game losing streak in the series. Lincoln returns Johnson and running back Navarre Dixon, but Lakes has plenty of talent, too, led by Division I-bound running back/wide receiver Leo Pulalasi (BYU commit) and receiver David Wells (Oregon State commit).
Yelm Tornados vs. Peninsula Seahawks
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 at Roy Anderson Field (Purdy)
Believe it or not, this game hasn’t been played since 2019, when Peninsula beat Yelm, 31-28. Peninsula was a temporary member of the 4A SPSL during the shortened spring season in 2021 and last fall’s game was canceled because of COVID issues. So, we’re eager for this matchup to return to the field in Week 8, especially because the 3A SSC title could be on the line. Yelm is considered one of the top teams statewide this season, returning proven linebackers Brayden Platt and Ray Wright, and adding Skyview transfer Isaiah Patterson to the mix. Wide receiver Kyler Ronquillo was last year’s 3A SSC offensive MVP. Peninsula should have good offensive balance, always boasting a strong running game, and three-year starters Grady Johnson and Tanner Staben should open holes for running back Connor Burton. Quarterback Payton Knowles, a Gonzaga baseball commit, has a big arm and has drawn rave reviews from teammates during fall practices.
Lincoln Abes vs. Spanaway Lake Sentinels
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 at Art Crate Field (Spanaway)
Will this be the 3A PCL championship game? We expect Lakes might have something to say about that, but Lincoln and Spanaway Lake have been the league’s top two teams the past couple of seasons. Lincoln has the state’s top-ranked quarterback in Missouri commit Gabarri Johnson. He’ll have his work cut out of him against one of the state’s top secondary units at Spanaway Lake, led by Oklahoma commit Jasiah Wagoner.
