Week 3 football power rankings: There’s a new No. 1 in the South Sound
Two weeks of high school football across the South Sound are in the books.
This season, The News Tribune’s high school sports team is taking on the task of ranking the top teams in the area. Teams from every classification are considered for the Top 10 list, which will be updated throughout the season.
We’ll consider a variety of factors when adjusting rankings, not just wins and losses. Did a team lose because their star quarterback was hurt and didn’t play? Maybe they won’t slide. Is a team lower in the standings than others teams in the league because of a more difficult nonleague schedule? We’ll consider that, too.
Rankings will be updated every two weeks during the regular season.
Here’s the Top 10 ahead of Week 3:
THE TOP 10
1. Yelm (2-0) — Tornados move up to the top spot in this week’s power rankings after clobbering two big schools from Southwest Washington, beating Camas 44-14 in Week 1 and Union 46-6 in Week 2 (Yelm led 46-0 at halftime against the Titans). Four-star recruit Brayden Platt (23 carries, 266 yards, seven TDs; 132 receiving yards, TD) is off to a monstrous start. Previous ranking: 3.
2. Sumner (2-0) — The Spartans have had to grind out two close wins in the first two weeks, closing out second-half comebacks to beat both Bellarmine Prep (22-16) in Week 1 and Curtis (35-28) in Week 2. Sumner enters perhaps the toughest three-week stretch of its regular season schedule this week hosting Emerald Ridge before playing back-to-back road contests against Puyallup and Graham-Kapowsin. The Spartans are one of three 4A SPSL teams off to a 2-0 start, along with Puyallup and Bethel. Previous ranking: 2.
3. Puyallup (2-0) — Puyallup jumps up in the rankings after collecting a 29-28 comeback win over Emerald Ridge in Week 1 and a 30-13 win over Graham-Kapowsin in Week 2. The second win snapped the Eagles’ 21-game win streak and was the program’s first league loss since 2018. Jacob Velasco made his first start at quarterback against Graham-Kapowsin and completed 9-of-13 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. Malachi Durant (152 yards, two TDs) has emerged as the team’s top receiving threat and on defense linebacker Wyatt Gordon (31 tackles, three for losses) is all over the place. Previous ranking: 5.
4. Graham-Kapowsin (1-1) — The reigning 4A state champions opened the season with a 56-0 shutout of Rogers to push their winning streak to 21 consecutive games — and their league winning streak to 27 — but both were snapped in Week 2. Puyallup — the last 4A SPSL team to beat the Eagles before that impressive undefeated stretch — handed the three-time defending league champions a 30-13 loss last week, ending a league winning streak that extended back to 2018, and an overall streak that started during the shortened spring season in 2021. Previous ranking: 1.
5. Emerald Ridge (1-1) — The Jaguars couldn’t hold onto a big lead against Puyallup, losing to the Vikings 29-28 in Week 1, but bounced back in Week 2, beating Olympia, 35-19. Gio Kafentzis (212 yards, two TDs) has emerged as a big-time receiving threat for quarterback Jake Schakel (466 yards, six TDs) alongside Tony Harste (90 yards, three TDs). Previous ranking: 4.
6. Lincoln (2-0) — The reigning 3A PCL champions picked up a 28-21 win over reigning 3A NPSL champion Auburn Riverside in Week 1, and added another in Week 2, topping 4A KingCo program Skyline, 35-27, on the road. Missouri commit Gabarri Johnson (21-of-31 passing, 367 yards; 35 carries, 190 yards; five total TDs) has guided Lincoln to an undefeated record early heading into a key nonleague matchup against 4A power Camas in Week 3. Previous ranking: 6.
7. Kennedy Catholic (1-1) — The Lancers dropped a 26-14 loss to 3A power Eastside Catholic in their season-opener, but answered with a 41-6 rout of Highline in Week 2. Mason Hayes (14 catches, 238 yards, three TDs) has been the top target for quarterback Payton Faker (35-of-70 passing, 565 yards, five TDs) early on in Kennedy Catholic’s Air Raid offense. The three-time defending 4A NPSL champions open league play this week on the road against Kentwood. Previous ranking: 7.
8. Lakes (1-0) — Lakes impressed in Week 1, opening the season with a 50-23 win over 4A NPSL program Kentwood on the road. The Lancers piled up more than 300 yards of offense in the win — led by BYU commit Leo Pulalasi (97 all-purpose yards, four total TDs) and running back Ki’Marree Washington (13 carries, 158 yards, two TDs) — and their defense caused a safety, two turnovers, three turnovers on downs and stopped Kentwood in the backfield on 20 plays. Lakes did not play its Saturday nonleague matchup against River Ridge last week, which was canceled due to poor air quality in the area. Previous ranking: 9.
9. Spanaway Lake (1-1) — Lost 20-0 to Gig Harbor in Week 1, but the Sentinels were without starting quarterback Dempsy James, who was suspended (unspecified violation of team rules). James returned in Week 2 and Spanaway Lake bounced back, beating 4A program Mount Si, 17-14. Running back D’Aryhian Clemons (198 yards on 29 carries) is averaging nearly seven yards per attempt. Previous ranking: 8.
10. Tumwater (2-0) — Tumwater’s defense has given up just 13 points through two games, including surrendering only six in an 8-6 win over North Kitsap last week in what may have been a 2A state playoffs preview. T-Birds will have another good nonleague test against Kelso before jumping into 2A EvCo play. Previous ranking: 10.
THE NEXT FIVE
Eatonville, Enumclaw, Peninsula, Curtis, Federal Way
PREVIOUS RANKINGS
