High school football season preview: 3A Pierce County League
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High school football is back
The News Tribune is visiting schools in the area and previewing local leagues as the first week of games approaches.
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High school football is back in the South Sound. Practices are underway as programs across the state prepare for the beginning of the 2023 season.
The News Tribune 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.
3A PIERCE COUNTY LEAGUE
Who’s the favorite?
Can Lincoln win a third consecutive 3A PCL title this season? The Abes haven’t lost a league game since the shortened spring season in 2021, have an active 15-game winning streak in league contests entering the season and a 41-3 record all-time in 3A PCL games. Though the program graduated several playmakers from the group that advanced to the 3A quarterfinals last fall — including quarterback Gabarri Johnson, last year’s 3A PCL MVP, TNT All-Area player of the year and TNT all-state selection, who is now at Missouri — they bring back several more. Lincoln returns six starters on offense and six on defense, including a pair of 3A PCL first-team selections in senior Kelly Sio-Fetaui and junior Dre Sio-Fetaui, and second-team picks in senior Jemani Teplasy and sophomore Anthony Mancao. Freshman Sione Kaho is set to start for the Abes at quarterback.
Lakes also graduated several impact players — including last year’s 3A PCL offensive player of the year in Leo Pulalasi, now at WSU, and first-team receiver and defensive back David Wells, now at Oregon State — but is a perennial 3A PCL title and postseason contender, last winning a league championship in 2018. The Lancers bring back three starters on offense and six on defense from last year’s district playoffs run. Second-year quarterback Legend Galeai returns to lead Lakes’ offense after throwing for 1,300-plus yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games as a freshman last fall.
Any other contenders?
Three 3A PCL programs advance to the district playoffs — and several programs are in position to contend for the league’s top three spots this fall.
Mount Tahoma returns six starters on both offense and defense, including senior lineman Marquise Thorpe-Taylor, a UCLA commit and returning 3A PCL first-team selection, and senior Jah Jah Abdullah, a second-team pick at both receiver and linebacker. Senior running back Brison Bailey returns from injury this season, while Mount Tahoma also adds a pair of 3A PCL second-team selections in seniors Tre Walker, who led Silas in passing (2,170 yards, 20 TDs) and rushing (659 yards, seven TDs) last fall, and Deonjae Ervin, who scored five touchdowns at Lincoln in 2022.
Spanaway Lake also graduated several all-league performers from last season’s 3A state tournament run — including co-defensive backs of the year Zion Jones (now at Eastern Washington) and Jasiah Wagoner (Oklahoma) — but returns 3A PCL offensive back of the year D’aryhian Clemons, who averaged 103.7 rushing yards per game and scored seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 2022.
Bonney Lake brings back an experienced group looking to advance to the postseason for the first time since 2016. Second-year starting quarterback Brayden Palmer and 3A PCL first-teamer Marcus Lloyd, who lines up at both running back and receiver, are among seven returning starters for the Panthers on offense.
Save the date
▪ Friday, Sept. 1 — Lincoln at Auburn Riverside, 7 p.m. at Auburn Memorial Stadium
▪ Friday, Sept. 1 — North Kitsap at Mount Tahoma, 7 p.m. at Mount Tahoma Stadium
▪ Thursday, Sept. 14 — Mount Tahoma at Spanaway Lake, 7 p.m. at Art Crate Field
▪ Friday, Oct. 20 — Lincoln at Lakes, 7 p.m. at Harry E. Lang Stadium
▪ Friday, Oct. 27 — Lakes at Mount Tahoma, 7 p.m. at Mount Tahoma Stadium
Did you know?
▪ There have been seven 3A PCL football seasons played since the league was created in 2016, and three champions during that stretch. Lincoln has won five league titles (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022) — including four undefeated — while Lakes (2018) and Spanaway Lake (2021 spring season) have each won one.
▪ Mount Tahoma is set to send an offensive tackle to a Power Five program for the second time in the past five seasons. Former Mount Tahoma lineman Taliese Fuaga was a three-star recruit in the 2020 class, signed with Oregon State, and started all 13 games for the Beavers last season as a sophomore on the way to an All-Pac-12 second-team selection. Thorpe-Taylor, a three-star tackle who is considered the No. 9 recruit in the state in the 2024 class by 247Sports.com, has collected 12 offers from Division I programs, and committed to UCLA in May.
10 players to watch
WR/LB Jah Jah Abdullah, Mount Tahoma, sr.
WR/DB Tristan Baker, Lakes, soph.
RB/DB D’aryhian Clemons, Spanaway Lake, jr.
QB Legend Galeai, Lakes, soph.
RB/WR/DB Marcus Lloyd, Bonney Lake, sr.
RB/LB Ta’u Mareko, Lakes, soph.
RB/LB Dre Sio-Fetaui, Lincoln, jr.
RB/LB Kelly Sio-Fetaui, Lincoln, sr.
WR/DB Jemani Teplasy, Lincoln, sr.
OL/DL Marquise Thorpe-Taylor, Mount Tahoma, sr.
Predicted order of finish
Lincoln, Lakes, Mount Tahoma, Spanaway Lake, Bonney Lake, Silas, Stadium
This story was originally published August 24, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
