High school football season preview: 3A South Sound Conference
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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 SOUTH SOUND CONFERENCE
Who’s the favorite?
We know, this is going to come as a big surprise: Yelm. The defending 3A SSC and state champion Tornados ran through the league undefeated last season, not so much as sniffing an upset. Most of time, Yelm’s starters were cracking smiles on the bench in the second half while the reserves finished out the game. Yelm’s closest league game last year? That would’ve been a 50-14 win over Gig Harbor in late October.
Kyler Ronquillo, a TNT All-Area and all-state selection, has graduated, but the cupboard is far from bare. The Tornados return 6-foot-2 running back/linebacker Brayden Platt, the state’s top-rated recruit in the 2024 class. He was one of the state’s top two-way players last fall, earning TNT All-Area and all-state honors after rushing for 1,242 yards and 24 TDs and tallying 69 tackles at linebacker.
It remains to be seen how Yelm will replace Ronquillo’s offensive production, but even if the offense takes a small step back, Yelm’s defense figures to be among the state’s best, with Platt and UCLA commit Isaiah Patterson leading the charge. Yelm also returns 6-foot-2, 305-pound lineman Landen Barger, the 3A SSC’s lineman of the year last fall, and defensive end Onyx Carter. Quarterback Damian Aalona returns for his senior year, as well.
Any other contenders?
We expect Peninsula and Timberline to duke it out for the league’s second spot. The Seahawks and Blazers have provided entertainment every time they’ve met in recent years. Peninsula’s last three games against Timberline — all Peninsula wins — have been decided by a total of eight points. Peninsula beat Timberline 24-21 in overtime last year, 35-33 in 2021 and 24-21 in overtime in 2019 (the teams didn’t meet in 2020 during covid).
The injury bug bit Peninsula repeatedly last season; the Seahawks were without 15 starters in last year’s 3A state tournament. Longtime Seahawks coach Ross Filkins said it was “without a doubt” the worst injury bug he’s seen in his 28 seasons as Peninsula’s head coach.
DE Levi Semler is an impact player for Peninsula and there’s lots of buzz surrounding TE/DL Cole Muilenburg. Quarterback is a question in 2023 — Kaden Munkres and junior Mana Smythe are competing for the starting job.
Timberline figures to have one of the league’s best front seven units this fall, led by linebacker Darrell Gipson, who we feel is due for a huge season. DL Ty Evans racked up four sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season and Gipson (19 TFLs in 2022) should live in opposing backfields this fall.
Keep an eye on linebacker King Luafutu, a transfer from Oregon. Freshman Kataferu “Feru” Galoia has a good chance at starting at nose tackle in his first high school season. Offensively, senior receiver Cedric Ragland is a big play machine and figures to be the top target for junior quarterback Jacob Nadeau, who is also a standout baseball player for Timberline. Nadeau broke his collarbone in a Week 4 game against Central Kitsap last season. His return and dual-threat ability should be a boost for Timberline.
Save the date
▪ Thursday, Aug. 31 — Peninsula at Enumclaw, 7 p.m. at Enumclaw Stadium (Pete’s Pool)
▪ Friday, Sept. 1 — Yelm at Camas, 7:15 p.m. at Doc Harris Stadium
▪ Friday, Oct. 20 — Peninsula at Yelm, 7 p.m. at Yelm High School
▪ Friday, Sept. 22 — Gig Harbor at Capital, 7 p.m. at Ingersoll Stadium
▪ Friday, Oct. 27 — Timberline at Peninsula, 7 p.m. at Roy Anderson Field
Did you know?
▪ Peninsula head coach Ross Filkins, in his 29th season at Peninsula, is the longest-tenured head coach in the South Sound. He took over the job in 1995 shortly after graduating from Washington State University and hasn’t looked back since. These days, he also serves as the school’s athletic director. Lakes coach Dave Miller has been at Lakes for 24 seasons. Sumner coach Keith Ross has been at Sumner for 22 years. Curtis coach Darren McKay is also going into his 29th season as a South Sound head coach, but has hit several stops: Timberline, Gig Harbor, Todd Beamer and now Curtis. Fife coach Kent Nevin is entering his 21st year coaching the Trojans.
▪ Yelm led the entire state in Class 3A in scoring average (49.7 points per game) and scoring average against (10.7), and piled up 449.4 yards of offense per game and 95 total TDs last season. The Tornados have won at least a share of the league title each of the past three seasons.
10 players to watch
QB Damian Aalona, Yelm. sr.
OL Landen Barger, Yelm, sr.
DL Ty Evans, Timberline, sr.
LB Darrell Gipson, Timberline, sr.
TE/DL Cole Muilenburg, Peninsula, sr.
TE/QB Benji Park, Gig Harbor, sr.
FB/LB Isaiah Patterson, Yelm, sr.
RB/LB Brayden Platt, Yelm, sr.
TE/DE Levi Semler, Peninsula, sr.
RB/LB Timothy Sousou, Central Kitsap, soph.
Predicted order of finish
Yelm, Peninsula, Timberline, Gig Harbor, Capital, Central Kitsap, River Ridge, North Thurston
This story was originally published August 25, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
