High school football roundup: QB Koch, Curtis deliver statement win over Sumner
Results, recaps and more from Week 2 high school football contests around the South Sound will be posted on this page Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Find Week 2 scores from games across Washington on our statewide scoring sheet, which will be updated live throughout the weekend.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 9)
EASTMONT 21, TIMBERLINE 14
Eastmont’s run game suffocated the Blazers, a two-man attack by Gunnar Peterson and Landon Moore that dominated the time of possession and lifted the Wildcats over Timberline on Saturday.
Eastmont built a two-score lead in the first half and never trailed, thanks to the consistency Peterson and Moore and QB Luke Gale’s two total touchdowns in a 21-14 victory at South Sound Stadium in Lacey.
The Wildcats established the run game early, and Timberline never established theirs.
“They were just more physical than we anticipated,” Timberline coach James Jones said. “But, I mean, that’s football. A team that can win up front is usually going to win the game.”
Timberline QB Jacob Nadeau was left to spectate on the sideline, out with a collarbone injury suffered in last week’s win over Kelso. Nadeau’s expected to miss the next two games.
That left sophomore QB Synjae Colston as signal-caller, who helped pull Timberline back to within a touchdown in the final minutes. He completed 8-of-14 passes for 105 yards and touchdown and no interceptions.
“New offense, he’s swimming a little bit,” Jones said. “He’ll get it.”
But Eastmont led for the entirety of Saturday’s game after scoring six minutes into the opening drive. Gale found Peterson alone in the right flat and dumped him a 12-yard touchdown on a screen.
Timberline’s offense stalled early, and Gale soon converted a one-yard keeper in the second quarter to give Eastmont a 14-0 lead.
The first half ended controversially. Timberline’s Cedric Ragland hauled in a contested 32-yard catch at the one-yard line with one second remaining in the half; an officials timeout allowed for another play, and Ramar Reid scored on a one-yard run as time expired.
It was once again a one-touchdown game, but Eastmont’s defense forced a pair of three-and-outs in the third quarter and built back their lead. Amid a run-heavy drive, Wildcats WR Adrien Ruffins broke loose down the left sideline, and Gale lofted a beautiful fade that Ruffins took for a 36-yard touchdown. It was 21-6.
Timberline’s Cedric Ragland added a 12-yard touchdown catch in the final minutes — and a two-point conversion brought the deficit back to seven — but an onside kick attempt sailed out of bounds and Eastmont burned clock.
Ragland posted three receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. The WR/DB added a first-quarter interception, an impressive one-handed grab that flipped early momentum.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 8)
CURTIS 38, SUMNER 33
Sumner pulled within five points late in the fourth quarter against the visiting Curtis Vikings at Sunset Chev Stadium on Friday night.
Curtis quarterback Rocco Koch was not fazed. The Vikings, after all, hadn’t punted all game. Sumner, known for physical teams with equally physical defenses, couldn’t stop Curtis all night. Koch’s message to his teammates? Have fun.
“I told them to smile,” Koch said. “Trust me, I trust you and we’ll get after it.”
And get after it, they did. Koch and the Vikings marched straight down the field, piling up first downs and bleeding the clock to zero.
Koch put together a tantalizing performance that makes his lack of college football offers downright puzzling. His line: 17-of-20 passing for 240 yards and a touchdown; 28 carries for 173 yards and four more touchdowns.
“He’s a tough son of a gun,” said Curtis coach Darren McKay. “I’ve seen it before. This is a big-time game and he just did what he does.”
All longtime Sumner coach Keith Ross could do after the game was tip his cap. He said Koch reminds him of former Camas great Jack Colletto, who went on to a successful career at Oregon State, and now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
“He’s a phenomenal player and we knew that,” Ross said. “He’s been a phenomenal player for four years. He might be the best player we’ve played against for four years in the league. We’re a good football team and we couldn’t stop him.
“And we knew he was going to take it. In the fourth quarter, I just told them, he’s gonna run it every time. And we couldn’t stop him. He’s tough, he’s been hit like that for four years and he beat us.”
Sumner played well on offense. Quarterback Tristen Rebar threw for 132 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another. Reigning 4A SPSL MVP Matthew Spurbeck piled up 162 rushing yards and a touchdown and teammate Steele Isaacs added 110 yards on the ground.
But the Spartans couldn’t get stops. Curtis receiver Parker Mady led the Vikings with 96 yards and a touchdown on six catches, while teammate Xavier Ahrens added six catches for 74 yards and had a long kickoff return.
It all added up to a statement win for Curtis, which has arrived as a 4A SPSL title contender.
“This is the biggest statement,” Koch said. “Long time coming. My freshman year, we got blown out, sophomore year, we got blown out, junior year we were up there and then senior year, we had nothing to lose. I came out, our guys did everything we could. We got it.”
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN 42, PUYALLUP 13
The last time these two 4A SPSL powers met, last September at Art Crate Field in Spanaway, the Vikings stunned the Eagles, posting a 30-13 victory on the road.
Puyallup’s win snapped what was a 21-game winning streak for a Graham-Kapowsin program that had won an undefeated 4A state championship the previous season. It also snapped the Eagles’ 27-game stretch of victories against 4A SPSL opponents.
One year later, Graham-Kapowsin was quick to make clear there wouldn’t be a repeat early-season loss Friday night at Sparks Stadium.
The Eagles scored on each of their first three drives in Puyallup, and led by multiple scores most of the way, eventually posting a convincing 42-13 victory over their league rivals.
“We executed, we did our jobs, and we played as a team,” Eagles quarterback Daveon Superales said. “It was a great team win, and I’m proud of my guys.”
Superales connected with four receivers for touchdowns in the victory, completing an efficient 27-of-34 passes for 207 yards while also rushing for 59 yards on five carries.
Graham-Kapowsin opened the game with an eight-minute, 14-play scoring drive, and Superales’ 19-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Durant gave the Eagles a lead they never lost.
The Eagles pushed their lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter following a pair of scoring passes from Superales to Mika Roberson (22 yards) and Khris Norris (3 yards).
Puyallup answered with a 15-yard touchdown from Kaden Rolfsness to Kyson Douglas to cut the lead to 21-7 by the break, but the Vikings never got closer.
Superales added his fourth scoring pass on the Eagles’ first drive of the second half, finding tight end Noah Fox-Flores for a 19-yard touchdown.
“I’m loving it,” Superales said of the Eagles’ new high-flying offense. “I love throwing the ball. I love passing more.”
Graham-Kapowsin scored twice more in the fourth on a 38-yard fumble recovery by Levi Turner and 4-yard touchdown run by Nikoh Rivers.
Rivers led the Eagles in rushing with seven carries for 76 yards, while Norris led Graham-Kapowsin in receiving with 74 yards on 10 catches.
The Vikings scored once more midway through the fourth, on a 34-yard pass from freshman Brayden Paulino to tight end Kai Richardson, but the Eagles’ lead was out of reach by then.
Graham-Kapowsin’s defense limited the Vikings’ offense to 192 yards — 81 rushing, 111 passing — in the win.
“We have a great defense,” Superales said. “They’re really physical and aggressive, and they play fast. … Kudos to them tonight. They really gave us momentum, too.”
Graham-Kapowsin (2-0) hosts Olympia next Friday in another 4A SPSL contest, while Puyallup (0-2) travels to South Kitsap on Thursday.
TUMWATER 34, NORTH KITSAP 14
At a Tumwater practice on Aug. 18, Dane Iversen was all-in on the upgraded strength of this T-Birds team that has perennially found itself in the state tournament.
It was what Iversen, the senior linebacker, first pointed to as what could move the needle enough to put them back atop the 2A’s elite.
It’s already paying dividends.
Tumwater outlasted North Kitsap on Friday night, 34-14 — a statement road win over the reigning 2A runner-ups. A forceful run game wore out the Vikings and helped Tumwater establish itself as the 2A superior at North Kitsap High School.
“Our kids felt really strong in the second half,” head coach William Garrow said. “Our kids felt fresh for all four quarters. … They did an incredibly good job of grinding and wearing them down.”
This was a rematch of a wacky, 8-6 contest between the teams last Sep. 9, a day shy of one year ago. But there was no parity in this go-around.
Tumwater QB Ethan Kastner threw two touchdowns and was a perfect 10-for-10 passing, regularly provided with open looks when North Kitsap sold out to stop the run.
“Really good (throws), really good decisions,” Garrow said.
YELM 62, UNION 34
Damian Aalona threw four touchdowns, and the Tornados blew past Union on Friday night — their second win over a 4A opponent this season.
Yelm built a 26-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. RB Nathan Ford collected three rushing touchdowns (two in the first quarter) and Marius Aalona caught three of brother-Damian’s four scores.
Marius posted a WR1-caliber line: 11 receptions for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Ford took eight caries for 51 yards and three scores.
Anthony Kiamco was Yelm’s leading rusher with 12 carries for 74 yards.
Damian Aalona completed 26-of-32 passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions, a sparkling night as a passer that features five carries for 46 yards on the ground.
Yelm DT Landen Barger added a sack and two tackles for loss.
LAKES 34, RIVER RIDGE 17
Legend Galeai’s three total touchdowns lifted Lakes to victory, another impressive showing from the Lancers’ sophomore signal-caller.
Consistency is still a work in progress (13-for-25 passing), but Galeai’s big-play ability can — and will — win games on its own. Both of his passing touchdowns were 35-plus yards, first to Tristan Baker and later to Elijiah McChristian (48 yards).
Galeai added a one-yard touchdown run. So did Lakes RB Chris Macon.
McChristian posted six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Baker broke off a 66-yard rush, aiding his game-high 135 scrimmage yards.
Lakes’ defense forced five fumbles and recovered four.
River Ridge QB Darian Harper completed 13-of-24 passes for 119 yards. He scored twice on the ground, both goal-line keepers from one and two yards.
Hawks tailback Draidon Wilson took 20 carries for 60 yards. Signal-caller Harper took 17 carries for 85 yards and River Ridge’s only two touchdowns.
TUALATIN (ORE.) 17, LINCOLN 14
Timberwolves RB Carson Mullins’ third-quarter touchdown was the dagger — a 1-yard score that put Tualatin ahead by two scores en route to a 17-14 victory at Lincoln Bowl.
Lincoln QB Sione Kaho put together an impressive night — the freshman completed 15-of-17 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. But five Abes fumbles (one by Kaho) handed Tualatin the momentum in a game that featured eight total turnovers.
Abe’s RB Jadeon Scranton posted team-highs in carries (10) and rushing yards (85).
THURSDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 7)
STEILACOOM 40, WHITE RIVER 21
Less than 10 minutes into Steilacoom’s 2A SPSL football contest against visiting White River on Thursday, Sentinels star senior running back Jaycion Cain stood on the sidelines without his pads on, done for the night. Standing next to Cain was highly-touted receiver Jaydus Green, who didn’t even suit up.
The Sentinels still had plenty of contributors in their eventual 40-21 victory over the Hornets in what for three quarters became a testy warm-up heading into a big game against defending league champion Enumclaw next Friday.
“We know what’s at stake,” Steilacoom coach Kyle Haller said.
So does Cain, who tweaked his right ankle for the second consecutive week making a catch on a pass from Drew McDonald with two minutes, 35 seconds to go in the first quarter. It was Cain’s only reception, and went for minus-1 yard. He also ran the ball three times early for just 10 total yards.
“I’ll be ready,” Cain said at halftime. “I’ll play next week.”
While Cain watched, McDonald threw the ball all over the field on Thursday. The junior completed 23-of-33 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. He threw an interception midway into the first quarter that didn’t hurt the Sentinels.
“This is now Drew’s team,” Haller said. “He knows the offense. He knows what to do.”
Steilacoom scored the first 14 points of the game, then traded touchdown for touchdown with White River, scoring the last points of the first half with 27.4 seconds remaining when McDonald found freshman Noah Maxwell for a 16-yard score to take a 28-14 advantage into the locker room.
But when Aaden Rathbun found Tate Bowen from 5 yards away on the first play of the fourth quarter, the Hornets were in it at 28-21. Steilacoom responded with an eight-play, 65-yard drive culminated by Shon Nelson’s 12-yard run to wrest control back, 34-21, with 7:29 remaining.
It was Nelson’s second scoring run of the night after McDonald completed all four of his throws on the drive for 50 yards.
KENTWOOD 21, PENINSULA 18
Antoine Lee erupted for a 99-yard punt return in the final minute — a touchdown that turned Thursday night’s contest upside down and deemed Kentwood victorious in stunning fashion at French Field in Kent.
Down three points with 38 seconds left, the Conquerors star running back bobbled Peninsula’s punt at his own 1-yard line. He recovered, narrowly spun out of a tackle at the goal line, and burst to his right.
As Lee moved vertically, the pursuit zigged and Kentwood’s hero zagged. A left-cut and superb blocking provided Lee an open lane down the left sideline that he took all the way — both a magical and heartbreaking finish, depending on which team you ask.
The Conquerors? All smiles.
“We put our best guy (Lee) back there to make a play, to do some magic like he’s been known to do,” coach Matt Roth said.
Lee scored twice, including a 68-yard touchdown run. He took 21 carries for 148 yards, adding the punt-return touchdown and a two-point conversion.
But Roth also considered Thursday night a defensive clinic, a force that kept Lee and the Kentwood offense within striking distance. The Conquerors team kept a normally-busy Peninsula offense, also a 3A state regular, quiet.
Kentwood sacked Peninsula quarterback Mana Smythe as time expired, and the Seahawks wound up with just 132 total yards -- 102 passing and 30 rushing.
“(We) forced Peninsula into a couple of turnovers, they forced them to punt,” Roth said. “(We) flexed our muscles. They gave us one opportunity to make a big play, and we took advantage of it. The story of the game, for me, was our defense answering the bell time and again.”
ORTING 46, WASHINGTON 6
Tom Bannan knew this team had the talent to turn heads and, even in a competitive 2A SPSL, compete for a coveted playoff spot.
But a 40-point rout over a league rival, already? In Week 2? Orting’s coach couldn’t have predicted that.
“I felt good coming in,” Bannan said. “Now, I feel really good.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t come in expecting to win like this tonight.”
Freshman running back Shiron Seniours totaled four touchdowns — two rushing, two receiving — a breakout game for Orting’s versatile tailback in a dominant showing over the Patriots at Franklin Pierce Stadium in Tacoma.
First-year quarterback Zach Gemar flashed passing promise with three early touchdowns, and the Cardinals quickly shifted to a ground-and-pound run game.
Orting’s corners shut down opposing wideouts and its safeties denied deep attempts. The running clock was initiated by the third quarter.
“Our guys like to fly around and hit people,” Bannan said.
Orting’s league slate continues in a 2A SPSL clash with White River next Thursday, while Washington plays Foss on the road next Friday.
NORTH CREEK 27, AUBURN RIVERSIDE 13
Teddy Boden intercepted Auburn Riverside’s last gasp and took it the distance for a touchdown — a 61-yard pick-six by North Creek’s junior defensive back that sealed the game and handed the Jaguars a victory over Auburn Riverside on Thursday night at Auburn Memorial Stadium.
Auburn Riverside out-gained its opponent, 314-229, and ran 15 more plays. But, North Creek’s Riley Elvidge snagged a pair of 43- and 28-yard receiving touchdowns, both chunk plays that put the Jaguars in front before Boden’s game-winning interception.
These Ravens (0-2) might be among the best winless teams in the state, considering their two losses were to postseason contenders — Auburn Riverside lost to defending 3A PCL champion Lincoln in Week 1 — and both were within one possession in each game’s final seconds.
Auburn Riverside’s hosts Thomas Jefferson next Thursday to begin 3A NPSL play.
Ravens quarterback Andrew Wold completed 22-of-34 passes for 233 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He found Thyrou Umi-Tuato’o for a 10-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Umi-Tuato’o posted a team high 72 receiving yards on eight catches. North Creek held four-star recruit Jonathan Epperson to 46 rushing yards on 12 carries, both Auburn Riverside-bests. Epperson also collected a team-leading seven tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack.
North Creek, meanwhile, improves to 2-0 after reaching the 4A state quarterfinals last fall.
This story was originally published September 8, 2023 at 8:29 AM.
