Week 3 football power rankings: Curtis jumps into top 5, Tumwater cracks top 10
The high school football season is underway in the South Sound and across Washington state. The News Tribune’s high school sports team is ranking the top teams in the South Sound again this fall.
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 throughout the season, 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.
Here’s the Top 10 ahead of Week 3.
THE TOP 10
1. Yelm (2-0) — Tornados can win in different ways, showcasing defense in 8-7 road win over Camas and offense in 62-34 win over Union. The scary part? The state’s top 2024 recruit in RB/LB Brayden Platt (hip) hasn’t even played much yet.
2. Graham-Kapowsin (2-0) — Eagles opened season with back-to-back convincing victories over 4A SPSL opponents Rogers (49-10) and Puyallup (42-13). QB Daveon Superales (44-of-56 passing, 490 yards, 10 TDs) has double-digit passing TDs through two games.
3. Emerald Ridge (2-0) — QB Jake Schakel (29-of-43 passing, 529 yards, eight TDs) and top receivers Tony Harste (six catches, 209 yards, two TDs) and Gio Kafentzis (eight catches, 128 yards, two TDs) have had Jaguars offense rolling early in wins over Puyallup (36-23) and Olympia (34-0).
4. Curtis (2-0) — Statement win over defending league champion Sumner (38-33) last week and convincing victory over Olympia (45-13) in season-opener has Vikings in the 4A SPSL title race. QB Rocco Koch (28-of-32 passing, 447 yards, six TDs; 43 carries, 301 yards, five TDs) has put up big numbers on offense in first two contests.
5. Sumner (1-1) — Defending 4A SPSL champions shut out Bellarmine Prep (40-0) in season-opener, but will look to regroup following Week 2 loss to Curtis (38-33). Reigning league MVP Matthew Spurbeck (34 carries, 243 yards, four TDs) and QB Tristen Rebar (27-of-35 passing, 399 yards, six total TDs) lead Spartans offense averaging 424 yards per game.
6. Kennedy Catholic (1-1) — Lancers lost season-opener on the road to Colorado 5A program Regis Jesuit (36-33), but responded with a nonleague victory over Highline (45-38) last week. Offense has piled up nearly 1,000 total yards in first two games, led by QB Devon Forehand (30-of-55 passing, 611 yards, seven TDs).
7. Enumclaw (2-0) — It starts on defense for the Hornets, who are holding opponents under 10 points per game through two contests. LB Cooper Rodarte has racked up 21 tackles, including six for loss. RBs Tristan Donovan (132 yards, three TDs) and Seamus Twohey (91 yards, two TDs) are a formidable 1-2 punch.
8. Tumwater (2-0) — A convincing Week 2 road win against North Kitsap catapults Tumwater into our Top 10 and back into the 2A state championship conversation. T-Birds’ run game is always effective, but look out for the passing game, too — QB Ethan Kastner completed 9-of-9 passes and threw four TDs in the win over North Kitsap.
9. Lincoln (1-1) — If the offense can come together around freshman QB Sione Kaho, watch out. Abes’ defense has been lights out, with brothers Dre and Kelly Sio-Fetaui leading the charge. Things don’t get any easier for Lincoln, which faces Camas on the road in Week 3.
10. Lakes (2-0) — Lancers are averaging 35.5 points per game and have been impressive on both sides of the ball. WRs Elijah McChristian (249 yards, TD) and Tristan Baker (126 yards, two TDs) are big-play threats for sophomore QB Legend Galeai.
THE NEXT FIVE
Puyallup (0-2), Kentwood (1-1), Peninsula (0-2), Timberline (1-1), Steilacoom (2-0)
This story was originally published September 14, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
