High school football roundup: Mount Tahoma beats Lincoln for first time in over a decade
Results, recaps and more from Week 4 high school football contests around the South Sound will be posted on this page Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Find Week 4 scores from games across Washington on our statewide scoring sheet, which will be updated live throughout the weekend.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 23)
KENNEDY CATHOLIC 30, DECATUR 6
Joey Thomas snagged the game-sealing interception and sprinted 100 yards for a pick-six — a fourth-quarter touchdown that all but guaranteed victory for Kennedy Catholic on Saturday afternoon.
Thomas’ goal-line interception erased hope for a Decatur comeback, and the Kennedy Catholic DB’s ensuing touchdown widened their lead to 24.
It’s Decatur’s first loss in the 4A NPSL. The Lancers (2-0, 3-1) remain undefeated league play, having outscored Kentwood and Decatur by a combined total of 79-12.
Kennedy Catholic hosts Federal Way next Saturday for a 12 p.m. kickoff.
CASCADE CHRISTIAN 74, EAST JEFFERSON 0
Byson Vasquez posted monster numbers in Saturday’s blowout — Cascade Christian’s TE/LB recorded 7.5 sacks, forced five fumbles, scored a touchdown, and accumulated 110 scrimmage yards in a rout where starters were pulled at halftime.
That’s right — Vasquez totaled those numbers in the first half, just 24 minutes of play. He grabbed three receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown, adding two carries for 42 yards.
Vasquez logged 16 total tackles.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 22)
MOUNT TAHOMA 24, LINCOLN 20
Trailing by two points late in the fourth quarter against visiting Lincoln on Friday, Mount Tahoma’s 2-point conversion attempt fell short. It looked like the Abes were going to escape with a hard-fought road win.
Then the improbable happened: the ensuing onside kick from kicker Junior Contreras-Barragan bounced off the Lincoln’s players hands and a swarm of T-Birds jumped on it; Jeremiah Anderson came away with the ball. Mount Tahoma quarterback Tre Walker couldn’t believe his eyes.
“It’s go time,” he said. “Time to win this game.”
The T-Birds, with the help of a personal foul penalty on Lincoln, went 48 yards in four plays, capped off by a Walker 14-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Quintanilla Jr.
“I’m wide open,” Quintanilla said of the play. “Look for the ball, catch the ball, touchdown.”
It sealed a 24-20 win for Keith Terry’s squad in front of a packed stadium, Mount Tahoma’s first win over Lincoln since 2011.
“It’s a huge deal for Mount Tahoma,” Terry said. “We surprised some teams last year. And now it’s us keeping the momentum. For us, this was an early-season test. It’s a crosstown rival that we haven’t beat too often, but things are changing.
“This is a great momentum win for us. We’re going to ride that horse. This is huge for Tacoma, huge for Mount Tahoma. The crowd’s going crazy, now they know it’s real. They feel it.”
Special teams were the story on Friday. Lincoln got on the board first, blocking a Mount Tahoma punt, which Jamirie Pringle scooped up and took into the end zone. Lincoln’s Maurice Gosby Jr. put Lincoln ahead by eight points with a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter, but Mount Tahoma blocked the PAT. Then, of course, the onside kick.
Walker completed 10-of-16 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the win and added 41 yards on the ground. Running back Brison Bailey rushed for a touchdown, while Zane Corder, Quintanilla and DJ Ervin added receiving scores. It all added up to the program’s biggest win in years.
“It’s been a long time since we won against them,” Walker said. “They’re a really good team. We knew if we want to win league, we’ve gotta go past them.”
CURTIS 50, EMERALD RIDGE 34
The Curtis Vikings are 4-0 for the first time since 2010.
Thursday night at a packed Viking Stadium in University Place, the Vikings sent another message to the 4A SPSL and the state, delivering yet another statement win, this time over league title contender Emerald Ridge with a season-best 50-point performance.
The victory was Curtis’ first over the Jaguars — a returning 4A state semifinals team — since 2018, and also keeps the Vikings undefeated in 4A SPSL play.
“It’s really big,” Curtis quarterback Rocco Koch said. “Thirteen years and we haven’t been 4-0. So, Curtis is back. We’re better than ever. We have all of the guys back, and I’m enjoying every moment.”
Curtis piled up 509 yards of total offense — and Koch accounted for 485 yards, leading the Vikings in both passing and rushing — and seven total touchdowns, scoring on nearly every drive.
The Vikings opened the game, though, with a pair of key defensive stops. The Jaguars drove to the Curtis 1 on the game’s opening series, only to turn the ball over on downs on fourth-and-goal. Their next possession ended with another turnover on downs at the Vikings’ 10.
Curtis then opened scoring seven plays later on a 24-yard run from Koch with 8:40 to go in the second quarter, and never trailed.
Emerald Ridge tied the score at 8-8 five minutes later following a 3-yard scoring pass from Jake Schakel to Tony Harste, but Curtis took the lead for good with 2:49 remaining in the half on a 53-yard toss from Koch to Parker Mady.
Isaac Syph returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown seconds later, but the Jaguars’ couldn’t convert the PAT attempt, and still trailed 15-14.
Curtis extended the lead to 22-14 by the halftime break, completing a 13-play drive with a 3-yard scoring pass from Koch to Mady with 16 seconds left.
The Vikings were quick to push the lead to 29-14 on the opening series of the second half on an 8-yard run from Koch, and led by multiple possessions from then on.
Emerald Ridge cut the lead to nine points on a 9-yard run from Navarre Dixon on the next drive, but never got closer.
The Jaguars’ next two possessions ended in punts — the first returned for a 75-yard touchdown by Mady late in the third — and Curtis continued to find the end zone. The Vikings led by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard pass from Koch to Mataio Wilson with 4:47 to play.
Schakel rushed for a 14-yard touchdown not long after, but Koch responded with a 39-yard scoring run two plays later.
Emerald Ridge added one more touchdown with 1:33 to play on a 43-yard pass from Schakel to Harste to make it 50-34, but Curtis ran out the clock from there.
“We told the guys, whoever gets the stops, and then the special teams part — that’s who is going to win,” Vikings coach Darren McKay said. “Because the offenses from both sides, they’re going to do what they do.”
Koch completed 15-of-19 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, and added 212 rushing yards and three more scores on 31 carries continuing an impressive first four games this fall, during which he has already tallied 1,500-plus total yards and 22 touchdowns.
Mady paced the Vikings in receiving with 10 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns, added the 75-yard punt return touchdown, and collected 246 all-purpose yards.
The Jaguars tallied 410 total yards of offense in their first loss of the season. Dixon paced Emerald Ridge in rushing with 162 yards and the one touchdown on 23 carries.
Schakel was 16-of-27 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns, and added 55 rushing yards and the one score on eight carries.
Harste led the Jaguars with 107 yards and the two touchdowns on eight catches and hauled in an interception off a deflection on defense.
Curtis travels to play Bellarmine Prep in another 4A SPSL contest next Friday, while Emerald Ridge (3-1) hosts South Kitsap on Thursday.
ENUMCLAW 37, ORTING 7
Mark Gunderson wasn’t about to drop any bulletin board material for what remains of the Enumclaw Hornets 2A SPSL football opponents. Even after his Enumclaw team dismantled the host Cardinals from Orting, 37-7, on Friday night at Cardinal Stadium.
“We’ve got Foss next week,” Gunderson said. “And we’ll prepare like it’s the most important game of the season.”
That monicker really could have gone to the game they ran away with on Friday. Both the Hornets and Cardinals entered this one at 3-0 overall. Orting was 3-0 in league play, while Enumclaw was 2-0 with a season-opening win over 3A Peninsula in there.
Now at 3-0 in league, the Hornets have run the expected gauntlet of contenders already in 2023, though. Enumclaw has wins over Franklin Pierce, Steilacoom and Orting. Each had pre-season designs on at least second place in the 2A SPSL, if not dethroning the Hornets who haven’t lost in league since Oct. 8, 2021, 14-7 to Steilacoom.
“We’re preparing our tails off every week, no matter who it is,” Gunderson said. “I feel like we’re starting to play better than we did in Week 1 and Week 2. We’ve had two really good weeks of preparation. The kids are starting to see how that correlates to their play on the field.”
Against the Cardinals, no matter who was on the field for Enumclaw seemed to have success. When starting RB Tristan Donovan went down early in the game, Wyatt Neu stepped over from receiver to pick up the load.
When the Hornets needed to put it in the air, quarterback Gunnar Trachte put together an efficient night throwing the ball. The senior signal caller connected on 17 of 21 passes for 198 yards, including going 8-for-8 for 80 yards on the Hornets opening drive of the third quarter that culminated with a two-yard Tristan Donovan scoring run to extend the lead to 34-7.
That virtually erased Orting’s only touchdown of the game that came with 48 seconds left, culminating an 80-yard drive that finally got the Cardinals into double digits in offense. Prior to that drive, Orting had been held to nine total yards of offense.
Donovan, though, wasn’t the feature back of the night. Neu took that honor, carrying the ball 13 times for 95 yards and one of the five rushing touchdowns Enumclaw scored.
YELM 59, RIVER RIDGE 7
Yelm’s rushing attack exploded for a staggering 16 yards per carry, and its defense bullied River Ridge in a 52-point rout on Friday night.
The 3A contenders initiated the running clock midway through the second quarter. And when the Tornados pulled their starters one drive into the third quarter, River Ridge had mustered only 23 total yards of offense.
Yelm exploded for 251 rushing yards on just 16 carries. Anthony Kiamco took two carries for 110 yards (55 YPC) and a touchdown.
And Kiamco was plenty busy elsewhere — Yelm’s RB/LB returned a 37-yard interception for a touchdown in the first quarter and blocked a field goal.
Yelm saw four additional touchdowns called back to penalties which, on a night where all cylinders were firing, held the Tornados lead to 52.
Yelm’s Brayden Platt scored three total touchdowns, twice on the ground and another on his lone reception (35 yards) in the second quarter.
Yelm QB Damian Aalona completed 8-of-16 passes for 168 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Sophomore RB Ethan Owens took four carries for 46 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.
DE Kenji Scanlan posted a team-high eight tackles. DL Chris Hauss logged five tackles (three tackles for loss) and DE Jacob Tracy blocked a punt.
BONNEY LAKE 42, SPANAWAY LAKE 14
Panthers defenders smothered Spanaway Lake — the foundation for Bonney Lake’s lopsided victory on Friday night.
QB Brayden Palmer scrambled for 118 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 15 carries, adding 6-of-8 completions for 91 yards and a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Vance.
Panthers RB/CB Marcus Lloyd scored twice, and on each side of the ball -- he took 14 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown, plus a 35-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.
Still undefeated over 3A PCL-rivals, Bonney Lake (2-0, 3-1) enters a two-week stretch with fellow-league contenders Lincoln and Mount Tahoma, perhaps the most-crucial meetings that remain.
“Everyone believes in themselves,” Bonney Lake head coach Jason Silbaugh said. “This is a two-year process we’ve been in with this group… and we’re tough.”
Spanaway Lake mustered six total rushing yards, forced to pass as their deficit grew.
Lloyd, QB/FS Palmer, and LB Riley Sanderson limited the production of Spanaway Lake RB D’Aryhian Clemons, impressing Silbaugh.
“Spanaway Lake has a ton of athletes,” Silbaugh said. “That worries us all of the time. But our defense played really well. They were (physical). We had some big kids step up again.”
OLYMPIA 41, SOUTH KITSAP 21
Cale Allen’s four total touchdowns (one pass, three rush) lifted Olympia to a comeback win over South Kitsap on Friday night.
The Bears erased a one-score deficit before halftime and ran away in the second half. Olympia’s Drew Carlson scored twice (one rushing, one receiving) and RB Kaiden Fox added a touchdown.
Olympia (1-3) claimed their first victory after facing a gauntlet of 4A contenders across the first three weeks — Curtis, Emerald Ridge, and Graham-Kapowsin.
THURSDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 21)
SUMNER 35, PUYALLUP 30
The Sumner Spartans found a way to get back in the win column at home on Thursday night. They just may have lost one of their biggest pieces for the remainder of the season in doing so, however.
The Spartans built a 25-point lead against rival Puyallup and hung on for a 35-30 victory at Sunset Chev Stadium that evened Sumner’s record in the 4A SPSL at 2-2. The victory may have kept the Spartans in the hunt for a playoff spot, as well, while the Vikings fell to 1-3.
“We needed this win for ourselves,” Sumner coach Keith Ross said. “We needed to get back on the winning side of things. We didn’t even talk about a third loss and what that meant.”
Sumner did take a loss on Thursday as well, though.
Late in the first half, on a second-and-goal from the Puyallup 3-yard line, reigning 4A SPSL MVP Matthew Spurbeck took a handoff and tried to get the right corner into the end zone. He was tackled at the 1.
But worse, Spurbeck didn’t get up. He eventually was helped off the field as he put no weight on his right leg. The running back who rushed for 2,000 yards a year ago and also starts at middle linebacker for Sumner did not return.
“ACL,” Ross said. “Both doctors, that’s what they think.”
If that diagnosis is confirmed this week, Spurbeck will be lost for the remainder of his senior season.
One play after Spurbeck’s injury, which incidentally gave him 101 yards rushing on 16 carries, quarterback Tristen Rebar took it in for the touchdown with 43 seconds left in the first half to give the Spartans a 21-7 lead at the break. When the second half began, the bulk of the rushing duties for Sumner fell to junior Steele Isaacs.
Not that Isaacs was looking for the opportunity in this fashion.
“That’s my guy,” Isaacs said of Spurbeck. “He’s the only guy that believed in me when I came up last year. He’s my inspiration.”
All Isaacs did in the second half was carry the ball 19 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 125 yards overall on 26 carries.
LAKES 27, STADIUM 14
The Lancers picked up their first 3A PCL victory of the season Thursday night in Tacoma, scoring three second-half touchdowns in an eventual 27-14 win over Stadium.
Less than a week after a 29-26 loss to Bonney Lake to open league play — during which second-year starting quarterback Legend Galeai (shoulder) was injured in the first half — the Lancers (3-1) rallied with the victory at Stadium Bowl to even their 3A PCL record.
Lakes never trailed, opening scoring with 11:16 left in the second quarter on a 17-yard touchdown run from Ramon Jones, but Stadium’s defense kept the Lancers out of the end zone on five of their six first-half drives.
The Lancers’ defense also limited the Tigers, allowing just one first-half score with 6:03 left in the second on a 28-yard pass from Kooper Tasler to Kellen Hedrick.
The two program’s entered the break tied at 7-7, but the Lancers regained the lead on their first offensive play of the second half, when Exavier Mcchristian — making his first career start at quarterback — connected with Tristan Baker for a 51-yard score.
Stadium responded with a 19-yard scoring pass from Tasler to Case Kelanic to even the score again at 14-14 with 4:14 left in the third.
But, the Lakes took the lead for good four plays later. Mcchristian connected with Elijiah Mcchristian on a 68-yard pass to set the Lancers up at the Stadium 1, and Tupualii Saleaumua rushed for what turned out to be the game-winning score.
Stadium turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive, and got the ball back with six minutes left, but Elijiah Mcchristian hauled in a key interception and returned it 42 yards to set up Lakes up at the 6-yard line.
“That gave us a little cushion where we could kind of run the ball and try to run the clock out,” longtime Lakes coach Dave Miller said. “That was big.”
Saleaumua added a second rushing touchdown on the next play to push the lead to two touchdowns with 4:04 left, and the Lancers closed out the victory.
Lakes tallied 261 yards of total offense in the win. Both Elijiah Mcchristian and Baker collected 100-plus all-purpose yards while Saleaumua had the two touchdowns. Exavier Mcchristian connected with four receivers for 182 yards.
Stadium posted 202 total yards of offense, including 129 on the ground, led by Emarion Clayton (13 carries, 76 yards). Tasler connected with five receivers and tossed the two touchdown passes. Linebacker Dominic Fualaau added a fumble recovery on defense.
Miller, who has several ties to Stadium’s staff — multiple Tigers coaches, including second-year head coach Patrick Johnson, are former Lakes players or assistants — was quick to note the progress Stadium’s program has made.
“You’ve got to give Stadium a lot of credit,” he said. “They’re really improved. They had a good game plan. I’m proud of those coaches over there. They’re doing a good job.”
Stadium was 1-3 through four games last fall, and this season the Tigers are 3-1. Until Lakes’ second-quarter touchdown, Stadium had posted 11 consecutive scoreless quarters, including shutting out Heritage and league rival Silas the past two weeks.
“They’re showing that they’re buying into the process,” Johnson said. “That’s a perennial state playoff team. It was 53-0 at half last year, and this year 7-7, and it felt like there were times when we were the better football team. I’m super proud of our guys and their grit.”
Lakes continues 3A PCL play against Silas next Friday at home, while Stadium travels to Spanaway Lake.
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN 35, BELLARMINE PREP 0
Daveon Superales threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns, and Graham-Kapowsin blanked the Lions in a 4A SPSL clash on Thursday night at Art Crate Field in Spanaway.
Superales completed 77 percent of his passes (33-for-43) without an interception. Eagles wide receiver Jabez Woods was the primary beneficiary — he posted 15 catches for 173 yards and a 19-yard touchdown from Superales that gave Graham-Kapowsin a 28-0 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Eagles running back Alele Fa’apito-Leao took 13 carries for 38 yards and a 3-yard touchdown run, which opened scoring in the first quarter.
Superales hit Khris Norris (5 yards) and Noah Fox-Flores (3 yards) for short touchdowns in the second and third quarters, respectively.
Jonathan Collins added a 57-yard touchdown run with just over a minute left in the fourth.
Eagles linebacker Josh Massey posted a team-high 5.5 tackles, and linebacker Samu Palaita added an interception.
TIMBERLINE 32, CENTRAL KITSAP 7
Timberline’s “stifling” defense allowed less than 60 total yards and suffocated Central Kitsap en route to victory on Thursday night.
The Blazers secondary feasted — defensive back Sunny Nguyen and free safety Josiah Gorman each grabbed pick-six interception returns, combined with Timberline’s stout defensive line, featuring Darrell Gipson and Tyrin Evans. Evans led the team with 14 tackles, including seven for loss and two sacks in the win.
“They have really high standards for themselves, great expectations,” Timberline coach James Jones said. “Our defense, honestly, just crushed it.”
It was revealed earlier this week that starting quarterback Jacob Nadeau, out since Week 1 with a collar bone injury, will require surgery and miss the remainder of his junior season.
“We’re rolling with Synjae (Colston) right now,” Jones said of Timberline’s quarterback, who has the Blazers 2-0 in 3A SSC play.
But others will receive opportunities — running back Ramar Reid takes snaps from the wildcat, and wide receiver and free safety Cedric Ragland may even appear as signal-caller at times later this season, Jones said.
Timberline running back Ronaldo Salazar-Gonzalez posted a monster night on the ground, totaling nearly 180 rushing yards.
Linebacker Brody Shultz added a special teams touchdown on a scoop-and-score when Central Kitsap fumbled a punt return.
AUBURN RIVERSIDE 48, KENT-MERIDIAN 28
Quarterback Andrew Wold’s five total touchdowns powered Auburn Riverside to victory over Kent-Meridian on Thursday night.
The Ravens QB threw a pick-six in the first quarter, but quickly rebounded to throw four touchdowns and rush for another without another turnover.
Wold completed 13-of-23 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. Running back Thyrou Umi-Tuato’o excelled on the ground, taking 17 carries for a game-high 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Ravens wide receiver Andrew Schrader grabbed five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yard catch that tied the game in the first quarter.
Wide receiver Cole Svendsen hauled in 16-yard touchdown that gave Auburn Riverside the defining lead just minutes later, his first of two scores.
Wold then punched in a 3-yard touchdown run.
Kent-Meridian struggled to convert third downs (1-for-7) and tallied roughly half of Auburn Riverside’s total offense (486-267).
Kent-Meridian quarterback Jayden Saelee completed 8-of-15 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.
FRANKLIN PIERCE 48, STEILACOOM 24
Franklin Pierce steamrolled to an early lead, enough to manage Steilacoom’s comeback effort in a three-score victory Thursday night.
The Cardinals improve to 2-1 in 2A SPSL contests, their lone loss to defending league champion Enumclaw on Sept. 7.
Franklin Pierce running back Jeremiah Olione ran for 138 yards and a touchdown, while Caiden Isaacson added 74 yards and three touchdowns. QB Sam Foust added two more touchdowns on the ground.
Steilacoom quarterback Drew MacDonald completed 13-of-23 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Josiah Morley grabbed eight receptions for 154 yards and three touchdowns.
Steilacoom’s Noah Maxwell piled 134 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
This story was originally published September 21, 2023 at 11:32 PM.
