Making the case for Graham-Kapowsin: Why the Eagles can win 4A state title
The high school football state tournament brackets in Washington are filled with teams from the South Sound. Over the course of the season, some of these teams have separated themselves and look like legitimate state title contenders.
One of those teams is Graham-Kapowsin, in Class 4A. The undefeated Eagles earned the No. 1 seed in the 4A state tournament, which begins Friday. Here’s a look at Graham-Kapowsin’s season, key players and signature wins. Plus, thoughts from multiple coaches who coached against Graham-Kapowsin this year — why they think G-K could win it all and what could cause them to fall short of hoisting the trophy at Husky Stadium. Coaches are quoted anonymously to allow them to speak candidly.
RECORD: 10-0 overall, 9-0 in 4A SPSL
SIGNATURE WINS: 38-31 over Sumner in Week 5; 42-35 over Curtis in Week 6; 41-35 over Emerald Ridge in Week 8
STAT LEADERS: QB Daveon Superales: 215-of-282, 2510 yards, 35 TD, 1 INT, 502 rushing yards, 6 TD; WR Jabez Woods: 71 receptions, 852 yards, 8 TD; WR Malachi Durant: 50 receptions, 692 yards, 15 TD; WR Khris Norris: 46 receptions, 482 yards, 6 TD
MAKING THE CASE FOR THE EAGLES
Graham-Kapowsin passed every test in the 4A SPSL gauntlet, beating Sumner, Curtis and Emerald Ridge in close games. Daveon Superales has proven himself as one of the state’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks and no team in the state is as dangerous at receiver, with Malachi Durant, Jabez Woods and Khris Norris all capable of putting up big numbers. Graham-Kapowsin takes the tournament’s No. 1 seed and will host games all the way through the state semifinals, if the Eagles win their first two games. Graham-Kapowsin is no stranger to this stage — the Eagles have been to the state tournament eight times since 2014, per WIAA records, and won the state championship in 2021, completing one of the most dominant Class 4A runs the state has seen.
Opposing Coach A: “They can win it for two reasons. They believe more than anyone else. Everyone’s been gunning for them all year and they’ve just won close games. They’ve had some close games with everyone gunning after them. I think they believe more than everyone else. The second reason — that QB (Superales) is the best QB around. I think he is really, really good. He’s underrated as far as college recruiting goes. He’s a winner. They really have the belief system and the QB.”
Opposing Coach B: “I think on the perimeter, they’re gonna match up better than anybody they play. Their staff has been there before. They’re experienced, they know how to practice during this time of year, they know how much to push on the gas pedal.”
WHY THE EAGLES COULD FALL SHORT
No one has figured out how to slow down Superales and Graham-Kapowsin’s formidable passing attack, but teams have had success moving the football against the Eagles. In Graham-Kapowsin’s three closest wins, the Eagles conceded 31, 35 and 35 points. Long, time-consuming drives and keeping Graham-Kapowsin’s offense off the field as much as possible may be the recipe, if one exists. Sumner tried dropping eight into coverage and using three high safeties, effectively eliminating Graham-Kapowsin’s vertical passing attack, but the Eagles responded with a heavy dose of Superales and Jabez Woods running the football and still scored 38 points. Jeff Logan’s crew has seen it all, and nothing so far has worked against G-K.
Opposing coach A: “I think you have to have some type of manufactured effort. Be really good on defense, somehow get them into a one-dimensional game, and then outscore them. Or you keep the ball away from them. I just think that QB is too good though. … I could see them getting into it with Skyview. Camas is a machine. I just don’t think G-K has a lot of kryptonite right now.”
Opposing coach B: “I think if they come up against a really stout offensive team that can really grind the clock, pound the ball, keep their offense off the field. And then — it’s November, the weather is getting different. I know they rely heavily on their passing game.”
Opening round game: No. 16 Richland (7-4) at No. 1 Graham-Kapowsin (10-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Art Crate Field
This story was originally published November 8, 2023 at 10:10 AM.
