Sumner loaded on both sides of the ball. Can Spartans win 4A state football title in 2024?
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High school football preview ’24
The News Tribune will be visiting schools in the area and previewing local leagues as the first week of games approaches.
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Nate Donovan and Braylon Pope haven’t played in any official games together at Sumner High School yet, but they’ve played plenty of football together.
They played on a 7-on-7 team together in fifth grade, then reunited again during their high school careers on an FSP 7-on-7 team.
Donovan, a junior transfer from Mount Si, is the new quarterback at Sumner. Pope is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound sophomore who already holds offers from UW, Oregon, USC and Miami.
“We played six months together before coming here for spring ball, so I think it definitely helped,” Donovan said. “We had chemistry.”
Pope feels the duo is further along than they’d normally be, thanks to the 7-on-7 connection.
“He knows how fast I go, what my routes are like and I know where he’s gonna put the ball every time,” Pope said. “The pass game is gonna be crazy this year. We have so many good receivers on the team.”
That includes Carter Cocke, a Montana State commit who’s one of the state’s top tight ends heading into the season. At a 7-on-7 camp this summer, Cocke finally dropped a pass, a rarity for the senior.
“Everyone looked at each other and said, ‘That’s the first ball he’s dropped,’” Sumner coach Keith Ross said, laughing. “He has the best hands of anyone that I’ve coached in 27 years. His catch radius, his ability to go get the ball … it’s special.
“Add in that he’s a devastating blocker and I think that’s what sets him apart from these pass catching tight ends. He’s a nasty blocker and an elite pass catcher in an athletic body.”
There’s a sense of urgency among Sumner’s players in fall camp. Washington’s 4A classification feels open this year and Sumner returns several key playmakers on offense, has a capable transfer quarterback and is as loaded as ever on defense.
“We’re unstoppable,” Cocke said. “I want to bring Ross his (state championship) ring. I’m excited and we’re gonna get it done.”
Ross doesn’t talk about winning the state championship. For him, it’s always the ultimate goal, but it’s not the only thing that matters.
“They think I’m getting old and I’m not gonna do this much longer,” said Ross, 57, with a laugh. “I think it’s great they think that. I just want them to be good football players and if it happens, it happens.”
Up first: a daunting non-league schedule, one that is all but certainly the state’s most difficult. Sumner opens at home with defending 4A state champion Lake Stevens, plays 3A state tournament participant Auburn Riverside in Week 2 before a road trip to Oregon to play 6A runner-up West Linn in Week 3.
What would be success with those three games?
“As many wins as we can,” Cocke said. “That’s what we want. We always strive to win, we’re always practicing to win and we’re never satisfied with anything else besides winning.”
Count the new QB in.
“We’re going in with a goal to win,” Donovan said. “To be the best, you have to beat the best teams.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
