High school football season preview: 3A North Puget Sound League
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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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High school football is back in the South Sound. Practices are underway as programs across the state prepare for the beginning of the 2024 season.
The News Tribune will be visiting schools in the area and previewing local leagues as the first week of games approaches.
Follow along with us throughout the two-week preseason for previews on the 4A NPSL, 4A SPSL, 3A NPSL, 3A PSL, 2A SPSL, 2A EvCo and more.
3A NORTH PUGET SOUND LEAGUE
THE FAVORITE
In his 13th year at the helm in Enumclaw, Mark Gunderson hasn’t seen anything like it.
Nineteen returning starters.
Eight on offense. All 11 on defense.
“It feels like we’re in game-week right now, and we don’t even have gear on yet,” Gunderson told The News Tribune.
The former 2A SPSL powerhouse has a new home in the 3A NPSL. No matter — they’re still the favorite.
It’s a new league, but the same identity for the Hornets: mean, nasty football that starts in the trenches. Back is reigning 2A SPSL Defensive Lineman of the Year Ryker Popke, alongside three-time, first-team All-SPSL lineman Fernando Reyes. They’ll establish a hard-nosed run game with first-team fullback Seamus Twohey and return RB Louis Chevalier from a broken collarbone in 2023.
Junior QB Gavin Trachte won the starting job in a competitive battle with Kannon Kuzaro throughout training camp and is set to replace his graduated brother and reigning SPSL Offensive Player of the Year, Gunnar. Both possess strong arms and leadership skills; Gunderson says Gavin might have the advantage on his older brother two seasons into his high school career.
“One thing that Gavin has … Gunnar didn’t really have somebody right there pushing him,” Gunderson said. “We had a great quarterback battle, and Gavin edged out.
“(Kannon’s) going to be a heck of a player as well. He’s going to contribute. … But I would say that the biggest key to the success Gavin’s had … is the ability to have somebody push him. And if we could just have that at every position, my goodness, wouldn’t every program be a lot better than they are?”
Other standouts? Linebacker Cooper Rodarte lurks over the middle. WR Colton Paulson will stretch the field for Trachte, already with an offer from Central Washington University.
And all of them possess experience in meaningful postseason games, something they’ll need right away: Decatur, another NPSL contender, awaits the Hornets in Week 1.
“In meaningful games where, we’re not talking about the first quarter, we’re talking about the last two minutes of the game and (it’s) on the line,” Gunderson said. “That type of atmosphere and caliber of a game. Those are the ones that we like to play in. And when you have so many kids back that have experience? I mean, they know we’re playing against a good Decatur team Week 1, and we know this thing’s going four quarters.”
CONTENDERS
Don’t sleep on Nehemiah Washington.
One of the state’s elite running backs returns to Decatur for a senior season and should cause all sorts of problems for opposing defenses.
“(Washington) is pretty special,” one rival coach said.
“He’s a dude,” said another.
The reigning 4A NPSL Offensive Player of the Year averaged over seven yards per carry in 2023 and scored 17 total touchdowns with 1,206 scrimmage yards. He’s behind QB Spencer Holloway, a senior dual-threat that “doesn’t get enough credit,” said one opposing coach.
Decatur enjoyed an eight-win season and runner-up finish in the 4A NPSL last year — now, they move down to 3A, where the Gators remain an obvious contender. An experienced coaching staff led by Matt Vaeena directs a big, physical group with several returning starters.
It all goes through Washington.
“You’ve got to be a disciplined group on defense to keep those guys out of the end zone,” Enumclaw’s Gunderson said. “In their league last year, not a lot of teams did a very good job of that … and (Washington) was in the end zone quite a bit.”
Federal Way, meanwhile, joins rival-Decatur in a move down to 3A and returns plenty of playmakers to keep this Eagles squad competitive.
Junior cornerback Zamarie Tellez is the 4A NPSL’s reigning Defensive Back of the Year — and did we mention he’s a first-team WR, too?
“They’ve got dudes on their sideline,” Gunderson said of the Eagles. “If you don’t bottle those kids up and we’re not disciplined every play, they’re gonna find their way to the end zone.”
Some of the league’s premier rivalry matchups kick off early in 2024. After Enumclaw battles Decatur in Week 1, Federal Way travels to meet the Golden Gators in Week 2. Both results will loom large in the standings.
Auburn Mountainview returns second-team NPSL quarterback Elijah Baird, a prototypical 6-foot-3 signal-caller with rushing ability (14 pass TD, 6 rush TD in 2023).
White River features standout WR Tate Bowen, who secured 75 receptions for 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023.
10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Elijah Baird, Auburn Mountainview
WR Tate Bowen, White River
QB Spencer Holloway, Decatur
WR Colton Paulson, Enumclaw
DL Ryker Popke, Enumclaw
OL/DL Fernando Reyes, Enumclaw
LB Cooper Rodarte, Enumclaw
WR/CB Zamarie Tellez, Federal Way
FB Seamus Twohey, Enumclaw
RB Nehemiah Washington, Decatur
SAVE THE DATE
Sep. 6 — ENUMCLAW at DECATUR
Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Federal Way Memorial Field
Sep. 13 — FEDERAL WAY at DECATUR
Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Federal Way Memorial Field
Oct. 18 — ENUMCLAW at AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW
Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Auburn Memorial Stadium
PROJECTED LEAGUE STANDINGS
Enumclaw
Decatur
Federal Way
Auburn Mountainview
White River
Kent-Meridian
Thomas Jefferson
Todd Beamer
Kentlake
This story was originally published August 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
