TNT’s preseason power rankings: Which South Sound football teams crack the Top 10 list?
The high school football season begins this week in the South Sound and across Washington state. The News Tribune’s high school sports crew is ranking the top teams 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, not just wins and losses. Did a team lose because its star quarterback was hurt and didn’t play? Maybe that team 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 preseason Top 10, plus ‘The Next Five.’
THE TOP 10
1. Sumner — Weapons everywhere for the Spartans, highlighted by TE Carter Cocke (Montana State commit) and sophomore WR Braylon Pope, who holds a handful of Power Four offers. Offense expects to open up this year. How effectively Mount Si transfer Nate Donovan can spread the ball will determine how far Spartans go.
2. Graham-Kapowsin — The Eagles lost all-state talent in QB Daveon Superales and receivers Malachi Durant (Oregon State) and Jabez Woods (Montana State). But the cupboard is far from bare, with TE Noah Flores (UCLA commit) and WR Khris Norris stepping into spotlight this fall. QB AJ Tuivaiave, who is 14, takes the reigns.
3. Kennedy Catholic — Lancers haven’t lost a league game since 2018, and we like their chances to extend that streak another year. QB Devon Forehand returns and Swiss Army knife RB Indiana Jones will be one of the state’s most explosive players. OL Lowen Colman-Brusa (UW commit) and DL Derek Colman-Brusa (offers from UW, Ohio State) give Lancers an edge up front, too.
4. Puyallup — There’s a buzz about all the skill-position talent at Puyallup this fall. Sophomore QB Brayden Paulino should take the next step with plenty of weapons, including WR J’isaiah Mitchell, WR Nick Neil, TE/FB Kaden Rolfness, RB/WR Kyson Douglas and WR Jasiah Denmark.
5. Lincoln — It’s Sione Kaho’s team now. The Abes’ quarterback is back for his sophomore year and looks bigger, stronger and faster. LB Dre Sio-Fetaui is a menacing presence on defense. After reaching the state tournament in a rebuilding year last fall, Lincoln’s ready to make a deep run this season.
6. Yelm — The Tornados are ready to play with the ‘big boys’ after moving up to the 4A SPSL this summer. Even if 27-game win streaks and weekly blowouts aren’t so likely, Yelm returns plenty of size and skill to compete in one of the state’s toughest leagues. Boise State commit Jacob Tracy (6-5), Shane Creegan (6-3), and Chris Hauss (6-3) form the trio of returning two-way linemen from last year’s 3A championship game appearance.
7. Curtis — The lone question surrounding Curtis: What will life be like without All-Area QB Rocco Koch? We think the Vikings can reload instead of rebuild. Curtis begins the season with two quarterbacks in Koch’s place – sophomore Cooper Hordyk and freshman Sam Patterson – and both have plenty of weapons around them. Look out for all-purpose machine Parker Mady and 6-3 wideout Xavier Ahrens, plus nine returning starters on defense.
8. Mount Tahoma — After storming through rivals, hoisting the 3A PCL trophy and advancing to the state quarterfinals, there’s both belief and expectation that Mount Tahoma keeps it rolling. Standout Division-I cornerback Elijah Durr joins new-QB Devon Addison on a roster hungry to repeat.
9. Enumclaw — The 2A contender moved up to the 3A NPSL this offseason, and we’ll know plenty about their standing after Week 1 when Enumclaw visits Decatur in a contest that very well could decide the league title. The Hornets return all 11 defensive starters (!) and feature new-QB Gavin Trachte in an offense that features familiar fullback Seamus Twohey and top-target Colton Paulson.
10. Tumwater — The 2A powerhouse plans to use six running backs this season, and it certainly helps to return a trio that each logged 400+ rushing yards and 8+ touchdowns in 2023. Senior linebackers Beckett Wall and Cash Short headline a reloaded defense with seven returning starters, plus all-SSC Timberline transfer Sunny Nguyen in the secondary. Another deep postseason run appears in the cards.
THE NEXT FIVE
Lakes, Gig Harbor, Peninsula, Decatur, Bethel
This story was originally published September 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
