Week 2: What we learned from high school football games in the South Sound
Week 2 of the high school football season is in the books. TNT high school sports reporters Jon Manley and Tyler Wicke discuss what stood out from this week’s action.
BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM WEEK 2
Manley: I’m excited to see how things shake out in the 4A SPSL. The league has fared well in non-league competition. Sumner won in a blowout over Auburn Riverside in Week 2, Yelm put together an impressive defensive effort in a win over Lincoln, Graham-Kapowsin lost narrowly on the road to a good Skyview program, Spanaway Lake won comfortably against Kentwood, Curtis hammered Peninsula, Puyallup bounced back against Evergreen, Bethel’s defense was lights-out in a win over Emerald Ridge, Olympia beat Issaquah and South Kitsap blew out Mount Rainier, continuing the program’s upward trajectory. Top to bottom, it’s again one of the best leagues in the state and there could be some surprises this year.
Also, I have to give a shoutout to coach Shawn Yohn and the Rogers Rams. With its 63-8 win over Kentridge on Thursday, Rogers broke a 21-game losing streak that stretched all the way back to 2021. Prior to Thursday, the Rams had endured back-to-back winless seasons and hadn’t won a game since a win over Bonney Lake in November 2021. Some coaches step into perfect situations with established winning programs and a steady stream of high-level players. Others, like Yohn, have their work cut out for them. It’s nice to see Rogers in the win column.
Wicke: Forget contenders: Does the South Sound possess two favorites for state titles in 2024? The strongest early resume belongs to 4A Sumner, which knocked off defending-champion Lake Stevens in a thrilling Week 1 opener and stomped a good Auburn Riverside program, 48-0, on Friday night. QB Nate Donavan (4 pass TD) looked sharp, completing 21-of-27 passes for 285 yards. Star TE Carter Cocke (6-67-3) is shaping up to be Donavan’s reliable end zone target, plus WR Braylon Pope and one of the area’s better defenses. Everything’s in place for a deep run. In 2A, Tumwater makes its annual run for the title, and after running away by 50 points over Puyallup (4A) and Bainbridge to open the season, it appears the T-Birds have another championship bid in store. Anacortes denied them last year’s championship, 60-30, but are the programs on a crash course toward each other yet again? Up next for the T-Birds: A gauntlet of early challengers continues with Eastlake (Sept. 19) and Nooksack Valley (Sept. 27). We’ll see if either keeps it close.
WHICH TEAMS IMPRESSED MOST?
Manley: I figured Curtis might take a little time to find its footing on offense this season after the loss of TNT All-Area QB Rocco Koch. It looks like I was flat-out incorrect in that assessment. Curtis has been on fire on offense through the first two weeks, beating Mount Si 35-14 in Week 1 before a 42-6 blowout against 3A Peninsula last week. Freshman Sam Patterson and sophomore Cooper Hordyck have split time at quarterback and have connected immediately with TNT All-Area receivers Parker Mady (147 receiving yards, two touchdowns against Peninsula) and Xavier Ahrens (104 yards, TD), both next-level football players. Those two are going to be a nightmare all season for opposing defenses.
Wicke: Newer-look roster, same winning formula in Yelm. Without graduated top recruit Brayden Platt (Oregon), the Tornados (2-0) walked out of Lincoln Bowl with a 26-13 win over the host Abes on Friday night, successful in their efforts to disrupt four-star Lincoln QB Sione Kaho (1 TD, 1 INT). … Bethel’s defense impressed me last Thursday, holding Emerald Ridge to 101 yards of total offense and negative-two rushing yards in a 21-7 win. A standout quote from Bison head coach Travis Domser: “We love to keep you in front and come at you. We’re getting to the football, and we’re mad when we get there.” … After a rare absence from the 3A playoffs last season, Lakes (2-0) owns impressive non-league wins over Auburn Riverside (21-13) and Bonney Lake (55-0). That’s a complete defensive unit in Lakewood.
WHICH WEEK 2 RESULT WAS THE MOST SURPRISING?
Manley: The result wasn’t surprising, as we picked Decatur to beat district rival Federal Way, but the way it happened? Yeah, that was a shock. Trailing 34-13 in the fourth quarter, Decatur scored three touchdowns in the final nine minutes of the game and quarterback Spencer Holloway sealed the improbable comeback with a keeper and successful two-point conversion to complete the 35-34 win. That kind of win is fun anytime, but it has to be extra sweet against a school district rival.
Wicke: Fife assured us another 5-5 season wasn’t in store, and the Trojans certainly look the part of a postseason contender two weeks in. How about six total rushing touchdowns in a dominant, 48-0 shutout of former-rival White River (now a 3A program) on Thursday night? It certainly helps to return four of five starters on both offensive and defensive lines and standout LB/RB La’au Maka, who scored twice in the rout. … Curtis hasn’t skipped a beat without graduated All-Area QB Rocco Koch, dropping 35+ points in early wins over Mount Si and Peninsula. … I’d like to say I’m surprised Tumwater embarrassed another tough program (Bainbridge) by 50 after stomping 4A Puyallup by an identical 56-6 score in last week’s opener, but I won’t. I’ve learned my lesson.
WHICH TEAM SHOULD BE ON EVERY OPPONENT’S RADAR MOVING FORWARD?
Manley: Life Christian is a contender in Class 1A this season. The Eagles faced a good test and beat Napavine — last year’s 2B state runner-up and a consistent winning program — 35-28 at Stadium Bowl on Saturday. That’s a quality win for a program that’s on the rise under former USC Trojan running back Hershel Dennis.
Wicke: It’s Sumner. The coaching staff, the roster, the statement win over defending-champion Lake Stevens in Week 1 — the word is certainly out on the Spartans. … We’re only two weeks in, but Decatur controls its destiny en route to the 3A NPSL title. The Golden Gators defeated perhaps their strongest contenders (Enumclaw, Federal Way) across the opening two weeks, including a fourth-quarter, 21-point comeback over the latter. … Tumwater’s on every 2A program’s radar because, well, it’s Tumwater.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE STOOD OUT MOST IN WEEK 2?
Manley: Stadium’s Darius Sum, but I’ll let Tyler expand on his performance below. Give me Curtis two-way standout Parker Mady. In the 42-6 win on the road against Peninsula, Mady had eight catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns, two carries for 24 yards and racked up 201 all-purpose yards. On defense, he had seven tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble. Flat-out baller.
Wicke: Stadium RB Darius Sum wagered with a friend before Friday night’s rivalry game: Sum asserted he’d eclipse the 200-yard rushing mark over Silas. Of course it cashed. The workhorse took 18 carries for 255 yards (14.2 YPC) and four touchdowns, adding two catches for 13 yards and a fifth score in a 42-21 win. The TNT preps department crunched the numbers — that’s 58.8 fantasy points in PPR formats. After drafting teams with Jon last month, we’re certainly kicking ourselves for leaving him on the board. Here’s another monster performance: South Kitsap RB Brycen Clay handled 21 carries for 169 yards and six touchdowns in a 61-8 blowout over Mount Rainier. That’s 10 touchdowns in two starts for Clay, who has notched 160+ rushing yards and 4+ scores in each.
This story was originally published September 16, 2024 at 2:50 PM.
