Winners of The News Tribune’s Athletes of the Week (Sept. 9 to 14)
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s Athletes of the Week for high school sports contests played Sept. 10-14. Thanks to everyone who voted and supported local student-athletes.
This week’s winners are:
Football: Rashard Boone, Rogers
Fall Sports: Kinley Smith, Timberline volleyball
Boone, Rogers’ junior quarterback, completed 16-of-24 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns in a 63-8 win over Kentridge. The win snapped a 21-game losing streak for Rogers, which dated back to 2021.
The Timberline Blazers’ volleyball team is 4-2 early on thanks to the 5-10 sophomore outside hitter, who ranks among state leaders in kills (4th) and digs (8th), per MaxPreps.
The polls are located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
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Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley (jon.manley@thenewstribune.com) or Tyler Wicke (twicke@thenewstribune.com) or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete’s first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday.
FOOTBALL
Xavier Ahrens, Curtis — Had nine catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, a rush for six yards and 110 all-purpose yards in 42-6 win over Peninsula. Also had six tackles on defense, including three for loss.
Bryson Allen, Franklin Pierce — Cardinals RB erupted for 129 yards and a touchdown on a dozen carries in 36-14 win over Sequim.
Caleb Bacon, Timberline — Sophomore linebacker had 17 tackles, including two for loss and a sack in win over Washington.
Rashard Boone, Rogers — Junior quarterback completed 16-of-24 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns in 63-8 win over Kentridge.
Jabez Boyd, Life Christian — Dual-threat showcased an accurate arm in Saturday’s 35-28 win over Napavine, completing 12-of-16 passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns with a 156.3 passer rating. Added six carries for 48 yards and a touchdown on the ground (five total).
Brycen Clay, South Kitsap — Wolves RB took 21 carries for 169 yards and six touchdowns in a 61-8 win over Mount Rainier. Clay notched 160+ rushing yards and 4+ scores in both starts this season.
Carter Cocke, Sumner — Pass-catching tight end caught three touchdowns from QB Nate Donovan with six receptions for 67 yards in a shutout over Auburn Riverside.
Tayven Collins, Cascade Christian — In win over King’s, had 59 yards and two touchdowns on five carries, five catches for 66 yards and on defense, had an interception, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and six tackles, including three for loss. Also scored three 2-point conversions.
Kyson Douglas, Puyallup — Vikings RB took 22 carries for 80 yards and three touchdowns in a bounce-back, 37-13 win over Evergreen (Vancouver).
Thomas Frei, South Kitsap — Made the most of three receptions, tallying 112 yards (37.3 YPR) and a touchdown over Mount Rainier.
Spencer Holloway, Decatur — Gators’ QB completed 9-of-20 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns and added 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground in Decatur’s comeback win over district rival Federal Way.
Birk Johnston, Bellarmine Prep — Lions’ QB completed 14-of-26 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for a pair of touchdowns in 33-8 win over Auburn.
Jaylen Kennedy, North Thurston — Rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in in 41-21 win over Shelton. Added two catches for 54 yards.
Drew Macdonald, Steilacoom — Sentinels’ QB completed 7-of-16 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown and added 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 11 carries in win over Aberdeen.
Parker Mady, Curtis — In 42-6 win over Peninsula, had eight catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns, two carries for 24 yards and 201 all-purpose yards. On defense, had seven tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble.
Noah Maxwell, Steilacoom — Two-way receiver/safety hauled in three passes for 35 yards, adding six total tackles (3 TFL) in defensive shutout of Aberdeen, 18-0.
Austin May, Federal Way — Had five catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns in loss to district rival Decatur.
Parker Myers, Yelm — Dual-threat QB guided Yelm to non-league victory (four touchdowns) over Lincoln despite losing RB Nathan Ford to a collarbone injury. Threw two touchdowns with 145 passing yards, adding 69 rushing yards and another pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Nick Neil, Puyallup — All-purpose receiver secured five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown, adding two carries for 16 yards on the ground in win over Evergreen.
Ean Owens, Lakes — Two games, two kickoff returns for touchdowns of 80+ yards for the Lancers speedster – both on the opening play. Owens took this week’s return 81 yards to the house that sparked a 55-0 rout of Bonney Lake.
Colton Paulson, Enumclaw — Had eight tackles, three sacks, forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery in win over Todd Beamer. On offense, had 50 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns.
Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, Bethel — Senior linebacker had eight tackles, including two tackles for loss, leading a defense that held Emerald Ridge to -2 rushing yards in a 21-7 win.
Lance Santos, Bethel — Bison RB rumbled over Emerald Ridge in a bellcow role, taking 34 carries for 155 yards and all three Bethel touchdowns in a 21-7 win.
Jadeon Scranton, Lincoln — Rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown in loss to Yelm on Friday night.
Cash Short, Tumwater — T-Birds LB/RB tackled two and recovered a fumble, adding two carries for six yards and two touchdowns in 56-6 blowout over Bainbridge.
Jacob Simons, Eatonville — Returned two punts for 61 yards, had seven tackles on defense and had five catches for 52 yards on offense in 28-0 win over Black Hills.
Darius Sum, Stadium — The workhorse RB made a bet with a friend he would eclipse the 200-yard rushing mark. He’s in for a payday. Sum handled 18 carries for 255 yards and four touchdowns, adding two catches for 13 yards and a fifth score in a 42-21 rivalry win over Silas.
Josiah Taijeron, Rogers — Rushed 16 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns in win over Kentridge.
Keaton Thomas, Timberline — Had seven catches for 128 yards in win over Washington.
Oreilly Tuivaiave, Washington — Patriots first-year QB completed 13-of-16 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns (150.5 passer rating), adding 33 rushing yards on six carries in 23-20 loss to Timberline.
FALL SPORTS
Angelique Bernard, South Kitsap volleyball — Paces the state with 31 blocks after a busy weekend tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome, seven ahead of second-place teammate Elizabeth Pugh (24).
Braelyn Carey, Lakes soccer — Had three goals and an assist in 9-0 win over Clover Park, two goals in 2-2 draw with Steilacoom and all four goals in 4-3 win over Emerald Ridge.
Alyssa Cromwell, Kentwood soccer — Had a goal in 5-2 win over Emerald Ridge and three goals in 5-1 win over Bethel.
Elektra Higgins, Peninsula cross country — Her two-mile time of 11:12.2 at Saturday’s Olympia XC Classic ranks third statewide.
Destiny Mars, Timberline volleyball — Blazers outside hitter ranks fifth statewide with 61 kills.
Jaylee Reynolds, Bonney Lake soccer — Had a goal in 2-1 loss to Kentridge and three goals and an assist in 4-0 win over Battle Ground.
Caitlyn Riggs, Auburn Riverside soccer — Had three goals in 6-0 win over Battle Ground on Monday.
Kinley Smith, Timberline volleyball — Blazers are 4-2 early on thanks to the 5-10 sophomore outside hitter, who ranks among state leaders in kills (4th) and digs (8th).
Latham West, Bonney Lake cross country — Ranks fourth statewide in the two-mile run (11:18.3) after a third-place finish at Saturday’s 25th Bellarmine Invitational.
This story was originally published September 16, 2024 at 2:11 PM.
