High school football scores, roundup: Puyallup beats Curtis, peaking at right time
Results, recaps and more from Week 8 high school football contests around the South Sound will be posted on this page Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Looking for local scores? Find them at the bottom of this story.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS (OCT. 25)
PUYALLUP 49, CURTIS 35
Two plays after catching a touchdown pass to give Puyallup an early lead against the visiting Curtis Vikings on Friday night at Sparks Stadium, Jayden Woodland leapt up and intercepted a Curtis pass and returned it down the sideline for a 37-yard pick-six touchdown.
“I got my season cut shot, didn’t get to play the first three games, so doing what I can to make the most out of it,” Woodland said.
Just like that, it was 14-0, setting into motion a scoring frenzy that ultimately ended in a 49-35 Puyallup win. At one point, Puyallup led 28-7 in the first half and it felt like Curtis might just pack it in, but freshman quarterback Sam Patterson and the visitors clawed back into the game and made things interesting.
But ultimately, Puyallup’s offensive firepower was too much to overcome, an impressive showing against a Curtis defense that has been one of the best in the 4A SPSL this season.
Is Puyallup hitting its stride at the perfect time? The Vikings have won three in a row and are having no issue moving the ball with sophomore quarterback Luke Parker, who has started the past three weeks after an injury to Brayden Paulino.
“He’s different than any quarterback I’ve coached back there,” Puyallup coach Brian Grout said. “He doesn’t care. He’s just letting it fly. He’s just playing ball and being a dude.”
With the win, Puyallup finishes third in the 4A SPSL North Division and has clinched a playoff berth. Puyallup will face South Division No. 2 Yelm in a Week 9 crossover game with both teams safely in the playoffs. And things look better than they did in early September, when Puyallup got blown out by Tumwater in Week 1 and went 1-2 in the non-league schedule.
“We just realized if we didn’t get it together, a lot of us wouldn’t play football anymore and that just clicked in our brain and we just started locking in, going harder in practice with each other, encouraging each other,” Woodland said.
Curtis, meanwhile, has a tougher path ahead. The Vikings take the No. 4 seed and will face the 4A SPSL South No. 4 (TBD) in a loser-out game next week.
SUMNER 38, EMERALD RIDGE 6
Ahead of a crisp, clear homecoming night in Sumner, fans packed the surrounding streets, bleachers, and available standing room for another 4A SPSL matchup between playoff contenders at Sunset Stadium. An impressive fireworks show illuminated the halftime sky, Sumner’s marching band again proved its status as one of the South Sound’s best, and KING 5’s familiar Chris Egan made his rounds amongst one of the better-attended high school student sections you’ll see.
Even 30 minutes after Friday night’s final snap, the field still bustled with players, coaches, and parents sharing hugs and conversation. It resembled the respectful field-storming of a small college campus — not a high-school game in a city with a population of roughly 10,000.
This isn’t longtime Sumner head coach Keith Ross’ first rodeo. “It’s the best,” he told The News Tribune near midfield, surrounded by hundreds. “I know there’s a couple good ones, but we think our entrance, and just our community… look what we do (underneath) the Friday night lights. It’s pretty impressive.”
And in front of a sold-out crowd, No. 3 Sumner lived up to the local hype: DB Israel Nabors returned a 106-yard pick-six and dashed for a 29-yard touchdown run, leading rusher RB Steele Isaacs handled 13 carries for 75 yards and two scores, and the Spartans ran away from Emerald Ridge in the second half for a 38-6 win at Sunset Stadium.
Their fifth straight win sets the stage for the 4A SPSL championship next weekend — Sumner vs. Graham-Kapowsin for the league title.
“Can’t wait,” Ross said. “(Eagles HC) Jeff Logan and I talked about it this summer. We both said take care of business, and let’s meet Week 9. We’re jacked. They’re one of our best rivals. We’ll get it on and have a great time.”
Nabors’ 106-yard interception return was a textbook momentum-shifter, erasing Emerald Ridge’s opportunity to regain a late lead. The Jaguars reached Sumner’s three-yard line in the third quarter — a false start backed them up to the 8 — but the Sumner DB’s game-altering play nullified it all.
Rising to snag Emerald Ridge’s fourth-down goal line fade into double coverage, Nabors erupted from the end zone for a return. Down the home sideline went Sumner’s speedy defensive back as the bleachers shook.
“It was one man to beat,” Nabors said. “I knew he wasn’t faster than me, so I just put my top speed on and took it all the way to the house.”
His first touchdown, a 29-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter, was enough to topple Emerald Ridge on its own. The Jaguars offense mustered 58 total rushing yards on 24 carries and earned much of their 198 total yards on chunk plays between QB Benjamin Druckman and WR Logan Lipscomb.
Sumner’s Ross has directed a handful of the area’s elite defenses in recent Spartans history.
This one’s up there.
How high on the list?
Ross smiled. “It’s pretty good. We’ve played really well the last four or five games… we get after it. We get interceptions. We hit people really hard. They’re just playing at a super high level right now, and that’s what we’re known for.
“This defense is a legacy defense. We talk about the 2016-17 defense, and this group wants to be the defense.”
Sumner drew first blood on Austin Ferencz’s 32-yard field goal in the first quarter.
Emerald Ridge’s Lipscomb (WR/DB) corralled perhaps the play of the game, snaring a Sumner interception with an extended left hand before dashing 65 yards for the only points the Jaguars found.
And before Lipscomb and Co. could enjoy their short-lived lead, it vanished when Nabors took his 29-yard touchdown catch for six.
“We’ve been talking about that,” Ross said. “It’s a game with ups and downs, and if somebody scores, we’ve gotta answer. … (We) put that momentum to rest.”
Moreso, the floodgates opened. Spartans DL Sean Ponce snagged Sumner’s second interception of the evening (Braylon Pope), and RB Steele Isaacs erupted for a 20-yard touchdown run on the very next play. Lead extended, 24-6.
Isaacs scored again in the fourth, a one-yard punch that felt like the dagger with 6:44 to play. The Spartans student section agreed as chants ensued: “This game’s over! This game’s over!”
Spartans WR Kainoa Grounds caught Sumner’s final touchdown in the closing minutes, a designed quarterback rollout from four yards.
“Coach Ross pushes us as much as he can,” Nabors said. “He pushes his coaches. …. The coaches coach, and the players play. We do what we’re taught.”
GIG HARBOR 28, BELLARMINE PREP 26
There will be no Fish Bowl II in 2024. The Gig Harbor Tides ensured that they and rival Peninsula will not meet in a Week 9 Puget Sound League crossover game next week as Ryland Geldermann celebrated his 17th birthday with a huge game against the Bellarmine Lions at Roy Anderson Field in Purdy on Friday.
Geldermann ran for 195 yards and two touchdowns, DJ Darling caught two more scoring passes and the Tides held off a late Bellarmine Prep rally to earn a 28-26 victory.
The win assures Gig Harbor of at least third place in the Narrows Division of the PSL. As Peninsula also finished third, in the Nisqually Division, the two cannot meet in the Nos. 3 and 4 crossover game to earn one of the six spots from the PSL to the new Round of 32 Week 10 playoffs.
“If it was Fish Bowl II or whatever game, it’s about earning one more week of football,” Gig Harbor coach Darren Reeves said. “Four weeks ago, we couldn’t have finished a game like this. We’re in the playoffs.”
Behind the running of Geldermann and the passing connection of freshman quarterback Sawyer Hayes to Darling, the Tides (3-2 league) built a 21-3 lead with 8 minutes, 14 seconds to play in the third quarter.
After Bellarmine’s fourth turnover of the game ended the second half’s opening drive, Hayes found Darling for 34 yards and built the lead. A safety on a punt attempt by Gig Harbor began the Lions comeback.
That made it 21-5. Then Dirk Johnston connected with Gabe Gomez on the first of that pairing’s two long touchdown connections on the ensuing drive. Gomez ran in the 2-point conversion and all of a sudden with nine seconds left in the third quarter it was a one-possession game, 21-13.
Hayes to Gomez on the next Bellarmine drive made it 21-19, but then Darling went 53 yards from Hayes and with 4:18 to play it was 28-19 in favor of the Tides. Before the long pass, Geldermann had carried for the 20th, 21st and 22nd times, bringing his total rushing yards to 198 to go with his two first-half TD runs.
“This win wasn’t just for my birthday,” said the newly 17-year-old junior running back. “It was for all the seniors, too. The seniors that have shown so much leadership.”
It still wasn’t over, though. Johnston completed four of five passes on the Lions next trip down the field, the last a 24-yarder again to Gomez that set Bellarmine (2-3 league) up with a first-and-goal at the Gig Harbor 2.
Two plays later, Johnston plunged in to get the Lions within two after the extra point, 28-26, with 2:04 left. Three carries from Geldermann for minus-3 yards (giving him 195 total for the game) and a punt gave Bellarmine a last chance with 44.5 seconds left.
But Johnston completed just one of eight throws, got one first down, and was intercepted for the third time (Bellarmine’s fifth turnover) on fourth-and-10 from the Lions 47 to end the game.
Gomez caught 13 passes for Bellarmine Prep for 223 yards.
“I played for the Lions from fourth to eighth grade,” Geldermann said. “There was some trash talk going on. Someone called us snakes. Well, the snakes in the grass just ate the Lion.”
THURSDAY’S RESULTS (OCT. 24)
STADIUM 26, AUBURN RIVERSIDE 14
Star RB Darius Sum rushed for 107 first-half yards and a touchdown, QB Kooper Tasler added two total scores, and the Tigers toppled Auburn Riverside for a 26-14 win that inches Stadium closer to the postseason.
“The 6-2 Stadium Tigers,” head coach Patrick Johnson said Thursday night. “Hasn’t been around here in a while. I’m proud of ‘em.”
Stadium’s six-man rotation of defensive linemen limited four-star Ravens RB/LB and UW commit Jonathan Epperson to 69 rushing yards (1 TD) on 14 carries, and the Tigers scored 26 unanswered points in convincing fashion at Auburn Memorial Stadium.
It was only fitting that DE Cruz Nolan, already with 1.5 sacks to his name, recovered a fumbled kickoff and dashed 21 yards for Stadium’s final touchdown. A convoy dashed at his every side, ready to celebrate.
“We practice special teams every day,” Johnson said. “I think that’s putting us at an advantage over some other teams, because we emphasize it. .... He was in the right spot, got it done.
“It was pretty special.”
Nolan’s scoop-and-score marked 26 unanswered points in enemy territory. Epperson scored his only touchdown with two minutes remaining in regulation.
Stadium’s Sum, the state’s leading rusher, posted 107 yards and a 16-yard touchdown run in the first half before exiting with hamstring tightness. Removed with extreme caution, Johnson will reevaluate Sum at this week’s practices and doesn’t expect the star running back to miss additional time.
“He’s a fighter,” Johnson said. “We’ve got a long week. ... (We’ll) see what Monday, Tuesday look like.”
Stadium QB Kooper Tasler completed 8-of-14 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, adding six carries and a three-yard rushing score in the second quarter.
Tigers WR/CB Donovan Gill secured three receptions for 72 yards with an interception on defense. Stadium WR Case Kelanic’s only catch went for a 30-yard touchdown.
Ravens WR Cole Svendsen paced all receivers with four catches for 83 yards and a 44-yard touchdown that drew first blood.
Wondering how Stadium can secure a playoff berth? It’s looking better by the week, but the Tigers haven’t technically clinched yet.
Stadium would clinch a trip to the postseason with a win over Tahoma next week or with one Kentwood loss, either to Tahoma (Oct. 25) or Kentridge (Nov. 1).
The magic number is down to one.
“We did our part tonight,” Johnson said. “And then next week, it’s all in our hands.”
BOX SCORE
S: 0-14-0-12—26
AR: 7-0-0-7—14
YELM 36, OLYMPIA 13
Consider Yelm’s postseason ticket emphatically punched.
An electric Tornados defense forced five Olympia interceptions, QB Parker Myers threw four touchdown passes, and Yelm cemented a return to the playoffs in their inaugural season as 4A SPSL members.
Myers spread his four touchdown passes (three in the first half) to four Tornados receivers and RB Nathan Ford added a seven-yard rushing score in a complete win at Yelm High School.
Sophomore defensive back Maurice Williams intercepted Olympia twice; DB Gunner Westbrooks, DB Tonye Penn, and LB Luke Brown added picks.
And four of Yelm’s interceptions provided friendly field position on touchdown drives, including Myers’ 25-yard pass to Jay Sumich on their opening possession.
Myers hit Williams (nine yards) and WR Aaron Culler (17 yards) for touchdowns before Yelm jogged into the locker room with a 22-0 halftime lead.
Yelm WR Jacob Ford paced the Tornados with three receptions for 99 yards, earned mostly on an 80-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter. Myers completed 13-of-22 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
Bears QB Tucker Downing put Olympia on the scoreboard with a one-yard touchdown rush in the third quarter, and delivered a six-yard touchdown pass to WR Harper Hejtmanek in the fourth. Yelm outgained Olympia, 361-239.
Yelm’s fourth league win ensures a top-three finish in the 4A SPSL South, along with a coveted playoff berth. It also guarantees a second-place finish in the division; Yelm’s crossover opponent in Week 9 is to be determined, though both will advance.
BOX SCORE
O: 0-0-7-6—13
Y: 15-7-7-7—36
SOUTH SOUND SCOREBOARD
SATURDAY (OCT. 26)
4A NPSL
Kennedy Catholic 56, Kentridge 0
3A NPSL
Federal Way 41, Kentlake 0
FRIDAY (OCT. 25)
4A SPSL
Puyallup 49, Curtis 35
Sumner 38, Emerald Ridge 6
Graham-Kapowsin 24, Spanaway Lake 19
Rogers 76, South Kitsap 51
4A NPSL
Auburn 61, Mount Rainier 14
Tahoma 48, Kentwood 21
3A NPSL
Auburn Mountainview 20, Kent-Meridian 0
Todd Beamer 35, Thomas Jefferson 8
3A PSL
Gig Harbor 28, Bellarmine Prep 26
Lakes 38, Capital 7
Lincoln 34, Central Kitsap 19
River Ridge 41, North Thurston 6
2A SPSL
Steilacoom 42, Eatonville 0
Fife 49, Foss 8
2A EvCo
Tumwater 52, W.F. West 0
Aberdeen 28, Black Hills 14
NON-LEAGUE
Enumclaw 27, Life Christian 0
THURSDAY (OCT. 24)
4A NPSL
Stadium 26, Auburn Riverside 14
3A NPSL
Decatur 20, White River 6
4A SPSL
Yelm 36, Olympia 13
Bethel 28, Bonney Lake 14
2A SPSL
Franklin Pierce 52, Clover Park 0
Orting 41, Washington 7
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 10:48 PM.
