Week 9: High-stakes football games in the South Sound, predictions
There’s a league championship game in the 4A SPSL and playoff berths on the line this week. Read team previews and score predictions for five games across the South Sound in Week 9, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (6-2) vs. Sumner Spartans (7-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Sunset Stadium
The 4A SPSL heavyweights meet for the league championship in Sumner on Friday night. Sumner handled Emerald Ridge last week in a 38-6 win, while Graham-Kapowsin got all it could handle from Spanaway Lake in a close win. Graham-Kapowsin has won six straight since dropping non-league games to O’Dea and Skyview, while Sumner’s only loss this season was on the road to Oregon state power West Linn. Freshman quarterback AJ Tuivaiave recently surpassed 2,000 passing yards in his first high school season and is averaging 258.5 yards per game through the air. He’ll face his toughest test yet against a high-level Sumner defense; Sumner has held every 4A SPSL opponent to 14 or fewer points this year. We’ll roll with Sumner’s experience in a close one.
TNT pick: Sumner 28, Graham-Kapowsin 21
Bethel Bison (4-4) vs. Curtis Vikings (4-4)
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Curtis High School
A trip to the playoffs is on the line Friday night in University Place. The game’s winner is postseason bound, while the loser is eliminated from playoff contention. Bethel survived a Kansas tiebreaker on Tuesday at Bellarmine, losing to Olympia but bouncing back against Spanaway Lake to earn a spot in this game. It’s been a case of “almost” for Bethel in recent weeks, dropping games to Graham-Kapowsin and Yelm by a total of four points this month. Senior linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, the state’s No. 1 recruit and a UW commit, has had his best high school season and is a game-wrecker on defense. Curtis has two of the area’s top playmakers in receivers Parker Mady and Xavier Ahrens, but has struggled to get them the ball consistently with its young quarterbacks. We’ll take Bethel in a close one.
TNT pick: Bethel 21, Curtis 14
Mount Tahoma T-Birds (4-4) vs. Lakes Lancers (8-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Harry Lang Stadium
Who’s up for a 3A PSL crossover between playoff teams in Lakewood? Despite injuries to a pair of defensive standouts (LB Tau Mareko and DE Tupu Saleauma), the ‘Orange Crush’ defense stymied Capital in last weekend’s impressive, 38-7 road win. They’ll look to keep rolling when Mount Tahoma crosses town to visit Harry E. Lang Stadium on Friday night. Lancers LB Michael Pulalasi dominates games with 91 tackles in eight games, and QB Willie Nash has taken command of the offense with a 70-percent completion rate and 17 touchdown passes to three interceptions. Expect a heavy dose of Lancers RB Toetu Moliga (657 YDS, 6 TD) and splash-play potential with WRs Exavier McChristian (10-251-4) and Tristan Baker (21-288-2). Mount Tahoma counters with a two-headed rushing attack powered by Felix Diaz and Keshawn Hines, both averaging over six yards per carry in 2024. We’ll take the Lancers to enter the postseason unblemished.
TNT pick: Lakes 28, Mount Tahoma 24
Tahoma Bears (5-3) vs. Stadium Tigers (6-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Stadium Bowl
Honors for second place in the 4A NPSL are on the line at Stadium Bowl for these playoff teams. The looming question: Does Stadium RB Darius Sum, the state’s leading rusher, suit up? Hamstring tightness is the culprit, costing him the second half of last weekend’s win over Auburn Riverside, but there’s a chance Sum gives it a go on Friday night. Tigers head coach Patrick Johnson considers it a “game-time decision.” Either way, it’s a massive boost or blow for Stadium, and it isn’t difficult to see why – Sum’s 1,497 rushing yards and 20 scrimmage touchdowns pace all running backs statewide. Tahoma, meanwhile, enjoys a five-game win streak after a sluggish, 0-3 start with losses to the likes of Skyline and Kennedy Catholic. We like Tahoma on the road, but if Sum plays, all bets are off.
TNT pick: Tahoma 31, Stadium 27
Yelm Tornados (7-1) vs. Puyallup Vikings (4-4)
4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Sparks Stadium
Both squads are through to the postseason, but not before an exciting 4A SPSL crossover we think could go either way. There’s a story brewing in Puyallup for Vikings backup QB Luke Parker, who stepped in for an injured Brayden Paulino three weeks ago and ignited the offense. The 5-10 sophomore has 12 touchdowns to one interception, completing 80 percent of his passes with a 151.2 passer rating. There’s dual-threat capability in Parker’s legs, too, averaging 35 rushing yards per game as Puyallup’s signal caller. “The coaches just let me play free, like recess ball,” Parker said Tuesday. “Throwing to your open guys, just trusting my receivers and my linemen, and letting it fly.” He’ll have plenty of playmakers to find on an offense that looks to stay hot (51 points per game in the last three weeks). Yelm QB Parker Myers plays a similar game with big-play potential and the ability to take off with his legs -- but can Puyallup’s Parker keep it rolling against this Yelm D-Line? We’ll take the Tornados in a nailbiter.
TNT pick: Yelm 35, Puyallup 34
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Lake Stevens Vikings (6-2) vs. Arlington Eagles (7-1)
7 p.m. Friday at Arlington High School
It took a few weeks for Lake Stevens to find its footing this season after dropping non-league games to Sumner and Bellevue, but the Vikings hit their stride and haven’t looked back, winning six straight, all in blowout fashion. Senior quarterback Kolton Matson, a TNT all-state selection last fall, has had to break in some new pieces on offense this year but has things humming along again. He has 1,801 yards and 19 TDs this season, while senior running back Jayshon Limar (17 rushing TDs) is averaging 8.5 yards per carry. Arlington is nearly flawless this year, except for a 10-7 loss to Glacier Peak two weeks ago. Arlington quarterback Leyton Martin, also one of the state’s best basketball players, has 1,604 passing yards and 18 TDs this season. The Eagles are balanced on offense, also — running back Caleb Reed (19 TDs) is averaging 10.2 yards per carry this season. There could be some points scored, but Arlington will have its hands full against this loaded Lake Stevens offense.
TNT pick: Lake Stevens 35, Arlington 21
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 1:50 PM.
