State football semifinals: Results, takeaways from high school playoffs in Washington
The semifinal round of high school football state tournaments in Washington is in the books. Here are the results, analysis and discussion from TNT reporters Jon Manley and Tyler Wicke, plus this week’s championship schedule.
CLASS 4A
SEMIFINAL SCORES
No. 1 Camas 28, No. 5 Gonzaga Prep 20
No. 2 Sumner 37, No. 3 Chiawana 31 (3OT)
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here. Chiawana nearly pulled off the road win in Sumner, but we still wouldn’t have considered it a surprise. 4A’s ‘Final Four’ were dominant this season, entering the semifinal round with a combined 46-0 record against in-state opponents.
CLASS 3A
SEMIFINAL SCORES
No. 2 O’Dea 17, No. 3 Eastside Catholic 14
No. 1 Bellevue 29, No. 5 Roosevelt 13
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here.
CLASS 2A
SEMIFINAL SCORES
No. 1 Tumwater 42, No. 5 Archbishop Murphy 0
No. 2 Anacortes 35, No. 6 W.F. West 13
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here.
CLASS 1A
SEMIFINAL SCORES
No. 2 Seton Catholic 35, No. 6 Montesano 14
No. 1 Royal 44, No. 4 Cashmere 7
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here.
CLASS 2B
SEMIFINAL SCORES
No. 3 Napavine 23, No. 2 Asotin 8
No. 1 Okanogan 36, No. 5 Freeman 26
UPSET ALERT
Make it nine straight wins for Napavine with Saturday’s standout defensive showing. The Tigers’ only two losses this season are to 1A programs, both in September (Life Christian Academy and Montesano).
CLASS 1B
SEMIFINAL SCORES
No. 2 Wilbur-Creston-Keller 52, No. 3 Naselle 28
No. 1 Liberty Christian 36, No. 4 Almira Coulee Hartline 28
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here.
ANALYSIS FROM TNT REPORTERS JON MANLEY AND TYLER WICKE
BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM STATE TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
Manley: I think Tumwater is going to beat Anacortes in its state championship game rematch this year. My biggest reason for optimism in this year’s group? Defense. Tumwater just shut out a good Archbishop Murphy team in Saturday’s semifinal game, 42-0. Anacortes torched Tumwater’s secondary last year in the state championship game at Husky Stadium, winning 60-30. Tumwater’s defense is more experienced this year, but I think a change in defensive philosophy will make the biggest difference this time around. After last year’s struggles against Anacortes, Tumwater coach Willie Garrow consulted with some coaches who are familiar with defending pass-happy, spread offenses, particularly at the 4A level. He sat down with Graham-Kapowsin defensive coordinator Muckie Foreman and coaches from a few other programs and made a change from a 4-3 to a 4-2-5 defense, playing with an extra defensive back this season. Anacortes brothers and Montana commits Brock and Brady Beaner could — and likely will — rip off some big plays on Saturday at Husky Stadium, but I think Tumwater will be better suited to slow them down this year, both from a schematic standpoint and with better talent on the back end this year. And the way linebacker Beckett Wall and defensive lineman Malijah Tucker are playing right now, I don’t think anyone is beating the T-Birds. I’ll let Tyler expand on Sumner’s heroics below, but good for the Spartans. Sumner is a special high school sports community and longtime coach Keith Ross lives and breathes football. He’ll finally get a crack at winning a state title. Good for him.
Wicke: When dozens of Sumner teammates mobbed RB Steele Isaacs upon confirmation of his game-winning touchdown, head coach Keith Ross soon embraced his wife at midfield for a hug he’d waited 27 years for. Thousands celebrated Sumner’s fight song, put on repeat by the Spartans Marching Band, and the student section chanted: “I believe that we just won!” It was obvious and glaring: this is what high school football is all about. The community, the brotherhood, the years of hard work distinctly tangible. And the contest itself? Arguably the best high school game I’ve been fortunate enough to cover that led to an unforgettable moment at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium. Sumner erased a 14-point halftime deficit, blanked visiting-Chiawana in the second half to force overtime, and prevailed in 3OT of the 4A semifinals, 37-31, behind a pair of late Isaacs touchdowns. Spartans K Austin Ferencz drilled three field goals of 40+ yards, TE Carter Cocke secured a third-quarter touchdown to slash the deficit (7-110-1), and Sumner completed the improbable rally to sink one of the state’s best programs. And for Ross, at last: he directs the Spartans to their first state championship in his 27-year tenure as Sumner packs their bags for Husky Stadium, meeting No. 1 Camas for the title Saturday night. All along, he knew this was a team that could win it all. It’s a top-to-bottom defense that’s kept the state’s best playmakers at bay, with Isaacs the unquestioned engine of the offense (15 Rush TDs in last six games). … And 2A-Tumwater? We expected the T-Birds to fend off Archbishop Murphy competitively, but 42-0? Come on. That’s a very real Wildcats program that beat defending-champion Anacortes earlier this season. We’ll get a Tumwater-Anacortes rematch for the title on Saturday night.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE STOOD OUT?
Manley: Good luck getting anything going in the run game against Tumwater linebacker Beckett Wall. He had nine tackles in the shutout against Archbishop Murphy and lived in the opposing backfield, diagnosing plays with ease and tallying five tackles for loss. He’s a special player and a nightmare to block. I’ll be interested to see where he ends up in a few years. Wall plans to take a Mormon mission after high school so his recruitment isn’t concrete yet. I know Army is interested in him. Things could change in the next few years with the annual shuffle of college coaching staffs, but one thing I know for certain is that Wall is a next-level player. I’d be surprised to not see him on a college football roster in a few years.
Wicke: Sumner ramped up RB Steele Isaacs’ workload for the postseason, and the senior has excelled in a bellcow role with 15 rush TDs in his last six games. He’s been the offensive difference-maker in an impressive way with 94 carries across three state playoff games. … 2A-Tumwater’s defense wrecked another opponent, having allowed only seven total points in three state contests to date. T-Birds LB Beckett Wall tackled nine, five of them for a loss.
WHICH CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST?
Manley: All of them! The 4A, 3A and 2A matchups are especially intriguing and two of the three matchups feature South Sound locals this year. I’ve been talking for weeks about how wide open the 4A bracket is, so I found it funny that it ultimately ended up with No. 1 Camas against No. 2 Sumner for the title. I thought after Sumner’s season-opening win against Lake Stevens that this felt like something of a team of destiny. I’ve covered a bunch of state championship teams over the years and one thing I think they all have in common is confidence. Sometimes it’s quiet confidence, sometimes it borders on cockiness, but they’re confident they’re going to beat you and just find ways to win, even when things aren’t going smoothly all the time. In 3A, Bellevue vs. O’Dea is the heavyweight matchup I was hoping to see. There will be a lot of starpower in that game. And in 2A, Tumwater vs. Anacortes will be a fun rematch, especially with a lot of the stars from last year’s game once again on the field.
Wicke: It’s a rematch! No. 1 Tumwater meets No. 2 Anacortes for Saturday’s 2A championship at Husky Stadium. The T-Birds haven’t lost since last year’s title game when the Seahawks stormed to a 60-30 win, and now, their wish has been granted — a chance at redemption. Here’s a stat that sounds less believable by the week: Tumwater has outscored their last eight opponents by a score of 444-15. That defense powered by LBs Beckett Wall and Cash Short is a freight train, and we’re excited to see what happens when they line up opposite Anacortes RB Brock Beaner. Interestingly enough — of the six championship games in Seattle this weekend, five are between No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Class 2B is the odd man out (barely) with No. 1 Okanogan and No. 3 Napavine in the title game.
WHAT’S NEXT
4A CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Camas Papermakers (13-0) vs. No. 2 Sumner Spartans (12-1)
7 p.m. Saturday at Husky Stadium (Seattle)
3A CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Bellevue Wolverines (12-0) vs. No. 2 O’Dea Fighting Irish (12-0)
7 p.m. Friday at Husky Stadium (Seattle)
2A CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Tumwater T-Birds (13-0) vs. No. 2 Anacortes Seahawks (12-1)
3 p.m. Saturday at Husky Stadium (Seattle)
1A CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Royal Knights (12-0) vs. No. 2 Seton Catholic Cougars (12-0)
3 p.m. Friday at Husky Stadium (Seattle)
2B CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Okanogan Bulldogs (13-0) vs. No. 3 Napavine Tigers (11-2)
11 a.m. Saturday at Husky Stadium (Seattle)
1B CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Liberty Christian Patriots (13-0) vs. No. 2 Wilbur-Creston-Keller Wildcats (13-0)
11 a.m. Friday at Husky Stadium (Seattle)
This story was originally published December 2, 2024 at 1:22 PM.
