High school football: 2025 South Sound preseason practice tour
Welcome back to high school football season.
For two weeks before games begin, The News Tribune will visit local programs across the South Sound, providing photos, videos and insight on what to expect during the 2025 season.
Follow high school sports reporters Jon Manley (@manley_tnt) and Tyler Wicke (@WickeTyler) for updates on social media.
Staff photographers Brian Hayes (@_Brian_ICT) and Liesje Powers (@liesbethpowers) will also be out around the South Sound in the days ahead.
ENUMCLAW HORNETS
Ceding the league title to Decatur in the program’s first year moving up to the 3A North Puget Sound League didn’t sit well with the Enumclaw Hornets.
“It stung,” sophomore defensive lineman Kannius Alva said. “We’re out here this year, we’re hungry.”
Senior offensive lineman Nik Storem offered a blunt assessment of last year’s loss to Decatur.
“We definitely think the better team did not win that game,” he said.
Enumclaw will have its shot at revenge early, as the teams are scheduled to meet again in Week 1 on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Enumclaw Stadium (Pete’s Pool). It’s puzzling timing for a matchup with league title implications, but both teams will have to make the best of it. It adds a sense of urgency to Enumclaw’s August practices.
“Everyone knows it’s go time,” senior quarterback Gavin Trachte said. “There’s no messing around this year. Week 1, we’re getting thrown right into the fire. So we just need to prepare our tails off every day and practice how you play.”
Trachte returns for his second season as the team’s starter and has a host of big-bodied receivers to air the ball out to. As always, the Hornets have a strong offensive line. Keep an eye on sophomore running back Paxton Patterson, who Enumclaw coach Mark Gunderson believes is poised for a breakout season.
“He’s a big-time playmaker and he’s gonna be a lot to deal with. We don’t want to just run the ball, we want to take advantage of what the defense is giving us. When you’ve got good players, it sure makes it easy to do that.”
Enumclaw posted a 9-2 record last season and advanced to the Class 3A state tournament’s opening round.
LINCOLN ABES
Lincoln junior quarterback Sione Kaho, a four-star recruit, already has two years of starting experience under his belt. He’s ready to make this season the best one yet.
“This is a statement year for me, obviously,” he said before practice on Wednesday. “Going into my junior year and just showing what I’m capable of after my freshman year and sophomore year, all those things I’ve learned and just letting it unleash out on the field.”
That’s bad news for the rest of the 3A Puget Sound League, as Kaho already looks more comfortable and confident in practice than he did as an underclassman.
“He’s special,” Lincoln coach Masaki Matsumoto said. “Physically, he looks like a college quarterback. Skill wise, he’s great, improved his speed, strength over the offseason.”
It feels like there’s some pressure for Lincoln to put it all together in Kaho’s crucial junior season, though Matsumoto said there’s no more pressure than in any other year.
“A lot of times we’re supposed to win league, teams are looking for us,” he said. “I don’t think it’s any different than any other year.”
Still, Kaho returns some solid weapons around him, including receiver Kasey Williams and running back Jadeon Scranton.
“I’m most definitely comfortable with all those guys,” Kaho said.
Lincoln returns five starters on offense and seven on defense, dangerous at the skill positions and at defensive back. Matsumoto said the Abes don’t have a ton of roster depth and will need to stay healthy, but if the stars align, this team has the potential to make some noise in the postseason.
“We have a chance, of course, with (Kaho),” Matsumoto said. “It’s gonna be an exciting year.”
STEILACOOM SENTINELS
New year, same offensive scheme for head coach Kyle Haller: Steilacoom’s going to air it out.
For three years, graduated QB Drew MacDonald was the “heart and soul” of the Sentinels, guiding Steilacoom into the postseason with 2,202 passing yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior in 2024. The good news: Much of the core that surrounded him returns, with seven starters on both sides of the football back for more in ‘25.
“We like to throw the football. We still intend to throw the football,” Haller said Wednesday, as Steilacoom officially kicked off the season at their first practice. “We’re gonna tweak some things, just to get some different looks, but stay true to who we are.”
Junior QB Titus Kaeka and his “live arm” built for Steilacoom’s pass-heavy offense take over as signal-caller. Two-way TE and edge-rushing disruptor Xander Shaw headlines the returnees. And Haller says the program is in a much better place now than it was last fall, when the Sentinels won six games and appeared in the 2A playoffs.
The goal this year? Return to the state’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 2021.
“I get the glorified position of being able to run downfield and catch balls, but I also get to block and put people in the dirt,” Shaw, a three-star Air Force commit, told The News Tribune. “We’ve got some dogs (on defense) for sure, ready to fight. Offense, we’re ready to let the ball loose and let it fly.”
Watch for junior RB/S Noah Maxwell, a reigning All-State defensive back with six rushing touchdowns and 66 tackles in 2024. All-league lineman Porotesano “J.P.” Mataiao is the strongest player on the team, enough for Haller to call his shot: “I have a feeling he’s going to be an absolute force in this league.”
Steilacoom went 6-4 with a fourth-place finish in the 2A SPSL last season. They’ll open the 2025 campaign at home with non-league Bremerton on Sept. 5.
MOUNT TAHOMA T-BIRDS
Mount Tahoma coach Keith Terry knows his roster is talented enough to make a deep postseason run this fall. He knows he has the athletes and experience. The next step, he thought, was mental.
So he put his team through leadership training over the summer. One of the activities? An escape room.
“Just putting those guys in situations that put you in critical thinking,” he said. “When you’re in that situation, how do you deal with things?”
One team made it out of the escape room. The other did not (we won’t name names). But Terry think he has a mentally stronger, mature group this year. And the football talent, of course, isn’t a question.
Mount Tahoma returns two-way WR/DB star Elijah Durr, a UW commit, who figures to be a terror for teams on both sides of the ball this year. Senior quarterback Mikkah Cordero is one of the area’s best dual-threat QB’s. He’ll have a solid line blocking for him, returning running back Felix Diaz and senior receiver Anthony Quintanilla Jr. complementing Durr. There’s a lot to like on this team, which has made it to the 3A state tournament quarterfinals two straight years.
“The expectation is to dominate fully,” Durr said.
Cordero has no shortage of talent to feed the ball to this fall.
“We can do some damage,” he said. “I feel like we have the best athletes in the state at every single position.”
It’ll be another tough non-league schedule with games against Yelm, Camas and Mount Si. The T-Birds wouldn’t have it any other way.
“From us being freshmen, what we’ve built, we’ve built from 4-6 to now back-to-back Elite 8, state quarterfinal appearances,” Cordero said. “We’ve been knocked out by teams that went to the state finals and now I think it’s our year.”
LAKES LANCERS
Lakes had one of the area’s best defenses last year. Could the offense keep pace this fall? If it does, Dave Miller’s group could be a sneaky postseason contender in the state tournament.
Expect a heavy dose of 6-foot receiver Tristan Baker, an Idaho commit.
“We’re gonna try to launch the the ball a little more, pass the ball, get it to our athletes,” Baker said. “Right now it’s probably the deepest our receiver room has ever been. Many of our receivers are gonna go to the college level. We’re gonna pass the ball well, we’re gonna run the ball. I think the tough situations, we’re gonna be able to get out of them.”
He’ll likely be receiving passes from freshman quarterback Jadis Lefono, who looked dynamic running around making plays with both his legs and arm during Wednesday afternoon’s first practice of the season.
“He’s really handled everything beautifully,” said coach Dave Miller, who is entering his 26th year coaching the Lancers. “He’s not just physically talented, but smart. And not just smart, he picks stuff up. It’s not too big for him. He’s gonna play right away for us.”
Miller added that the quarterback competition remains ongoing between Lefono and senior Koi Calhoun, a Gig Harbor transfer.
Lakes lost TNT All-Area linebacker Michael Pulalasi (transferred to Puyallup), but returns two key pieces on the defense in linebacker Ta’u Mareko (Idaho commit) and defensive end Tupu Saeumealua, both of whom missed much of last season with injuries. Coupled with Baker on the back end at safety, and the players think this year’s defense could be even better than last year’s stingy group.
“If you guys think our defense was good last year, you’re gonna be real excited this year,” Baker said. “Those were really big missing key parts of our team (last year). I think this year, we should hold teams to a low score.”
STADIUM TIGERS
Wins used to come few and far between inside the scenic Stadium Bowl — but over the years, a retained coaching staff and tight-knit group of Tigers have put Tacoma’s only 4A program back on the map.
Stadium’s senior class fought through a 2-8 season in 2022, the final year before head coach Patrick Johnson’s breakthrough. The Tigers won five games (plus an opponent forfeit) in ‘23, then improved to 6-4 with a playoff appearance in a new-look 4A SPSL last year.
“They (stuck) together,” Johnson said Tuesday. “Especially in today’s world, where kids can leave or try to leave and go to other places. Just the consistency of messaging. This is Year 25 for me starting today, and every year, I’m just trying to learn and get a little better.
“Wins and losses are great, but I think that we’re developing pretty good young men. It’s starting to translate on the field.”
Star RB Darius Sum remains at the forefront, whose blend of vision and 10.80-second 100M Dash speed torched opposing defenders for 1,587 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in nine games last fall. Teams caught on to the lead back’s bellcow role, forcing Johnson and Co. to pivot: Could we see Sum line up at receiver in 2025?
“We’re putting him in the slot a little bit,” Johnson said. “Maybe it’ll help his college prospects, being a little more versatile. It’ll be good for us.”
Don’t worry. We’ll still see plenty of Sum as RB1.
“(Last year), I got to really showcase what I could do,” he said. “Showing off my vision, speed. I’m just a well-rounded athlete, I think.
“We’re going to try to win the league this year. I think we can do it. I think we can.”
Stadium returns starting QB Kooper Tasler, part of the senior class thrown into the fire three years ago that never left. The Tigers graduated all five offensive linemen but preserved every starter at skill positions, including Sum and 6-foot-3 tight end Diego Cabrera.
Also back are Stadium middle linebacker Raider Pula and defensive end Cruz Nolan, the latter of which logged 7.5 sacks en route to second-team all-NPSL honors as a junior in 2024.
“From day one, whether I was at Foss (High School) or here… I just want to be in the fight in the fourth quarter with whoever we’re playing,” Johnson said. “Whether it’s Kennedy Catholic or anybody. In the fourth quarter, does Stadium have a chance to win the game? That’s my goal every year, just a competitive environment.”
FRANKLIN PIERCE CARDINALS
It’s Year 4 of Franklin Pierce’s Power-T offense, and the pieces are in place for another big year in South Tacoma.
Cardinals head coach Trevor Hanson still chuckles watching film from the 2022 season, when growing pains were evident in a brand-new offensive scheme. Former Tenino head coach Cary Nagel joined the staff for Year 2, fast-tracking the operation. And Year 3 brought, arguably, the best season in Franklin Pierce’s history — an 11-1 record with two playoff wins and a 2A state quarterfinals appearance.
“It took off,” Hanson told The News Tribune. “Every year, the (scheme) has adapted to our personnel. We have a different flavor based on who we’ve got coming back.
“It had been building and brewing for a couple years. … You don’t get there Year 1. You start getting there Year 2. And Year 3, you are there.”
Franklin Pierce’s seven-man offensive line in two tight-end sets returns six starters this fall, paving lanes for reigning league-MVP Bryson Allen. The team’s fastest player posted 1,631 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns last season despite sharing the backfield with graduated 2A SPSL Offensive Player of the Year Junior Teregeyo and dual-threat QB Jeremiah Orcutt, who added 551 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Could Allen join the 2,000-yard club in 2025?
“Any time you have that guy in the backfield that you know can break an 80-yard run… If we block it right up front, we’re getting points on the board? That’s pretty awesome,” Hanson said. “I was a defensive coordinator before becoming a head coach, so I love running the ball and grinding out the clock. But I love it, too, when we’ve got a guy that explosive (who) can score in one play.
“You have to be a little bit insane in the head to be a fullback in our offense, because you’re waiting for the seas to part in front of you. But we’re saying to trust it and run through it. You just see a mass of humanity of linemen going left and right, so to not blink and be confident, and be explosive enough to run through it if it’s not there yet… once it shows up, we get those explosive runs.”
Orcutt, meanwhile, will play nearly snap — doubling as a free safety lurking in the Cardinals secondary. He can run, throw, tackle, you name it. Hanson may even include a package with his signal-caller at receiver this fall.
“When I go on offense, I get to throw off their defense. When I go on defense, I get to throw off their offense,” Orcutt said. “It’s just really the key to the game, and showing college coaches that I’m an all-around athlete.”
And plenty of Power-T rushers are waiting for their chance to shine following Teregeyo’s graduation. Senior RB Ja’mire Ford is the next-fastest of the bunch, whose 5-foot-5 frame conveniently camouflages him behind Franklin Pierce’s towering line.
Junior OL Anthony Aloisio looks to fill the shoes of his graduated older brother, Anton — the 2A SPSL’s Lineman of the Year in 2024. Junior center Ian Swanny returns, as does RB Anthony Lomiga following his six-touchdown campaign last year.
Franklin Pierce visits Lincoln Bowl for a non-league opener with the Abes on Sept. 6 and hosts perennial 2A-contender Lynden on Sept. 13, an early gauntlet by design.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Hanson said.
“I was reading the quote by coach (Keith) Ross from Sumner. They won the 4A championship. … ‘We had to turn the page as a program,’” Hanson recalled. “It’s similar here. We had one of the best years that FP’s ever had in the history of the school, but last year was last year.
“If we don’t work hard, if we don’t practice hard, if we don’t prepare hard… last year was last year. We just need to keep that the focus.”
PENINSULA SEAHAWKS
Clay Mauro knows he has big shoes to fill. Peninsula’s former defensive assistant took the reins of the Seahawks program this spring when longtime head coach Ross Filkins stepped down from the position after 30 years in December, concluding the South Sound’s longest tenure.
“Everybody told me I had big shoes to fill,” Mauro told The News Tribune on a sunny Thursday afternoon at Roy Anderson Field. “I then proceed to say, ‘I’ve never seen Ross in Jordans.’ But then (Ross) proceeds to send me photos of him being married in Jordans, so I can never outdo him.”
With 15 returning starters and a pair of coordinators each with 27+ years of experience, Mauro and the Seahawks expect to hit the ground running after a postseason appearance last fall (4-6). Peninsula’s new coach won’t disturb the Seahawks tradition Filkins established over three decades — opting to put the finishing touches on his “modernized” approach.
“(Filkins’) whole mantra of ‘11 as 1,’ we’re never getting rid of that,” Mauro said. “It’s a trademark thing.”
What else is new in Purdy? Peninsula has a new quarterback. 6-foot-4 junior Talen McDonnell steps in as signal-caller, the basketball team’s starting point guard considered by Mauro as one of the area’s “dark horses” with a rocket arm and quarterback’s mentality.
“(McDonnell and senior Lucas Wiseman) were in a quarterback battle going into spring, and Lucas figured out he could be more of an asset to us playing receiver/defensive end. He actually stepped back to allow Talan (to play QB),” Mauro said. “I mean, think about that.”
Peninsula returns two-way lineman Royal Charles, a Western Oregon commit who projects as a defensive tackle at the next level. Mauro dubbed returning RB Jacob Martin “Jake the Shake,” a jitterbug with sharp cuts and back-end burst.
On tap for Week 1? Peninsula and Gig Harbor meet at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma for the annual Fish Bowl rivalry on Sept. 6, when the 3A Seahawks have their chance to bring home bragging rights for the first time since 2022.
“That whole week is just animosity from the other team,” Charles said. “Fans are chirping at you. You’ve got people chirping at you when you walk into grocery stores. It’s overall a good feeling. You’re playing in the biggest game of your career besides the state championship game. You have little kids in the stadium yelling your name. You have parents yelling your name. Make a big play, you get to celebrate with the crowd.”
GIG HARBOR TIDES
The Wing-T is coming to a harbor near you: New Tides head coach Jeff Scoma brings Bellevue roots across the Narrows with plans to unleash a stable of running backs in a brand-new offensive scheme.
“They’ve picked it up quickly,” Scoma said Thursday. “They’ve put a lot of work in. I feel like this is the perfect type of group to do this with in the first year. They’ve embraced it. We’ll have our ups and downs, but all in all, we’ll see a lot of success running the ball.”
The 3A Tides return 15 starters in 2025, matching Peninsula’s number from across town. Among them are dual-threat QB Sawyer Hayes — a convenient match for Scoma’s Wing-T formula — and two-way lineman Peyton Howard, a first-team all-PSL selection last fall.
“I’m glad our backs get the chance to show off what they can do,” Howard said.
Scoma will open up the offense when opportunities arise, but expect a healthy dose of senior Henry Blake with speedster Troy Arnold, Wilson West, and Ian Shearer mixed in. Former Tides standout RB Ryland Geldermann transferred to Curtis in the offseason, opening the door for several to shine from one of Gig Harbor’s strongest positional groups.
The Tides can bring bragging rights back to Gig Harbor with a win in Week 1’s annual Fish Bowl rivalry over Peninsula, scheduled for Sept. 6 at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
“They won, what, seven in a row? Hey, we’re ready for our third,” Howard said. “Keep that streak going.”
FIFE TROJANS
In his 23rd season at the helm of the Fife program, Kent Nevin notices the details. And from the opening camps of summer, it became increasingly clear to the longtime head coach — this year’s Trojans squad hasn’t skipped a beat.
Fife put the pieces together for a state-tournament run to 2A’s Round of 16 in 2024, and playoff aspirations remain with starting QB Mattson Ducharme back for a third year.
“He’s out here early. He stays late,” Nevin said of his quarterback. “He puts guys where they’re supposed to be. He doesn’t yell or scream. He helps them. Kids will run through a brick wall for him because of how he leads.
“He wants to lead. He wants to be that guy, and that’s something that you really need.”
Perhaps an underrated ingredient of Fife’s success: Nevin and select assistants coach at the middle school level, allowing younger players to learn the standard years in advance and easing the transition to high school football.
“It’s the consistency,” Nevin said. “They know what they’re going to get. They know what to expect.”
Fife returns junior defensive tackle Labor Day Nielsen and two-way TE/LB Kannon King, a 6-foot-6 playmaker who could pose problems for opponents in man coverage. It’s a younger group this year, but Ducharme has every reason to believe a return to playoff football is imminent after a 7-4 finish last fall.
“We just have elite effort,” he said. “I love the effort that these boys are giving. We’re going to be a little bit younger this year, but all we need is (for) everyone to try as hard as we can, and I think that’s what we’re doing.
“I just think that we have a well-rounded team. I’m confident with every player on our team. I believe that every player can do their job.”
CURTIS VIKINGS
TNT All-Area selections Parker Mady and Xavier Ahrens, who were both star receivers at Curtis last year, are gone. They’ve graduated and are both now playing at Montana State. What Curtis does return, though, is a veteran offensive line, anchored by 6-foot-6 Idaho commit Kingston Kerkhoff. Curtis also welcomes Gig Harbor transfer Ryland Geldermann, who was one of the 3A PSL’s best running backs last season.
With all of those things being true, Curtis’ gameplan this season is no secret: the Vikings want to run the football.
“I think that’s gonna be our No. 1 thing we need to do this year,” Kerkhoff said. “Without those guys, that takes a lot away from our passing game. But with this o-line, with our running back transfer, I think the run game is what’s gonna keep us ahead of other teams.”
Curtis coach Darren McKay said the team has a stable of running backs it’ll rotate this season. Establishing the run is priority No. 1, hopefully taking the pressure off sophomore quarterback Sam Patterson, who is penciled in as the starter this year after splitting reps with sophomore Cooper Hordyk last year.
“Sam was like 60 percent completion percentage (last season),” McKay said. “I’d like him to be up closer to 70. The play action game usually helps you with that. If we can run the football like we intend to, that’s gonna open up the play action. That’ll help not only Sam, but we’ve got young receivers that they’re gonna get used to playing on Friday nights, too.”
Most of the buzz during the offseason has been around the usual suspects in the 4A SPSL: Sumner and Graham-Kapowsin. There’s noise around Puyallup’s new regime, too. It leaves Curtis flying under the radar.
“The past few years, we’ve gone to the state playoffs,” Kerkhoff said. “I want to go all the way now. I think it’s time, senior year. Let’s do it.”
PUYALLUP VIKINGS
Puyallup was already trending in the right direction last season, heating up in the second half of the season and advancing to the Class 4A state tournament with a young roster after a slow start. Now, with most of the talented roster returning, a few impact transfers and a new head coach in former Mercer Island coach DJ Mims, the expectations are suddenly sky high at Sparks Stadium.
Wide receiver J’Isaiah Mitchell, a 6-foot-5 junior and three-star recruit, said he feels a difference with the culture Mims is working to instill within the team.
“Definitely big changes,” he said. “Intensity, first day of practice, we’ve never been as close to perfect as we were (on Wednesday). Overall, just great intensity.”
Puyallup returns three-star offensive tackle Gecova Doyal, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound menace on the line. The Vikings also return receiver Jayden Woodland and welcome Central Kitsap lefty quarterback transfer Noah Smith. He’ll have to sit the first four games of the season, per the WIAA’s new transfer rule. In the meantime, dual-threat Luke Parker will start for the Vikings and already has some experience under his belt from last season.
Other notable transfers: LB Michael Pulalasi (Lakes), UW commit and offensive lineman Ah Deong Yang (Roosevelt), RB Briytan Bailey (Mount Tahoma), RB Malcolm Akuffo (Emerald Ridge).
Whoever is at quarterback, they’ll have plenty of weapons to work with in the passing game, including the matchup nightmare Mitchell. He’s envisioning a big role for himself in the new offense this year.
“Definitely Air Raid, airing the ball out a lot,” he said. “We like our matchups, we like our receivers. If you’re 1-on-1, the ball is definitely coming to you.”
Mims said he’s still settling into the new role and feels ready for the opportunity.
“It’s just a blessing,” he said. “It’s a blue blood program. It’s a very sought-after job. There were over 50 applicants for this job. I’m very honored to lead this program.”
Mims said he wants to bring an attention to detail and culture of discipline to the team.
“I’m big on execution, no walking on the field, no helmets off until you get off the field,” he said. “Just the little details like that.”
As far as expectations, everyone at Puyallup is aiming high.
“Nothing else to say (other) than state championship,” Mitchell said.
EMERALD RIDGE JAGUARS
Emerald Ridge was a surprise last year, posting a 7-4 record and advancing to the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament, despite the losses of several key players the year before.
Second-year coach Torey Donovan is hoping he can pull off a similar feat this year.
The Jaguars don’t return a single starter on the offensive side of the ball, but the school’s youth feeder program continues to filter talent into the high school program, participation numbers are strong and Emerald Ridge has been a consistent playoff team in recent years. All of those things point to sustainable success, and Donovan likes the potential upside of this year’s group.
“We’re much faster this year,” he said. “I think we can use that to our advantage. We definitely have talent.”
One of those speedy playmakers is Puyallup transfer QB Brayden Paulino, who has starting experience under his belt and has gelled instantly with his new teammates.
“He’s been an unbelievable leader, directing traffic,” Donovan said. “And in a positive way. Not coming in and thinking he owns the joint. He’s a team guy. The kids are already starting to follow him. He’s not your typical, tall, drop back quarterback. He’s very quick, very fast. We haven’t had a quarterback like that for a while.”
On defense, Emerald Ridge returns all-league defensive end Elijah Wallace, though he’ll miss the first few games due to an academic issue. But once he’s back on the field, the impact should be immediately noticeable; Wallace had a league-leading 14 sacks last fall.
“I feel like our scheme, the way we were able to blitz got me into 1-on-1 situations a lot, so I was able to get into the backfield last season,” Wallace said. “I feel like I’m gonna have a better season because I’m faster, stronger, I weigh more this year. So I’m ready to succeed this season.”
Keep an eye on 6-foot-1 receiver Zab Zekner and 6-foot-3 receiver Hunter Rusler, as well as receiver/defensive back Amosa Masaniai.
“It’s just about putting the guys in the right positions and building the offense around what we had last year versus what we had this year,” Donovan said.
TUMWATER T-BIRDS
An annual tradition that spans decades, Tumwater gathered earlier this week to continue their “Buddy Program” — pairing varsity players with elementary schoolers who dream of playing at Tumwater District Stadium on Friday nights.
Tumwater sophomores, juniors, and seniors are partnered with youth T-Birds from second to fifth grade to show them the ropes of high school football, connect with local families, and support the bustling youth program that translates to strong turnouts for one of the state’s consistently-great programs. It’s a season-long relationship, from taking their “little buddies” behind the scenes for postgame celebrations in the locker room to attending youth games over the weekend.
“It’s the best thing we do in the community, and it’s not close,” T-Birds head coach William Garrow said. “Most of our (players) were little buddies. Now they get to pass it on.
“My son got to do it. He’s still in middle school now, but he still has the picture of his high-school buddy on his wall. It’s a really neat thing.”
Tumwater remains one of the area’s tight-knit football communities, producing a true contender year after year. The T-Birds soared to consecutive 2A state championship game appearances at Husky Stadium in 2023-24, falling to Anacortes in both, but they’re in the hunt for glory once again — boasting six running backs in a Wing-T offense that hasn’t lost a game in the 2A EvCo for three years.
“They expect to win because of the way they work in the offseason, the tradition, and the legacy,” Garrow said. “They expect to be there.
“We don’t talk about playing in December. We talk about trying to get better every day and the same cliche things that everybody does. But (winning it all) matters to them. If you asked them in an honest moment, they’d all tell you they’d love to get back there and have a chance to win again.”
Even more impressive: Tumwater blanked every league rival last year, stomping Black Hills, Aberdeen, W.F. West, and Centralia by a combined score of 218-0. A dozen T-Birds rushed for more than 100 yards in 2024 and 18 ran for a touchdown, including 687 yards and nine scores by RB Peyton Davis.
“It’s a lot of fun,” senior RB Brett Heryford said. “We all get there with our work. We all work hard the whole summer, and we hold each other accountable to get to the standard we need to meet.”
Heryford is among the returners, along with his linebacking brother, Blake, and senior QB Jaxon Budd. Tumwater’s signal-caller doesn’t have to throw 40 passes each night, but he’s efficient when called upon and impressed in Friday’s practice reps.
“If we throw 40 times in a game, you know something bad happened,” Garrow joked.
Six graduated seniors now play college football, but Tumwater returns nine starters altogether and sports many more with in-game varsity experience as last year’s blowouts became the norm.
Tumwater opens their 2025 season on the road at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, clashing with a 4A Vikings squad they ran over by 50 points in Week 1 of last year.
OLYMPIA BEARS
The Bears rolled to five straight wins to begin the 2024 campaign, looking the part of a 4A contender when adversity struck. Olympia lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending injury in Week 6, putting the remaining starters to the test: How would they respond?
“We’re going to pick each other up and keep going,” defensive back Sam Rigg said Friday. “You can’t stop right there. That’s quitting.
“And we don’t quit here.”
A rough patch followed, but Olympia (5-5) won a 4A SPSL tiebreaker to clinch their trip to the postseason. And head coach Nick Mullen says that grit and toughness has carried over, placing these Bears in the playoff mix once again.
“I tell the kids every day… Football is easy. Life is going to be the hard part,” Mullen said. “If you can get through the hard stuff in football, you can accomplish a lot of things in life. I’m trying to teach these guys just how to be great members of society, the community.
“We don’t want to be mediocre. We don’t want to take orders from anybody else. We want to be the boss at our jobs, the CEOs. We want to own the companies.”
The Bears are proudly wearing chips on their shoulders and daring opponents to knock it off. You could say they’re flying under the radar — and it’s right where they want to be.
Mullen has the most experienced offensive line in his six Olympia seasons at his disposal, a cohesive group with a growing football IQ. Tackle Parker Otheim is an early standout, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound senior earning college interest despite picking up the sport just three years ago.
Tucker Downing (junior) and Nicholas Nutu (sophomore) remain entrenched in a quarterback battle. Whoever wins will throw plenty to senior WR Canon Betts, a natural slot receiver with crisp route-running skills. Mullen has yet to name a Week 1 starter.
“They’re competing hard,” he said. “It’s a good battle. We haven’t really had a quarterback competition since I’ve been here, and it’s good for both (of them). Iron sharpens iron, and they both get better each day.
“It’s going to be a very tough decision for me.”
After a preseason jamboree, Olympia opens the 2025 season in the Spaghetti Bowl rivalry with Capital High School at Ingersoll Stadium on Sept. 5.
“It’s a team,” senior linebacker Hunter Liberty said. “We’re not getting tons of transfers, and we’re not switching everything around all the time. You build with the guys that you’re with.”
CAPITAL COUGARS
With five wins and a Class 3A playoff appearance last fall, the culture is established and the standard is set in the state’s capital.
It’s a younger team at Capital High, with a new quarterback, running back, and defensive line — but the Cougars have their eyes set on another trip to the postseason with junior QB Nolan Potts directing the show.
“We’ve all been waiting for this,” Potts told The News Tribune on Friday, standing under 90-degree heat on Day 3 of official practices. “We left a lot out on the field last year. I feel like that (brings) some energy into this year.
“I’m just excited to get out there and play.”
Potts is the starting point guard of the basketball team, a dual-threat signal-caller with accuracy in Friday’s practice. And despite the graduation of workhorse back Blake Ostrander, Capital’s new QB1 returns new top receiving target Chayton Hatch along with Carter Armstrong and Carter Pennington.
Senior linebacker Mack Wysocki is Capital’s lone returning captain, named the “quarterback of the defense” by head coach Terry Rose.
“I try to be the brain of the defense, calling the plays and making sure all of the guys are set,” Wysocki said. “Just making sure everybody can fly around.”
Capital opens their season with Olympia in the annual Spaghetti Bowl rivalry at Ingersoll Stadium on Sept. 5.
“We want to win,” Wysocki said. “That’s the culture that we’ve set.”
SUMNER SPARTANS
The reigning 4A state champs aren’t rebuilding — they’re reloading. Sumner returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense from last year’s 4A state title team. Making things even sweeter for longtime coach Keith Ross: the Spartans added a few transfers, too.
Topping that list is former Davis (Yakima) running back and linebacker Lance McGee, an Oregon State commit. On paper, it looks like a match made in heaven: an old-school mentality football program that loves to run the ball and the bruising 6-foot-1, 215-pound McGee. Things are different at Sumner, according to McGee.
“The culture, by far,” he said. “Everything we do here is different than where I came from. From the kids being ready to work, everybody being hyped in the morning. Coach Ross getting on me, it’s just all different. Everyone welcomed me when I first got here, it just feels like home. I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else.”
McGee racked up around 1,300 rushing and receiving yards and 21 touchdowns last season at Davis. He’s getting acclimated to Ross’ intense style, too.
“Very intense,” he said. “I was not expecting that when I first got here, not gonna lie. I’ve gotten used to it. He’s yelled at me a couple times, but I’m coachable. I take it, get better, it’s gonna help me for college, so I love it.”
Sumner also returns senior quarterback Nate Donovan and Division I receiver recruit Braylon Pope on offense. On defense, expect more of the same: a stifling, dominant defense at all three levels.
All-league defensive back Israel Nabors, all-league linebackers Austin Glivar and Dillon Titialii and all-league defensive lineman Shaun Griffith return for the Spartans, among others.
“It’s gonna be awesome,” Glivar said. “I think we’ve got one of the best defenses in the state. We’ve got great linebackers, great d-line and we’ve got some of the best DB’s in the state. There’s not much more to say about it.”
The victory tour during the offseason was fun, but Ross and the players feel they officially turned the page once practices began, if not earlier. And with so much of last year’s team intact, a repeat feels possible.
“We have the roster to have a chance, hopefully, to get into the playoffs and have a shot,” Ross said. “We have everyone back, we’re lucky. … We’re really excited about the potential of this team.”
LIFE CHRISTIAN EAGLES
After torching opponents all season long in 2024, Jabez Boyd is back for his final high school season. It should be his biggest and best yet.
“Just from last year, we have the same offensive scheme,” he said. “This is my first time running the same offense two times. I’m used to the offense, so is the rest of the team.”
That offense took Life Christian to the 1A state tournament quarterfinals a season ago, where the Eagles lost a 42-41 thriller to second-seeded Seton Catholic, which went on to play in the state championship game at Husky Stadium. It also led to massive production and a TNT All-Area first team nod for Boyd, who passed for 2,388 yards and 34 touchdowns and rushed for 737 yards and nine more scores in 2024.
Boyd said he wants to pass the 3,000-yard passing mark this season. His coach, Hershel Dennis — who played college football for Pete Carroll at USC — foresees an all-state caliber season from his senior signal caller.
“We’re super excited about how much he’s progressed in his passing, his identification,” Dennis said. “He’s quicker going through his progressions. I expect him to have the best QB season in the state, because he’s just really that good.
“He’s gotten so much better going through his progression, keeping his eyes downfield, working the pocket. With the offensive line that he has and the passing system we have in place, it’s gonna allow him to be really successful.”
Life Christian returns WR/S Julian Roso. Dennis’ son, Zion, dropped about 30 pounds in the offseason to move to running back because of a hole at the position. Sophomore defensive end Angelo Williams and freshman WR/S Trent Davis are players to watch, also.
On the offensive line, Life Christian will have a lot more size than most 1A schools, led by 6-foot-2, 315-pound guard Ofa Taufalele, sophomore 6-foot-3 center Jermain Tofa and 6-foot-1, 290-pound guard Zephaniah Vailahi-Sala.
If the Eagles stay healthy, the pieces are in place to contend for the 1A state title, although perennial favorite and reigning champion Royal will surely stand in the way.
“That’s all I’ve been working toward, right there,” Boyd said. “Getting back to that point and showing everybody that we can get past the hard games, because now we have more hard games than normal (in the non-league schedule).”
Indeed, Life Christian’s non-league schedule is challenging: the Eagles hit the road the first three weeks of the season to face Orting, Nooksack Valley and Yelm. Life Christian also has a late October game against perennial Idaho power Coeur d’Alene.
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES
For most programs, a rebuilding season might mean a quick postseason exit or missing the playoffs entirely. For perennial state power Graham-Kapowsin, it still meant a trip to the Class 4A state tournament.
Graham-Kapowsin began the season with 14-year-old quarterback AJ Tuivaiave and had to replace a ton of production from the season before, when the Eagles played in the 4A state championship game. Tuivaiave turned 15 midway through the season and now enters his second season as the starter. He’ll have one of the area’s best receivers to throw the ball to in junior Kase Betz, who had a breakout season as a sophomore. Betz said his connection with Tuivaiave is further along than at this point last summer.
“It’s definitely grown a lot,” he said. “Running routes, catching footballs from him in the offseason has helped a lot. Hitting routes after practice, running routes we’ve gotta work on. The chemistry is there.”
And it was there last year, in flashes. Expect an uptick from the passing game, bolstered not only by the returning experience of Tuivaiave and Betz — and 6-foot-3 receiver Jayce Halasz, who is poised for a big season — but also from an offensive line that was green last year.
“It’s huge,” Graham-Kapowsin coach Jeff Logan said. “They’re a year older, so they’re all bigger, stronger, faster. Just the cohesiveness. That’s kind of the one unit you hear as a cliche saying in football. … When we get four guys back that started for us last year, we feel extremely confident. They’ve been in the weight room, they’re hungry to show it isn’t just a skill position team.”
The line is anchored by junior 6-foot-5, 250-pound left tackle Ayden Bullinger, a TNT first-team All-Area team selection as a freshman two seasons ago. He put on 50+ pounds of weight during the offseason and looks the part again.
Could the Eagles be on a collision course to face Sumner in a rematch of last year’s 4A SPSL league title game? Time will tell, but Graham-Kapowsin likes its chances better than last year. And once the playoffs roll around, anything other than playing in Husky Stadium will feel like a disappointment.
“State championship,” Betz said. “That’s what it is every year. That’s what the expectation is every year. That’s the standard I hold my guys to and they hold me to. It’s the culture at G-K.”
Graham-Kapowsin opens the season at home against reigning 3A state champion O’Dea, 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5 at Art Crate Field.
DECATUR GOLDEN GATORS
It’s safe to say that Decatur put together the best season in program history last fall: The Gators won 10 games, rolled through 3A NPSL opponents for an undefeated league title, and clinched their first-ever appearance in the WIAA state tournament.
There’s a new quarterback in town, but head coach Matt Vaeena’s defense returns a pair of all-league standouts with sky-high expectations in Federal Way.
“It all starts with the kids,” Vaeena said. “Ultimately, they’re the ones that go out and play. I think on our side, we’re really just trying to be consistent in our messaging to them.
“It’s almost the old Russell Wilson idea: Why not you? That’s really where we started, got kids to buy in, and we were lucky enough to have a couple of classes (2024-25) that (were) able to come together and bring that to the front.”
Decatur’s defense features reigning 3A NPSL Defensive Player of the Year Jasonni Prum at strong safety, a vocal leader who tackled 42 with five interceptions last year. Senior linebacker Michael Havili is another mainstay, a two-time first-team all-NPSL selection entering his fourth year of varsity experience.
“Our luxuries are on defense,” Vaeena said. “(It’s) definitely going to be our strong suit. I think just throughout the course of the year, it’ll be what we really hang our hat on, is being a really good defensive team.”
TNT All-Area QB Spencer Holloway graduated, but there’s plenty of buzz surrounding 6-foot-5 sophomore Antoine Williams Jr., who “took the reins” on an offseason quarterback battle and will start Week 1 in a marquee matchup at Enumclaw — a league opener that could decide the 3A NPSL title in early September.
“He’s really even-keeled,” Vaeena said of his new quarterback. “He doesn’t let anything get him too far up or too far down. … He’s a young kid, so the things he has to learn just comes from experience. He’s just really raw, and so it’s exciting to see that part of it.
“Ultimately, the thing that Spencer and (Antoine) do have in common is that he’s competitive. He wants to go out there, he wants to make the right plays. We’re starting to see him step forward a little bit more of a leader in driving those guys when things aren’t where we need them to be.”
ORTING CARDINALS
By all accounts, Orting thrived last fall — nine wins, a district playoff victory over Toppenish, and a trip to the Class 2A state tournament for the third time in four years — yet the Cardinals walked away hungry for more.
Postseason pushes are the expectation for second-year head coach Cody Baskett’s squad, and a group of 14 returning starters should keep the wins coming for one of the 2A SPSL’s heavyweights.
“Our seniors… They grew up with that (youth program) tradition of playing good football,” Baskett said. “It’s been ingrained in them from a very young age.
“We have a lot of talent. Just trying to play selfless football.”
Senior RB Carson McCall headlines the running back room in Orting’s Pistol Wing-T offense once again, a 230-pound workhorse with 12 touchdowns in 11 games a year ago. Senior RB Israel Shrode figures to build on a seven-touchdown campaign in 2024, and the Cardinals return junior speedster Shiron Seniours from injury — ideal complements to McCall’s bruising playstyle.
“(Carson’s) a huge back that’s tough to tackle,” Baskett said. “He loves contact, and we really like when we get our hand in the dirt playing smash-mouth football.
“His leadership is crucial. He has great influence with kids, having them do it the right way. He’s just taken a big step forward in the offseason, being that guy.”
Orting’s Kyle Curtis rises to QB1 following the graduation of Zach Gemar, a dual-threat who adds another layer of creativity and deception to the Wing-T scheme. Liam Fogarty and Giovanni Eddinger anchor the D-Line, run-stuffers for one of the league’s stingier defenses.
“We’re much more disciplined than we were last year at this time,” Baskett said. “The older guys know the expectations, know the standards, and hold each other to high standards because that’s what we expect.”
Orting (9-2, 6-1) was the 2A SPSL’s runner-up in 2024, its lone league loss to undefeated-champion Franklin Pierce. There’s a shot at revenge on Sept. 26 when Orting visits their Cardinal counterparts for a Week 4 rivalry in South Tacoma.
“You’ve got great teams out there (in the 2A SPSL) — Franklin Pierce, Fife, Steilacoom,” Baskett said. “Pretty much every year, it’s a dog fight. We expect to be toward the top, for sure.”
AUBURN TROJANS
It’s a simple formula for Auburn QB Baylen Erdmann: Get the ball in the vicinity of wide receiver Lucas Whitehall-Gilkes, and let his top playmaker go to work.
The 6-foot-1 Trojans wideout and TNT All-Area receiver posted historic 4A NPSL numbers last fall, setting all-time single-season league records in receptions (101) and receiving yards (1,527) despite routine double-coverage against 4A’s powerhouse programs. Consider the Erdmann-Whitehall-Gilkes connection renewed, as Auburn eyes a return to the district playoffs and beyond.
Head coach Aaron Chantler jokes with his quarterback: “In the statbook, it says it’s a 65-yard touchdown pass. Nobody has to ever know that you threw it five yards.”
Whitehall-Gilkes may have surprised early on his junior season, but it didn’t take long for teams to smother Auburn’s star. The problem for opponents this year: The Trojans return Division-I receiving recruit Christian Titialii, who missed all of 2024 with a foot injury. Portland State offered the 6-1, 190-pound wideout in May.
That should ease pressure on Whitehall-Gilkes, who figures to be one of the area’s top wideouts once again. It provides Erdmann another dependable target, and gives the NPSL another weapon to worry about.
“If you’re gonna double-cover Lucas or bracket him or whatever, you need to have an answer for Christian on the other side,” Chantler said. “And if you leave (Christian) singled up, well, OK. We feel pretty good in that scenario, so it’s definitely kind of a pick-your-poison.
“I think the two of them make each other better.”
You’ll find both receivers on defense, too — Whitehall-Gilkes is Auburn’s top cornerback, with Titialii patrolling the secondary at safety.
A return to the playoffs would mark five straight for Chantler’s program, which averaged nearly 33 points per game last season and returns the majority of its skill positions. Auburn RB Monty Conlan fills the shoes of graduated brother, RJ, and headlines a diverse run game; slot WR Isaiah Sanchez will mix in, as will the dual-threat QB Erdmann.
Auburn hosts Kent-Meridian for a Sept. 5 season opener at 7 p.m.
We asked Chantler: What’s your favorite trait in Whitehall-Gilkes’ game?
“His ability after the catch is pretty phenomenal. He catches the deep ball really well, Baylen throws the deep ball well, so you’re gonna get those. But I think the most impressed that I’ve been with him is his ability to take a hitch or a slant or a screen, and it should be a five to six yard throw, and he puts his foot in the ground, catches the ball, breaks the tackle, and is gone — 60 yards untouched to the endzone.”
BELLARMINE PREP LIONS
For the Lions this fall, it all starts with 6-foot-5 senior QB and second-year starter Birk Johnston.
“I expect a lot from Birk, and he does himself, too,” Bellarmine coach Brian Jensen said. “He has a high standard. He’s kind of an under-the-radar guy.”
With a hot start, the senior signal caller may not fly under the radar for long. Johnston said he feels confident heading into the season.
“I just feel more in control in the offense,” he said. “I feel like I can read the defense better, you know, pick the right play, call the right audible. I’m just really excited for this to come together, all the work we’ve been putting in at workouts to come together this season.”
Bellarmine doesn’t have a roster littered with Division I recruits and plays in a tough division with Lincoln and Mount Tahoma, two programs that advanced to the Class 3A state tournament quarterfinals a season ago. But there’s a quiet confidence with this year’s group and a solid belief that it is a playoff team.
“I think we have a very athletic linemen group this year that’s able to make plays, get out and block,” Johnston said. “Our receiver group is definitely deep this year.”
The Lions return four starters on offense and four on defense. Sophomore OL Cody Coovert returns, as does senior receiver Hunter Goodsell. Sophomore RB/LB Josiah Moekle, who started as a freshman last season, should be a difference maker on both sides of the ball.
“He’s grown so much, gotten so much faster, bigger, stronger,” Johnston said. “I’m really excited. I feel like we’re gonna have a more potent run game this year, be able to do whatever we want on offense, especially with him.”
And that will be the key for this offense: being balanced.
“We have to run the ball,” Jensen said. “It takes stuff off of Birk. I want to be able to run and play action. It’s no secret.”
Defensively, the linebackers should be solid, with Moekle returning alongside sophomore Casey Gebauer. Bellarmine opens the season at home against 4A SPSL opponent Rogers, 7 p.m. on Sept. 5 at Memorial Field.
BETHEL BISON
Bethel coach Travis Domser didn’t have to look far to replace the production of graduated linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, who was last year’s TNT All-Area player of the year and is now playing at UW.
Stepping into the spotlight this season: 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior Ramzak Fruean, a three-star recruit and UCLA commit.
“He runs like Zay, he’s big and physical like Zay,” Domser said. “He’s right there with him. I said before that Zaydrius is a 1-in-30-year type player, then you turn around and have Zak. He does a good job.
“He’s gonna run all around the field. We’re gonna put him in spots where he can make plays because he’s hard to block. He’s fast, he’s physical.”
Fruean said he’s ready to replace Rainey-Sale’s production on the field, and the tone will remain the same — when opponents play Bethel, they’re going to feel it.
“For me to replace him, just giving my all every day,” he said. “No matter how I’m feeling, just gotta show up and show out. … We’re smacking every day. We play smack-mouth football here, we’ll run it down your throat and we just win games.”
Bethel went 5-5 last season and missed the playoffs, but Domser always felt like the team was close to putting it together. The Bison lost games to Graham-Kapowsin, Yelm and Curtis by a combined eight points.
Talent won’t be an issue. Along with Fruean, who will also star at receiver in some packages in or near the red zone, the Bison return several other impact players, including 6-foot-6, 240-pound TE and San Diego State commit Elijah Muliufi. Senior QB Evan Barnes enters his third year as the team’s starter and looks confident in practice.
Defensively, the team should be sound, as it has been since Domser took over three years ago. If the offense can be explosive, look out.
“We’re getting better as a team, that’s the biggest thing,” Domser said. “We always have real good players, but you’ve gotta be a good team to win. So that’s what we’ve focused on, just the team, the team, the team.”
Looking for more? We’ll continue updating this story as we visit more schools around the South Sound before games begin.
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM.
