High school football season preview: 4A South Puget Sound League
High school football is back in the South Sound. Practices are underway as programs across the state prepare for the beginning of the 2025 season.
The News Tribune will be visiting schools in the area and previewing local leagues as the first week of games approaches.
Follow along with us throughout the two-week preseason for previews on the 4A NPSL, 4A SPSL, 3A NPSL, 3A PSL, 2A SPSL, 2A EvCo and more.
4A SOUTH PUGET SOUND LEAGUE
WHO’S THE FAVORITE?
In the North, reigning 4A state champion Sumner returns a ton — seven starters on offense and eight on defense. As if that weren’t enough, the Spartans also welcome Davis (Yakima) transfer RB/LB Lance McGee, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound three-star recruit who will feature primarily at running back this season, replacing Steele Isaacs, who graduated. QB Nate Donovan returns for his second year in the offense and blazing-fast WR Braylon Pope, a 6-foot-3 three-star recruit, has impressed during the offseason and looks primed for his best high school season yet. The defense should be among the state’s elite: LB Dillon Titialii, DB Israel Nabors (Eastern Washington commit), LB Austin Glivar, DL Shaun Griffith and DE Will Maxwell return.
In the South, we like Graham-Kapowsin’s chances to win again and likely in a more dominant fashion this year. Sophomore AJ Tuivaiave has a year of starting experience under his belt and will have two of the league’s best receivers to target in junior Kase Betz and sophomore Jayce Halasz. RB Blake Pearson should find holes behind a more experienced offensive line, led by 6-foot-5, 250-pound left tackle Ayden Bullinger, a junior who put on 50+ pounds over the offseason.
ANY OTHER CONTENDERS?
Offseason hype doesn’t win anything, but Puyallup has the pieces to back up the buzz and compete for the North division title under first-year coach DJ Mims, who turned Mercer Island into a contender and playoff team in the 3A KingCo. Puyallup was young last year and returns several key pieces, including three-star OL recruit Gecova Doyal, 6-foot-5 three-star WR recruit J’Isaiah Mitchell, WR Jayden Woodland, QB/ATH Luke Parker and others. The transfer market has been good to the Vikings, too. New additions include LB Michael Pulalasi (Lakes), UW commit and offensive lineman Ah Deong Yang (Roosevelt), RB Briytan Bailey (Mount Tahoma), RB Malcolm Akuffo (Emerald Ridge). Puyallup was up and down last season but nearly pulled off the upset against state champion and valley rival Sumner, losing 17-14. With the returning cast and influx of transfers, we’re expecting a dog fight between the teams on Oct. 4 at Sparks.
In the South, if anyone has the potential to upset G-K, district rival Bethel probably has the best shot. The Bison have consistently been a high-level defensive team under coach Travis Domser. Bethel returns six starters on offense and seven on defense, including UCLA commit and three-star LB recruit Ramzak Fruean, who will need to replace the production of the TNT’s 2024 All-Area player of the year, LB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, who graduated. QB Evan Barnes returns for his third season as the starter and will have a weapon in San Diego State TE commit Elijah Muliufi, who is 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds. If the offense can be explosive, Bethel projects as a possible state tournament team.
SAVE THE DATE
Sept. 26: Olympia at Bethel, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26: Puyallup at Emerald Ridge, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4: Sumner at Puyallup, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9: Emerald Ridge at Curtis, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10: Graham-Kapowsin at Bethel, 7 p.m.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
WR Kase Betz, Graham-Kapowsin, jr.
QB Rashard Boone, Rogers, sr.
OL Ayden Bullinger, Graham-Kapowsin, jr.
WR Malik Burns, Spanaway Lake, jr.
OL Gecova Doyal, Puyallup, jr.
WR Jacob Ford, Yelm, sr.
LB Ramzak Fruean, Bethel, sr.
LB Austin Glivar, Sumner, sr.
DL Shaun Griffith, Sumner, sr.
OL Kingston Kerkhoff, Curtis, sr.
DL Robby Lavata’i, Curtis, sr.
LB Hunter Liberty, Olympia, sr.
RB Lance McGee, Sumner, sr.
WR J’Isaiah Mitchell, Puyallup, jr.
TE Elijah Muliufi, Bethel, sr.
DB Israel Nabors, Sumner, sr.
OL Parker Otheim, Olympia, sr.
OL Douglas Peterson, Graham-Kapowsin, sr.
WR Braylon Pope, Sumner, jr.
LB Michael Pulalasi, Puyallup, jr.
OL Jonah Smith, Yelm, sr.
QB AJ Tuivaiave, Graham-Kapowsin, soph.
DL Elijah Wallace, Emerald Ridge, sr.
WR Jayden Woodland, Puyallup, sr.
OL Ah Deong Yang, Puyallup, sr.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
North: Sumner, Puyallup, Curtis, Emerald Ridge, Rogers, South Kitsap
South: Graham-Kapowsin, Bethel, Olympia, Yelm, Spanaway Lake, Bonney Lake
This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
