High school football season preview: 2A 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.
2A SOUTH PUGET SOUND LEAGUE
WHO’S THE FAVORITE?
Franklin Pierce, which tore through the league undefeated last season, winning every game in blowout fashion and advancing all the way to the 2A state tournament quarterfinals. The Power-T offense is back and until somebody figures out how to slow it down, Franklin Pierce is going to be a problem in this league for the foreseeable future. QB Jeremiah Orcutt, a junior, and senior RB Bryson Allen (1,631 rushing yards, 21 TDs last season) return and should pick up right where they left off, piling up yards behind an experienced offensive line, which includes junior Anthony Aloisio, senior Vili Taufafofua and junior Ian Swanny. Senior LB Zeke Isaacson (110 tackles, 30 TFLs in 2024) anchors the defense.
ANY OTHER CONTENDERS?
Orting returns seven starters on offense and seven on defense and should be a playoff team. All-league RB Carson McCall should be featured prominently in the offense, as well senior RB Israel Shrode. Fife, Eatonville, Steilacoom and Washington should all factor in the playoff picture, as well. Gavin Kralik returns to coach a young Eatonville team this season. Steilacoom returns an experienced team, highlighted by 6-foot-4 senior tight end Xander Shaw (Air Force commit) and RB/S Noah Maxwell. Fife returns third-year starting QB Mattson Ducharme, junior DT Labor Day Nielsen and TE/LB Kannon King.
SAVE THE DATE
Sept. 18: Washington at Steilacoom
Sept. 26: Orting at Franklin Pierce
Oct. 3: Steilacoom at Orting
Oct. 9: Franklin Pierce at Steilacoom
Oct. 10: Eatonville at Fife
TOP 15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Byson Allen, Franklin Pierce, sr.
OL Anthony Aloisio, Franklin Pierce, jr.
QB Mattson Ducharme, Fife, sr.
OL Giovanni Eddinger, Orting, sr.
QB Cole Fowler, Eatonville, jr.
LB Zeke Isaacson, Franklin Pierce, sr.
DB Ty’reke Johnson, Foss, sr.
OL Porotesano Mataiao, Steilacoom, sr.
DB Noah Maxwell, Steilacoom, jr.
RB Carson McCall, Orting, sr.
QB Jeremiah Orcutt, Franklin Pierce, jr.
DB Jackson Ours, Fife, sr.
TE Xander Shaw, Steilacoom, sr.
RB Slavik Shemedyuk, Fife, sr.
WR Jacob Simmons, Eatonville, jr.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Franklin Pierce, Orting, Steilacoom, Fife, Washington, Eatonville, Foss, Clover Park
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
