High school football season preview: 3A North 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.
3A NORTH PUGET SOUND LEAGUE
THE FAVORITE
Enumclaw’s runner-up finish in last year’s new-look 3A NPSL “stung,” in the words of sophomore defensive lineman Kannius Alva, because the Hornets typically do the stinging. HC Mark Gunderson’s “Claw Dawgs” have won at least nine games in each of the last four seasons — including 13 wins and a Class 2A semifinals appearance in 2023 — but a Week 1 loss to Decatur last fall decided the NPSL title even though Enumclaw ran the table thereafter. The wonky scheduling has returned, when the Hornets and Golden Gators renew their rivalry in a Sept. 4 season opener at Pete’s Pool. “Everyone knows it’s go time,” senior quarterback Gavin Trachte told The News Tribune last week. “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.” A well-built offensive line protects Trachte and paves lanes for sophomore RB Paxton Patterson; Alva headlines a brand-new defensive unit. Watch for Kage Kuro (sr.) and Kolt Kuzarro (soph.) at wideout.
ANY OTHER CONTENDERS?
Decatur’s Week 1 win over Enumclaw last fall, 14-7, sparked a storybook undefeated run through the 3A NPSL and into the Class 3A state tournament for the first time in program history. The Golden Gators graduated All-Area QB Spencer Holloway but replaced him with 6-foot-5 sophomore Antoine Williams Jr., an even-keeled competitor with raw talent impressing HC Matt Vaeena and the coaching staff this summer. Decatur figures to feature senior Devin Caoagdan in the run game and returned defensive cornerstones in strong safety Jasonni Prum and Michael Havili, placing the Gators directly in the NPSL hunt once again.
Federal Way will contend with a group of perimeter speedsters and defensive linemen on the college radar. Senior Zamarie Tellez, a three-star Eastern Washington commit, remains one of the state’s scariest cornerbacks with standout speed and seven career punt/kick return touchdowns. Senior DB Jay Sinclair won Defensive MVP honors at a recent summer showcase at Central Washington University, with DT Kevin Ramsey up front and Division-I LB recruit Kaicen Carter over the middle. More good news for the Eagles: They’re reloading, with 37 freshmen joining the ranks in 2025. Enumclaw, Decatur, and Federal Way all reached the Class 3A state tournament last year, setting the stage for another tight NPSL title race this fall.
20 PLAYERS TO WATCH
LB Kam Balles, Auburn Mountainview, sr.
RB Devin Caoagdan, Decatur, sr.
LB Kaicen Carter, Federal Way, soph.
WR/FS Matthew Chepurchenko, Decatur, sr.
RB/LB Jordan Clay, Decatur, soph.
WR Scottie Dinwiddie, Decatur, soph.
RB/LB Thomas Doty, Todd Beamer, sr.
OL Dom Flugstad, Todd Beamer, sr.
LB Michael Havili, Decatur, sr.
WR/LB Kage Kuro, Enumclaw, sr.
RB Paxton Patterson, Enumclaw, soph.
WR/LB Kovi Poulin, White River, sr.
DL Kevin Ramsey, Federal Way, sr.
OT Phillip Riley, Auburn Mountainview, sr.
WR/FS Jacob Scheidt, White River, sr.
DB/ATH Jay Sinclair, Federal Way, sr.
OT/DT Nik Storem, Enumclaw, sr.
WR/DB Zamarie Tellez, Federal Way, sr.
QB Gavin Trachte, Enumclaw, sr.
QB Antoine Williams Jr., Decatur, soph.
SAVE THE DATE
Sept. 4: Decatur at Enumclaw, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12: Decatur at Federal Way, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: Enumclaw at Federal Way, 6 p.m.
Oct. 24: Decatur at White River, 7 p.m.
Oct. 31: White River at Enumclaw, 7 p.m.
PROJECTED LEAGUE STANDINGS
Enumclaw, Decatur, Federal Way, White River, Auburn Mountainview, Todd Beamer, Kent-Meridian, Thomas Jefferson, Kentlake
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
