High school football: These South Sound teams could surprise people this fall
We’ve been all over the South Sound since high school football practice began on Aug. 20, bringing subscribers coverage of what to expect this season.
We’ve laid out who the favorites are in most leagues, but, aside from the heavy hitters, which teams might surprise people this fall? Here’s our list of potential breakout candidates.
BELLARMINE PREP LIONS (3A PSL NARROWS)
We still like Lincoln and Mount Tahoma at the top of the 3A PSL’s Narrows division, but we could see Bellarmine Prep being a sneaky contender and a playoff team this season. The biggest reason for optimism: the return of second-year starting QB Birk Johnston, a 6-foot-5 playmaker with a good arm.
BETHEL BISON (4A SPSL SOUTH)
Reason No. 1 why we’re bullish on Bethel: The Bison have had one of the 4A SPSL’s best defenses in the two years Travis Domser has been the head coach. This year should be no different with strong line play and three-star LB recruit Ramzak Fruean, a UCLA commit. Reason No. 2: QB Evan Barnes is a third-year starter and should be comfortable in the offense. It felt like Bethel was close last season — maybe this is the year Domser’s squad puts it all together.
EMERALD RIDGE JAGUARS (4A SPSL NORTH)
We’ll be honest: The Jaguars weren’t on our radar last year after losing so much talent from the previous season’s state tournament team. But after first-year coach Torey Donovan engineered one of the area’s most impressive coaching jobs and took Emerald Ridge to the 4A state tournament, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him do it again. The Jaguars return no starters on offense and just three on defense, but it’s starting to feel like Emerald Ridge will be a consistent contender, regardless.
FIFE TROJANS (2A SPSL)
One of three 2A SPSL programs to reach the Class 2A Round of 16 last fall, Fife remains on our radar with third-year starting QB Mattson Ducharme and a coaching staff established decades ago. The looming question: Can they knock off Franklin Pierce (Oct. 17) and Orting (Sept. 19) en route to a league title?
OLYMPIA BEARS (4A SPSL SOUTH)
The Bears were on the verge of a 2024 breakout (5-0) until losing their starting quarterback to injury. Olympia overcame the adversity to reach the 4A playoffs, and another postseason bid might rest in the cards with a healthy roster and the most experienced offensive line coach Nick Mullen has directed in his six years at the helm.
ORTING CARDINALS (2A SPSL)
They’re far from a traditional surprise — the Cardinals won nine games last fall and reached the Class 2A state tournament — but of the programs capable of dethroning reigning league-champion Franklin Pierce, we think Orting has the best shot of the bunch. The Cardinals return 14 starters in HC Cody Baskett’s second year and appear primed for a third-straight season with 7+ wins.
PENINSULA SEAHAWKS (3A PSL NISQUALLY)
New HC Clay Mauro has big shoes to fill after Ross Filkins, the South Sound’s longest-tenured head coach, resigned after 30 years at the helm — but the Purdy tradition remains with 15 returning starters and Western Oregon commit Royal Charles anchoring both lines. We’re expecting a competitive league-title race in a 3A PSL Nisqually that feels wide open for the taking.
TIMBERLINE BLAZERS (3A PSL NISQUALLY)
It wasn’t pretty for Timberline last season, but that was mostly due to the team’s youth across the board. This year, head coach James Jones returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense. Timberline also welcomes former Yelm offensive coordinator Bryan Irion, who helped engineer a high-powered offense during his time with the Tornados. Defense is a good recipe for winning games and Timberline returns a strong defensive line and linebacker room.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
