High school football season preview: Bethel Bison
The high school football season begins in early September and The News Tribune has been all over the South Sound, visiting local programs at practices before games begin. Up next, we’re previewing a handful of teams individually before the season kicks off.
Here’s how things are shaping up for the Bethel Bison this fall.
Editor’s note: The “outlook” section for each program is pulled from the TNT’s preseason practice tour. Find the full practice tour story here, complete with insight on over 20 teams in the area, quotes, photos, videos and more.
BETHEL BISON
Head coach: Travis Domser, third year
2024 results: 5-5
Offensive coordinator & base scheme: Hunter Talen/Jeff Houseman, Multiple
Defensive coordinator & base scheme: Ken Biller, Multiple
OUTLOOK
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.”
KEY PLAYERS
LB Ramzak Fruean, sr.
QB Evan Barnes, sr.
TE Elijah Muliufi, sr.
OL JAcob Block
WR Amari Quiocho, sr.
WR Franklin Uncangco, soph.
LB Ethan Schuppener, sr.
DL Marcus Sopi, jr.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5: at Bellevue
Sept. 11: vs. Emerald Ridge
Sept. 19: vs. North Creek
Sept. 26: vs. Olympia
Oct. 3: at Spanaway Lake
Oct. 10: vs. Graham-Kapowsin
Oct. 17: at Yelm
Oct. 24: at Bonney Lake
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM.
