High school football roundup, Week 2: Lynden outlasts Franklin Pierce in thriller
Results, recaps and more from Week 2 high school football contests around the South Sound will be posted on this page on Thursday night. Looking for more scores? Find them on our statewide scoreboard here.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 13)
LYNDEN 21, FRANKLIN PIERCE 20
It’s still just Week 2, but Saturday afternoon’s physical, down-to-the-wire thriller between Franklin Pierce and Lynden had every making of a postseason classic.
The Cardinals trailed, 21-14, in the final 66 seconds of regulation when Franklin Pierce QB Jeremiah Orcutt left the field with a chin injury — but RB Ja’mire Ford had no plans of lying down without a fight. Two plays after his quarterback’s exit, the senior speedster darted up the middle for a 21-yard score, breathing life into a Cardinals crowd that sensed victory on the horizon.
After surprising 3A Tacoma rival Lincoln last weekend, could Franklin Pierce make another statement?
It was decided on one gutsy play call: The Cardinals rolled the dice on a two-point try for the win, but Lynden stuffed RB Bryson Allen behind the line of scrimmage to preserve a one-point lead. Then came a miraculous Franklin Pierce onside kick recovery, allowing Orcutt to return to the field for another, unexpected chance — but two sacks and a desperation-heave interception to Lynden DB Lofa Tigilau sealed it: a 21-20 Lions win in a game that more than lived up to the billing at Franklin Pierce Stadium.
In the end, the Cardinals were just three yards from delivering the unthinkable.
“It was a showcase of our mental strength and our never-backing-down mentality,” Lynden WR Dani Bowler said. “I attribute that to our coaches and our practice style. They get us ready for games like this, so we have the confidence when it comes down to the wire.”
It’s a roughly 143-mile drive from Lynden to Franklin Pierce, though Bowler wasted no time making his two-and-a-half hour trip to South Tacoma worthwhile. The 5-foot-10 wideout took the opening kickoff 90 yards to the house, a lightning bolt that put Lynden ahead, 7-0, before the game’s first snap.
“I just saw a hole,” he told The News Tribune. “My teammates blocked perfectly, and it was a straight shot.
“I just did my job.”
Franklin Pierce moved the ball methodically, wearing down an impressive Lynden defense with a Power-T offense that settled in after halftime. But it was Bowler who provided another knockout punch, taking home a 70-yard slant for another score in the second quarter.
It’s when momentum shifted. Franklin Pierce’s Orcutt hit WR/DB Anthony Lomiga in stride for a wide-open 39-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive, then intercepted Lynden QB Gordy Bedlington minutes later. The Cardinals threatened for more in the final seconds of the half, but an in-bounds tackle bled the clock to 0:00 with the football inside Lynden’s 10-yard line.
The Lions clung to a one-possession lead at the break, 14-8, before the comeback continued.
Franklin Pierce’s Allen punched home a three-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the second half — already his sixth of the season after a five-touchdown performance at Lincoln last weekend — but a two-point try for the lead failed, keeping Saturday’s battle tied at 14.
Knotted in the fourth, Lynden’s Bedlington lost his helmet on third down, requiring backup QB Austin Postma to deliver the go-ahead score, a 42-yard touchdown to WR Brody Price over the middle on 4th and 2.
“That’s being ready when called up,” Lynden head coach Blake VanDalen said.
Ford’s late score brought the score to 21-20 before another two-point try failed and Lynden’s defense held when Franklin Pierce recovered the last-gasp onside kick.
Bowler finished with a pair of game-breaking plays: The opening 90-yard kickoff return touchdown and 70-yard slant for six.
Franklin Pierce’s Orcutt and Lomiga snagged defensive interceptions for the Cardinals. Allen, a two-way linebacker, added two sacks to his rushing touchdown.
“We want to make opposing players quit physically because they don’t want to get hit and blocked over and over and have to tackle over and over,” Cardinals head coach Trevor Hanson said. “It worked sometimes, but again, that Lynden team has got some dudes at linebacker and D-Line. It was hard to block today.”
Could these teams meet again this year? The Cardinals and Lions are true 2A state contenders, setting up a potential postseason rematch, if the stars align.
“I think (Franklin Pierce) would tell you, that’s why we scheduled it, was to get tested,” VanDalen said. “And for it to come down to a two-point play on the goal line is the epitome of a playoff atmosphere against two elite teams.
“It’s just timing. You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.”
FRIDAY’S RESULTS (SEPT. 12)
SUMNER 28, KENNEDY CATHOLIC 0
Some things never seem to change in Sumner: A bruising run game, a swarming defense that flies to the football, and perpetual winning for one of the best crowds and atmospheres the South Sound has to offer.
Friday night’s home opener in The Valley was no different: RB Lance McGee ran for a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, and the Spartans defense blanked Kennedy Catholic, 28-0, for Sumner’s first win of the year.
After their last-second, 31-28 loss at Lake Stevens in their season opener last weekend, Sumner’s shutout effort provided the perfect rebound — restoring momentum for the defending 4A champions following the Spartans’ first in-state defeat since Nov. 2023.
“When you’re used to winning, and you think you’re going to win, and you get knocked off? It was tough on all of us,” Ross said Friday night at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium, surrounded by players and fans near midfield after Sumner sent a packed crowd home happy. “We spent a couple of days just convincing everybody that we’re OK. Lake Stevens is a phenomenal team.
“We just needed a rebound tonight, and we got it.”
And McGee was Friday night’s early-game star, a powerful runner perfect for Ross’ ground-heavy philosophy. The three-star Oregon State commit dashed 28 yards to Kennedy Catholic’s 2-yard line before punching home a touchdown on his next attempt in the second quarter, Sumner’s first touchdown on a night that was all Spartans.
Within minutes (and just 76 seconds of game clock), McGee found the endzone again. Spartans DB Elias Isaacs intercepted Kennedy Catholic on their next drive, setting up another 2-yard touchdown for the Sumner back.
“It’s different,” said McGee, a Davis (Yakima) transfer who made his home debut at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium. “Looking up in the crowd, seeing everybody from the bottom to the top, it’s crazy. And I feel like it gives me an extra boost, too. Looking up there just makes me feel hype, like I’m on top of the world.”
The floodgates opened when Sumner recovered a Kennedy Catholic fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and shifty Spartans RB Israel Nabors made multiple Lancers miss on a 33-yard touchdown run. Sumner trotted into the locker room with a 21-0 lead at halftime and ballooned the score when Nabors added a 10-yard receiving touchdown in the third.
“We figure on six to eight plays, (Israel’s) going to score on one or two of them,” Ross said. “He’s as good of an open-field runner we’ve ever had. And with Lance and him, it’s a great combination.”
Notably missing from the action: Kennedy Catholic’s Derek Colman-Brusa, a game-wrecking edge rusher considered the state’s top 2026 prospect, was inactive with a foot injury and spotted using crutches on the Lancers sideline. Bigger and better things are in store for the defense when their star returns.
“We’re hoping he’s back next week,” Lancers head coach Pat Jones said.
McGee took 12 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Nabors had eight rushes for 111 yards and a score, adding a 10-yard touchdown catch.
Sumner QB Nate Donavan completed 9-of-19 passes for one touchdown and two interceptions, and Spartans RB Santos Hernandez-Ruiz added nine carries for 56 yards.
Kennedy Catholic’s Nikko Lecksiwilai was involved in a Wing-T run game early and often — but aside from a few bulldozing runs up the middle, the Lancers struggled to move the ball against a Sumner defense that forced four turnovers and remains one of the area’s elite.
Lancers RB/DB Jayce Fitzgerald added an endzone interception in the second quarter.
“The mindset coming into this week was a little bit different,” McGee said. “Everybody was hungry and ready to get that win. We just needed this one win, and now we’re rolling.”
Graham-Kapowsin 31, Skyview 0
Graham-Kapowsin head coach Jeff Logan figured his team might take a little while to get going Friday night against visiting Skyview.
Coming off of a dramatic last-second victory against defending state champion O’Dea last week, Logan thought his team might not be as sharp – but they showed off their mettle, rolling to a the shutout victory at Art Crate Field.
“It is tough to kind of come back after such an emotional high and be prepared right away,” Logan said. “We faced a little adversity early, but the kids responded in the second half.”
The Eagles were able to run the ball on the Storm, helping lead a balanced offensive attack that racked up 356 yards of total offense.
Blake Pearson ran the ball 18 times for 115 yards and a touchdown to lead the rushing attack, while quarterback AJ Tuivaiave was 17-of-19 for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Kase Betz and Keh’ano Corpuz hauled in the two touchdown passes.
“Skyview returned three starting linebackers and they were physical in the box,” Logan said. “We controlled the football and got the run game established more than last week. Defensively, we played really well. We knew Skyview has traditionally been a good run team and we knew we would have to stop them there on defense. We did a good job of that tonight.”
Julius Hernandez-Avila was the leading tackler on the night, while Mazaia Roberson had two interceptions for the Eagles.
Stadium 30, Mercer Island 10
Darius Sum had more than 200 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Tigers defense held strong in a nonconference victory at Stadium Bowl.
Three times in the first half, Mercer Island had the ball in the red zone and three times the Stadium defense kept them off the scoreboard. It was the story of the night.
“This is the best depth up front and front seven that we have had in my four years here,” Stadium coach Patrick Johnson said. “One of our linebackers was out and I was super impressed with the way the guys fought.”
Johnson scheduled Mercer Island because he wanted his squad to face a tough test before 4A NPSL play starts next week. The Islanders won their first 10 games a year ago and looked to be world beaters early on Friday, before the Stadium defense settled in.
The Tigers defense gave up a 60-yard pass play on the first possession, but kept the Islanders out of the end zone. Overall for the night, Stadium’s defense blocked a field goal, forced two fumbles on sacks and had an interception in the end zone.
“We knew it would be a challenge and it was,” Johnson said. “Offensively, when you run the ball and the quarterback is efficient it helps the defense.”
Silas 42, Foss 6
Truth Hopkins scored twice on the ground, and the Silas Rams rolled over Foss on Friday night, 42-6, for their second-straight win to open the 2025 campaign.
Silas wideouts Cannon Howard and Riley Foster added touchdowns on long receptions, and Daniel Silbaugh scored on a blocked punt by Rams WR/SS Jamirie Pringle.
Silas (2-0) visits 4A-Rogers on Thursday night before 3A PSL play begins on Sept. 26.
This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 11:29 PM.
