Week 2 football takeaways: Mount Tahoma makes statement, Federal Way soars
Week 2 of the Washington high school football season is in the books. TNT high school sports reporters Jon Manley and Tyler Wicke discuss what stood out from this week’s action.
BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM WEEK 2
Manley: I knew Mount Tahoma would have a good team this season. After a trip to the 3A state tournament quarterfinals last year, I thought a return trip to the same round was all but guaranteed. If the T-Birds were playing their best football and some things bounced their way, I thought a state semifinal appearance was possible. Now? Forget just being happy to crack the final four. This team can win the whole thing. A 49-22 road win over reigning 4A state tournament runner-up Camas last week — in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score indicates — is all the proof I need. Keith Terry’s group is for real.
Wicke: Tacoma football is alive and well. From South Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma and Franklin Pierce up to the Lincoln and Stadium Bowls, the City of Destiny is chock full of playoff-caliber programs hoping for a deep, postseason run. Week 2 proved it: Mount Tahoma stomped 4A-Camas on the road by four possessions (more on them below), Lincoln cruised past Yelm, Stadium ran over Mercer Island, and Franklin Pierce was a last-minute two-point conversion away from another statement win vs. Lynden, a promising performance despite their one-point, 21-20 loss. Silas impressed again, improving to 2-0 with a 42-6 win over Foss, Life Christian Academy remains on the 1A radar with highlight-reel QB Jabez Boyd, and Bellarmine Prep outlasted 4A-Auburn, 26-24, for its first win last week. Better yet for Tacoma football fans? There’s star power underneath the Friday Night Lights wherever you look. Four-star Lincoln QB Sione Kaho directs the show at Lincoln Bowl, Stadium RB Darius Sum posts 100-yard games like clockwork, and Mount Tahoma WR/DB Elijah Durr wins on the perimeter with regularity. Could our city boast as many as seven playoff teams when November rolls around? There’s certainly a path.
WHICH TEAMS IMPRESSED MOST?
Manley: Aside from Mount Tahoma’s performance at Camas, Federal Way’s 50-20 win over district rival Decatur was a statement. That’s back-to-back weeks the Eagles have posted 50+ points, setting the stage for the 3A NPSL championship game at home against Enumclaw on Sept. 25. Eastern Washington commit Zamarie Tellez has been a highlight machine through two weeks, and Marcus Yzaguirre’s squad has to be believing it can make a 3A state tournament run this fall. One more: White River clobbered Fife, 48-10, led by Blake Barglet’s three rushing touchdowns. We’ll see in October if the Hornets are ready to compete against the likes of Federal Way, Enumclaw and Decatur in the 3A NPSL, but the early results are promising.
Wicke: Is Mount Tahoma a sleeping giant in the state’s Class 3A football landscape? Head coach Keith Terry has kept these T-Birds on the rise for three-plus years, but the momentum is building in South Tacoma after Mount Tahoma traveled to Camas and trounced the defending Class 4A runners-up, 49-22. It’s a massive win in a marquee matchup we expected to be competitive, but the T-Birds led 35-2 at halftime and coasted to victory by four possessions. Most impressive? It’s a total team effort for what’s arguably the best roster in Tacoma. Perimeter standout Elijah Durr, a UW commit, caught a 23-yard touchdown, tackled four (two for loss) and blocked a Camas field-goal attempt. RB Naesirhc White took 20 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown, RB Keshawn Hines had 13 rushes for 65 yards and two scores, and four total T-Birds rushed for a touchdown. Three more added 10+ tackles on defense (Josh Durr, Teaven Jones, Shan Jones) and dual-threat QB Mikkah Cordero threw for a touchdown and ran for another. One matchup I can’t wait for: Mount Tahoma vs. Lincoln on Oct. 3 for a Tacoma rivalry at Lincoln Bowl.
WHICH WEEK 2 RESULT WAS THE MOST SURPRISING?
Manley: No big surprises in Week 2. In fact, your friends at the TNT went 6-for-6 on last week’s predictions, including calling Mount Tahoma’s road win over Camas. Some of the margins were surprising, though; I didn’t expect Mount Tahoma and Federal Way to come away with blowout wins.
Wicke: We thought Federal Way would find a way to beat Decatur in Friday’s clash between 3A NPSL contenders, but the Eagles soared to a 30-point win in a game that was anything but down to the wire. All-State WR/DB Zamarie Tellez provided the fireworks, taking both of his two carries for touchdowns (141 rushing yards), adding three tackles and fumble recovery on defense. Jay Sinclair’s one reception went for a 73-yard score, and Miles Fuavai forced another fumble. Federal Way’s squad is one of the area’s fastest with a big play seemingly always ready to happen. Its matchup with Enumclaw on Sept. 25 could go down as the 3A NPSL championship, handing the winner control of its destiny for the remainder of league play.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE STOOD OUT MOST IN WEEK 2?
Manley: Give me Lincoln RB Jadeon Scranton, who rushed 21 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-14 win over Yelm on Friday. Lincoln needed a bounceback after a loss to Franklin Pierce in Week 1. If Scranton and the Abes’ run game can consistently deliver performances like this, things should open for QB Sione Kaho and the Lincoln pass game.
Wicke: I’ll take Stadium RB Darius Sum, who tormented Mercer Island in Friday’s 30-10 win at Stadium Bowl. The workhorse back took 18 carries for 176 yards and two touchdowns, adding two receptions for 74 yards and another score. Sum’s two-game totals: 283 rushing yards (9.4 yards per carry), 108 receiving yards (21.6 yards per reception) and three total touchdowns.
