High school football: Top 10 early-season individual performances in South Sound
We’re two weeks through the high school football season in Washington. In the South Sound, we’ve already seen a handful of eye-catching individual performances. Here are my picks for the Top 10 so far, presented in alphabetical order.
Bryson Allen, Franklin Pierce — If I had to pick just one, it’d be this monster effort from Allen. In a 38-29 road win over 3A Lincoln at Lincoln Bowl in Week 1, the reigning 2A SPSL MVP and Cardinals running back took 33 carries for 285 yards and five touchdowns.
Cooper Jones, Timberline — After a rebuilding year in 2024, Timberline is off to a 2-0 start this season, and Jones has been a big reason why. He rushed 27 times for 221 yards and a touchdown in a 37-33 road upset win over 4A Woodinville in Week 1.
Braylon Pope, Sumner — The three-star wide receiver recruit looks laser focused this fall. Some players post gaudy stat lines against overmatched opponents, but this one is legit, coming against 4A perennial state power Lake Stevens. Pope caught 10 passes for 118 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-28 road loss to the Vikings.
Nolan Potts, Capital — Great performances are satisfying in any game, but against your rival? That’s much, much sweeter. Capital’s QB completed 23-of-35 passes for 168 yards and rushed 10 times for 110 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime in a 33-27 win over Olympia in the Spaghetti Bowl.
Jadeon Scranton, Lincoln — Lincoln is at its best when it’s balanced on offense, and Scranton saw plenty of action in a 36-14 win over Yelm in Week 2. He took 21 carries for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
Ian Shearer, Gig Harbor — It looks like Tides’ coach Jeff Scoma’s Wing-T should fare just fine in the 3A PSL. The proof: This running back took 29 carries for 201 yards and three touchdowns in Gig Harbor’s Fish Bowl rivalry win over Peninsula in Week 1.
Darius Sum, Stadium — Sum was a TNT All-Area selection last fall and so far this year, we’re seeing more of the same. In a 30-10 Week 2 win over Mercer Island, he took 18 carries for 176 yards and two touchdowns and added 74 receiving yards and a touchdown on two catches.
Zamarie Tellez, Federal Way — Federal Way has scored over 50 points in each of its first two games. Tellez, an Eastern Washington commit, has been an explosive piece of this offense. He took two carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns, added three tackles and fumble recovery on defense in a 50-20 win over district rival Decatur in Week 2.
AJ Tuivaiave, Graham-Kapowsin — G-K’s sophomore QB looked poised beyond his years in a 40-38 Week 1 win over O’Dea, in which he orchestrated an 80-yard game-winning drive in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. He completed 17-of-31 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 19 yards and three more scores in the win.
Lucas Whitehall-Gilkes, Auburn — This 2024 TNT All-Area selection was the 4A NPSL’s best receiver last fall and has gotten off to another hot start. He had five receptions for 179 yards and four touchdowns in Auburn’s 67-27 win over Kent-Meridian in Week 1.
This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
