Making the case for Mount Tahoma: Why the T-Birds can win 3A state title
The semifinal round of the 2025 WIAA high school football state tournaments in Washington features five teams from the South Sound: No. 1 Puyallup (4A), No. 5 Sumner (4A), No. 6 Graham-Kapowsin (4A), No. 2 Mount Tahoma (3A) and No. 2 Tumwater (2A). This week, I’m making the case for each of these programs — how and why they can win it all, and what could cause them to fall short of lifting the trophy at Husky Stadium.
Up next: the Mount Tahoma T-Birds. Here’s a look at Mount Tahoma’s season, key players and signature wins. Plus, thoughts from multiple coaches who coached against the T-Birds this year. Coaches are quoted anonymously to allow them to speak candidly.
RECORD: 12-0
SIGNATURE WINS: 49-22 over Camas, 21-7 over Mount Si, 28-7 over Lakes, 42-7 over Seattle Prep, 42-14 over Lincoln.
STAT LEADERS: RB Nezie White (943 yards, 9 TDs on 136 carries); QB Mikkah Cordero (79-of-137 passing, 1,387 yards, 13 TDs, 6 INT); WR Elijah Durr (351 yards, 7 TDs on 15 receptions); LB Shan Jones (129 tackles, 25.5 TFLs); DE Teaven Jones (73 tackles, 29 TFLs, 17.5 sacks)
MAKING THE CASE FOR THE T-BIRDS
Mount Tahoma is the first Tacoma Public Schools program to reach the Class 3A state semifinal round since Lincoln in 2019. This team feels more complete than that Lincoln team. The biggest reason for optimism, in my mind, isn’t just the fact the T-Birds have one of the state’s most dynamic two-way players in WR/CB Elijah Durr, a UW commit — it’s the size up front and the relentless defense. Mount Tahoma is built to compete in the trenches with the likes of O’Dea, Eastside Catholic and Bellevue.
Opposing Coach A: “Their defense is really impressive. There’s no weaknesses on the defense. The back end is strong, the secondary flies around, plays great coverage. It’s hard to run on their front, the linebackers are active. Their offense controls the ball, they’ve got a good offense, but their defense is what’s most impressive. Not many teams can put out eight, nine guys that are 280, 285, big physical guys that go both ways. They have some pretty good depth. … This is the best Mount Tahoma team I’ve seen in a long time. They’ve got speed, physicality and the size to match up up front.”
Opposing Coach B: “They have one of the most game-changing athletes I’ve seen in a while (in Elijah Durr). He can affect the game in all three phases. I think that’s one reason right there: he’s one of the most dynamic players in the state. They’re big, they’re physical. In the second half, they seem to really elevate their game. Any difficult game they’ve had, for whatever reason they’re able to elevate their game in the second half and other teams haven’t been able to match that.”
WHY THE T-BIRDS COULD FALL SHORT
It probably has less to do with any weaknesses on Keith Terry’s squad and more to do with the competition still standing. Class 3A Metro opponents Eastside Catholic and O’Dea make deep state tournament runs every year, while Bellevue has a storied history, as well. Mount Tahoma matches up well against any of those teams, but will championship experience win out against a team that hasn’t played on this stage before? There’s also a question of what happens if Mount Tahoma is unable to establish its run game, which has been its bread and butter all season. Can this offense consistently push the ball downfield through the air?
Opposing Coach A: “If somebody can stop their running game and force them to throw the ball, (QB) Mikkah (Cordero) is capable, but they want to lean on their running game. … Maybe their lack of balance in the passing game, if people can shut down the run, that might be tough.”
Opposing Coach B: “Maybe there have been times where the offense is inconsistent. They haven’t had to play behind the chains or without a lead very often. It might be difficult if they go down early. That’s really the only thing I can think of, if they get down early or have to rally and make up a deficit.”
State semifinal game: No. 3 Eastside Catholic vs. No. 2 Mount Tahoma, 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 at Mount Tahoma High School
