Making the case for Tumwater: Why the T-Birds can win 2A 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 Tumwater T-Birds. Here’s a look at Tumwater’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: 11-1
SIGNATURE WINS: 49-21 over Eastlake, 48-28 over Nooksack Valley, 41-20 over W.F. West, 27-6 over Franklin Pierce.
STAT LEADERS: RB Peyton Davis (927 yards, 17 TDs on 91 carries); RB Tyler Briscoe (693 yards, 7 TDs on 94 carries); DB Grady Wall (83 tackles, 8 TFLs); LB Blake Heryford (69 tackles, 5 TFLs)
MAKING THE CASE FOR THE T-BIRDS
Let’s start with this: No one has played juggernaut Puyallup tougher than Tumwater did in a 25-19 loss in Week 1. Puyallup blew out 4A state tournament semifinal teams Graham-Kapowsin and defending 4A state champion Sumner, but only beat Tumwater by six. Since then, Tumwater has gone undefeated, rolling through the 2A EvCo slate with typical ease. I don’t think Tumwater is as good as it was a season ago, but the defense has continued to play at a high level, despite losing a few key pieces to graduation. And the offense? It’s the usual, well-oiled Wing-T machine. Credit to Willie Garrow and his staff — this team is well prepared for every test.
Opposing Coach A: “They’re disciplined, experienced, well coached and hard to replicate and scout Wing-T at practice, and they have some good (running) backs.”
Opposing Coach B: “Their physicality and their depth. That’s what showed up in our game against them. Their ability to pre-snap shift on offense and get advantages and numbers. They have the speed to get to the edge, and they’re gonna get around the edge and beat you.”
WHY THE T-BIRDS COULD FALL SHORT
The biggest obstacle will be top-seeded Archbishop Murphy, which is stacked with Division-I recruits and is the heavy favorite to win the Class 2A state championship next month at Husky Stadium. Aside from that, though, Tumwater’s defensive front isn’t as dominant as it was last season since it graduated TNT All-Area first-team DL Malijah Tucker and LB Beckett Wall. Despite those losses, Tumwater’s defense has played at a high level this season and forces turnovers against good passing teams. Maybe facing someone other than Anacortes in the title game will benefit Garrow’s T-Birds.
Opposing Coach A: “Not as stout in the trenches as they normally are. Defensively, lots of matchups that opposing teams could take care of in the secondary, as well.”
Opposing Coach B: “What Anacortes showed over the last couple of years that they’ve beat them, if you’re able to match them physically and go blow-for-blow, and have some special athletes, that’s how you can trip them up. A disciplined team defensively and have a couple explosive players, that could be the recipe.”
State semifinal game: No. 3 East Valley of Yakima vs. No. 2 Tumwater, 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 at Tumwater District Stadium
