McGee, Pope power Sumner offense in quest for back-to-back 4A state titles
Keith Ross knew film wouldn’t fix it. The answers weren’t hidden on the screen or inside the Xs and Os. Sumner found them in the mirror.
When the Spartans lost by 36 points to valley-rival Puyallup in Week 5, Sumner took a long, necessary look. Ross praised the simple things — like returning to the ‘Sumner Football’ that lifted them to the 4A state title last December.
And from the moment they walked out of Sparks Stadium on that Oct. 4 night, the Spartans transformed. Its ‘Black Flag’ defense won seven straight games and pitched four shutouts, forcing a blockbuster rematch with the Vikings in last weekend’s 4A semifinals.
When Ross finally did press play on the Week 5 tape, there weren’t any a-has or discoveries. A few small tweaks like always, sure, but Puyallup’s high-octane offense wasn’t a mystery. He had lived it eight weeks earlier.
“People are saying it was a great game plan. Actually, we just had our kids do what they were supposed to do,” Ross said at Wednesday’s practice.
“We don’t want to beat people with a game plan. We want to beat people with our kids.”
In front of a jam-packed house at Sparks Stadium last Saturday, Sumner’s star power authored the ultimate redemption story. RB Lance McGee ran wild for 313 yards and five touchdowns on 38 carries (one reception), and the Spartans stunned their rivals in the rematch, 42-35. Of 50 total touches dispersed among the offense, McGee and WR Braylon Pope (10-139-1) received 49 of them.
“How’s that for riding your horses?” Ross asked Wednesday with a smile.
No. 5 Sumner (10-3) punched its ticket to Saturday’s 4A championship game at Husky Stadium, where the Spartans would capture back-to-back state titles with a win over No. 2 Lake Stevens (13-0). It’s another rematch, too: Ross and Co. fell to the Vikings, 31-28, on a last-second touchdown on the road in Week 1.
Sumner could become the first three-loss team to win a WIAA football title (any classification) since 1987.
McGee transferred from Davis (Yakima) last spring, but it wasn’t until after his arrival that Ross realized he had stumbled upon his next big-time back. Sumner’s offensive line quickly formed a group chat with their new teammate with welcoming words: “Lance, we’re excited to block for you.”
Sumner’s newest Spartan felt the love immediately, he said. The three-star recruit never appeared in a playoff game spanning three years at Davis. Now he’s boarding a bus for Husky Stadium.
“It’s a blessing,” McGee said. “I can’t even comprehend it. I’ve never been to Husky Stadium. I had never even been in a playoff game.
“It’s a big blessing. I’m very excited to put on a show in front of however many fans there are.”
POPE UNGUARDABLE IN SEMIFINAL STUNNER
Braylon Pope was open. Sumner attempted a Week 5 comeback at Puyallup when their star receiver escaped coverage and Spartans QB Nate Donavan lofted an accurate deep ball. Pope still wants it back.
“It was right there,” he remembers. “It was a good ball.
“I just didn’t come down with it.”
Eight weeks later on the same turf — heck, the same sideline — Pope wanted another shot. He went to Ross: “Coach, we need to run that play again. It’s going to work.”
So they did.
Again, Pope was open. Again, Donavan lofted a quality pass into the bread basket. Pope knew it was his the moment the football left his quarterback’s hand.
The 43-yard touchdown pass pushed Sumner ahead of the Vikings, 21-14, early in the second quarter. Donavan completed a dozen passes that day, 10 of them to Pope. He was virtually unguardable, securing 10 catches for 139 yards and his early, splash-play score against one of the state’s top defenses.
“Amazing,” Ross said. “Everything that you’ve dreamed that he would be, he was that game.
“Deep, short, 3rd and 7, in traffic… He was pretty special.”
Pope is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite with several Power-4 offers and counting. The flashes were evident years ago, but the 6-foot-3 junior is putting every piece of his skillset together this fall. It’s why Big Ten programs like Washington, Oregon, and USC are calling.
“(Braylon’s) the man,” McGee said. “It’s not even a 50-50 ball with him. When we get him the ball, we think it’s 100-0.”
In 12 games this season, Pope has 51 catches for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns. He says the most tangible growth exists outside the box score.
“I think it’s definitely been the mental side of it,” Pope told The News Tribune. “Freshman year, I was a little nervous but it was still a good season. Last year, I came in a little too confident and too cocky in myself because of my freshman year, so my mental side was a little bit off. This offseason, I was working on my mentality. Just staying confident but humble at the same time, so I didn’t get too full of myself.”
Asked where he’s seen his No. 1 receiver best refine his craft this season, Ross was adamant: Pope is a sick, elite blocker. So adamant, in fact, he repeated it: Pope is a sick, elite blocker.
“That’s come from him realizing that you have to dominate in every facet of the game to be an elite player,” Ross continued. “We run the ball so much that downfield blocking is absolutely the most important thing we’re going to do. Him and (TE Ashton Pillard) spring Lance all day long.
“He has become an elite blocker, which is amazing for a kid as talented as him. It usually takes a while to see that. He’s really bought into what we do here, and I’m proud of him.”
Pope erupted for a season-high four touchdowns in Sumner’s Week 1 loss at Lake Stevens. He’s eyeing Round 2 of the revenge campaign after knocking off No. 1 Puyallup last weekend.
“I think (Lake Stevens has to) say, ‘We’re gonna stop Lance and hope Pope doesn’t hurt us,’” Ross said, “because I don’t think you can do a good job if you try to commit to both.”
SPARTANS HUNT BACK-TO-BACK 4A TITLES
Sumner still asserts it should’ve won their season-opening thriller at Lake Stevens, when Vikings QB Blake Moser rolled to his right and delivered the game-winning touchdown pass to WR Seth Price at the horn. The final score: Vikings 31, Spartans 28. Lance McGee only played the first half and RB Israel Nabors, an Eastern Washington commit, missed the contest altogether.
In preseason polls, Lake Stevens and Sumner sat atop Class 4A’s state rankings. In hindsight, for good reason. Ross recently texted his opponent’s defensive coordinator: ‘Week 1 and Week 14. There’s nothing better.’
“Lake Stevens’ offense is incredible,” Ross said Wednesday. “They’re the most efficient, dynamic (offensive system) in our state of Washington.
“And that quarterback [Moser], he’s probably the best player in the state. I would say him and Lance are, and guess what? Here we are.”
Expect another big workload for McGee, even if it isn’t 38-carries big.
“(Lance) is the best running back in the state,” Pope said. I don’t think anybody can disagree with it, and if they do, you can just pull up the stats.
“It’s like five touchdowns, four touchdowns every game. You would think we’re not playing good teams.”
It’s clear for any team lined up opposite of Lake Stevens: Stop Moser. The 5-foot-11 dual-threat has accounted for 50 total touchdowns this fall (38 Pass, 12 Rush) to just five turnovers. Sumner’s ‘Black Flag’ defense needs to flip that script to capture back-to-back titles on Saturday night at Husky Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
“It would be crazy,” Pope said, reflecting on Sumner’s rise from three early losses to a potential title. “The story we’ve had this season… having three losses early and bouncing back from that, coming back and playing two teams we could’ve beaten but didn’t. Now, we’ve beaten one of them and are going for a second.
“That would be a crazy story.”
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
