Vote now for The News Tribune’s high school football game of the week

Jon Manley, Lauren Smith

Vote now for The News Tribune’s high school football game of the week.

Voting remains open until noon Thursday. Find the poll at the bottom of the list of the five local games.

Read about the top five games in the South Sound in Week 8 below, plus our prediction for the state game of the week.

Sumner’s Kaden Malesis (18) celebrates with Austin Cook after Malesis caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Kaden Bodine during the second quarter of a 4A SPSL game against Puyallup on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Wash.
Sumner’s Kaden Malesis (18) celebrates with Austin Cook after Malesis caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Kaden Bodine during the second quarter of a 4A SPSL game against Puyallup on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Wash.

4A SPSL

BETHEL BISON (4-3) VS. SUMNER SPARTANS (6-1)

7 p.m. Thursday, Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner

Sumner won comfortably last week, beating Olympia, 37-14, on the road. Since a 28-18 loss to Emerald Ridge on Sept. 16, Sumner is averaging 41 points per game in four wins over Puyallup, Graham-Kapowsin, Rogers and Olympia. Sumner’s offensive line has dominated, paving the way for Matthew Spurbeck to have a highly productive season running the football. Bethel hung close with Puyallup last week, losing 17-6, and showing again that the Bison have one of the league’s toughest defenses. By virtue of wins over Bellarmine Prep, Olympia and South Kitsap, Bethel is in good position to take the 4A SPSL’s sixth playoff bid.

TNT pick: Sumner, 35-14

Emerald Ridge wide receiver Kajon Babcock (2) runs down the field with the ball during the second quarter of a game against Curtis at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Wash. on Sept. 22, 2022. Emerald Ridge defeated Curtis 42-13.
Emerald Ridge wide receiver Kajon Babcock (2) runs down the field with the ball during the second quarter of a game against Curtis at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Wash. on Sept. 22, 2022. Emerald Ridge defeated Curtis 42-13.

4A SPSL

EMERALD RIDGE JAGUARS (6-1) VS. GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES (5-2)

1 p.m. Saturday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway

It’s been a little too quiet in the 4A SPSL the past couple weeks, with the results shaking out as expected. Could Graham-Kapowsin play spoiler to Emerald Ridge’s strong season and inject a bit of chaos back into the league near the finish line? This is a strength-on-strength matchup. Emerald Ridge quarterback Jake Schakel is one of the state’s best at spreading the ball around, targeting Gio Kafentzis and Tony Harste most often in the passing game. Graham-Kapowsin’s talented secondary will be looking forward to the challenge. Graham-Kapowsin is coming off a 24-19 win over Curtis in Week 6 and a 28-0 win over South Kitsap last week. Emerald Ridge beat Bellarmine Prep soundly on Monday, 45-16. Graham-Kapowsin has won six straight in the series. Emerald Ridge’s last win against the Eagles came in 2014.

TNT pick: Emerald Ridge, 35-28

Lincoln quarterback Gabarri Johnson breaks loose for the first of two touchdown runs against the Camas Papermakers in Saturday afternoon’s 4A football game at Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma, Washington, on Sept. 17, 2022. Lincoln won the game, 42-28.
Lincoln quarterback Gabarri Johnson breaks loose for the first of two touchdown runs against the Camas Papermakers in Saturday afternoon’s 4A football game at Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma, Washington, on Sept. 17, 2022. Lincoln won the game, 42-28.

3A PCL

LAKES LANCERS (5-1) VS. LINCOLN ABES (7-0)

1 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma

Reigning 3A PCL champion Lincoln is one of three remaining teams in the South Sound — Yelm and Enumclaw are the others — without a loss this fall. Will the Abes close out another undefeated league championship this season? This Saturday afternoon 3A PCL clash will provide a key test. Both programs will have a shorter practice week after playing Monday night due to poor air quality in the area over the weekend that postponed their Week 7 contests. Lincoln cruised to a 55-22 win over Silas, and is averaging 41 points per game led by Missouri commit Gabarri Johnson (2,300-plus total yards, 15 passing TDs, 10 rushing TDs). Lakes posted convincing wins in its first five contests of the fall, but dropped its first loss of the season Monday night against Spanaway Lake. The Sentinels scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute to secure a 16-15 win. The Lancers, led by BYU commit Leo Pulalasi, Oregon State commit David Wells and running back Ki’Marree Washington, will look to regroup quickly this weekend. Lincoln has won the past three meetings in this series, and five of six since the 3A PCL’s first season in 2016.

TNT pick: Lincoln, 30-28

Yelm running back William Carreto breaks away from Timberline’s secondary for a large rushing gain during the first quarter of a 3A SSC game on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at Yelm High School in Yelm, Wash.
Yelm running back William Carreto breaks away from Timberline’s secondary for a large rushing gain during the first quarter of a 3A SSC game on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at Yelm High School in Yelm, Wash.

3A SSC

YELM TORNADOS (7-0) VS. PENINSULA SEAHAWKS (6-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Roy Anderson Field, Purdy

Timberline made it slightly interesting, but in the end, it was another Yelm rout in the 3A SSC, with the Tornados pulling away for a 56-14 win. Yelm hasn’t played in a close game this season, outscoring opponents 403-41 in seven games. Brayden Platt is up to 19 total touchdowns. Kyler Ronquillo leads the Tornados with seven receiving touchdowns. Peninsula is coming off four straight blowout wins, beating North Thurston, River Ridge, Central Kitsap and Capital. This game hasn’t been played since 2019. Last year’s contest was canceled because of COVID-19 issues, and Peninsula played as a temporary member of the 4A SPSL during the pandemic-shortened 2021 spring season. Peninsula won in the last meeting in 2019, 31-28.

TNT pick: Yelm, 49-28

2A SPSL

WASHINGTON PATRIOTS (4-3) VS. STEILACOOM SENTINELS (5-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Steilacoom High School, Steilacoom

Enumclaw (7-0) remains in good position to wrap up the 2A SPSL title with two weeks left in the regular season, but both Washington and Steilacoom enter Week 8 with only one league loss — both to the Hornets — and looking to keep recent momentum moving forward as the playoffs approach. After opening the season with three losses, Washington has won its past four, including a key 28-21 victory over Fife last week, in which quarterback Luke Elliott threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns. Elliott now has 1,163 passing yards and 13 total touchdowns through seven games, with Breydan Fisher (605 receiving yards, eight TDs) leading the Patriots in receiving. Steilacoom has won its past two, and five of its past six, behind an offense that includes several playmakers, including quarterback Drew Macdonald (1,590 passing yards, 19 TDs), leading rusher Jaycion Cain (897 rushing yards, 105 receiving yards, 15 total TDs) and leading receiver Jaydus Green (694 receiving yards, 10 TDs).

TNT pick: Washington, 35-31

STATE GAME OF THE WEEK

MOUNT SPOKANE WILDCATS (6-1) VS. GONZAGA PREP BULLPUPS (6-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Bullpup Stadium, Spokane

Two perennial 4A/3A Greater Spokane League powers — both undefeated in league play and in games against in-state schools to this point — meet this week with the league’s overall title still up for grabs. Gonzaga Prep’s one loss so far this season was to St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) during a trip to the East Coast in early September. The Bullpups have otherwise outscored their first six GSL opponents, 250-72, behind a backfield that is averaging 389.7 yards per game and has scored 31 rushing touchdowns. Gonzaga Prep has five players with 300-plus rushing yards through seven games. The Bullpups are looking to return to the 4A state playoffs this fall after reaching the quarterfinals last season. Mount Spokane is also seeking a return to the state bracket, and has six GSL wins — outscoring opponents, 238-87 — despite graduating much of the group that led the Wildcats to the 3A quarterfinals last fall. The Wildcats’ only loss to this point was to Post Falls (Idaho) in overtime the final week of September. Gonzaga Prep has won the past two meetings in this series, and eight of the past 10.

TNT pick: Gonzaga Prep, 27-24

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