High school football roundup: Sumner crushes Eastmont, cruises into 4A state tournament
Results, recaps and more from Week 10 high school football contests around the South Sound will be posted on this page on Friday night. Looking for more scores? Find them on our statewide scoreboard here.
SUMNER 62, EASTMONT 0
Keith Ross and the Spartans couldn’t have scripted a better start.
They couldn’t have scripted a better ending, either.
Hopefully, the Sumner faithful at a crowded Sunset Chev Stadium found their seats early.
When Eastmont went three-and-out on their opening drive in Friday night’s 4A Round of 32 playoff game, a low snap opened the door for Sumner’s Elias Tulifua. The senior safety bolted around punt protectors and swatted a desperation kick with both arms, which slipped through Spartans and Wildcats before Tulifua fell on the football himself at Eastmont’s three-yard line. RB Dillon Titialii cashed in two plays later, a one-yard touchdown run that marked the beginning of the end.
“You know what’s funny? We always try to block punts, and I actually said this week: (Eastmont) can get their punt off really fast, so we’re probably not going to block it, but let’s try it,” Ross, Sumner’s head coach, said.
“And we did it twice.”
Eastmont went three-and-out again. They punted again. And Sumner blocked it again, like a record skipping back to its previous groove. This time, the ball rolled through the back of Sunset Chev’s west end zone for a safety — and the Spartans had nine points with three total yards of offense.
RB Lance McGee scored twice in the first half, and Sumner rolled Eastmont, 62-0, in as dominant of a defensive showcase you’ll see. The defending 4A champions have officially punched their ticket back to the state tournament, pitching three straight shutouts along the way.
It’s a stat becoming more incomprehensible by the week: In their last five games, Sumner has outscored opponents 260-3.
“Elite energy,” Sumner linebacker Austin Glivar said. “Elite toughness, coming out here and just blowing people up the whole game. We knew we were going to come out here and had to set the tone.
“We didn’t think they could hang with us. We came out here and proved it.”
Glivar’s right: Sumner’s Black Flag defense flocked to the football and delivered a series of crushing hits audible from any seat in the house. They intercepted two Eastmont passes, returning both for touchdowns. Every player on the Spartans roster appeared in Friday’s playoff game and four running backs hit paydirt.
McGee’s first carry was his best, a zig-zagging, 31-yard dash inside the right tackle for his first touchdown (and 23rd of the season). The 6-foot-1, 205-pound three-star recruit added a two-point conversion rush for an eight-point “Octopus,” lifting Sumner to a 17-0 lead despite running just three offensive plays.
And if the door remained open for an improbable Eastmont comeback, Glivar bolted it shut. Late in the first quarter, he corralled a Wildcats pass tipped by DL Shaun Griffith, rumbling some 40 yards for a pick-six. The Wildcats failed to move the chains with a first down until the third quarter.
“I just read the screen,” Glivar said. “I was coming up to make a play, Griff tipped it up, and it was all good from there. I just had to take off and get in the end zone.”
McGee added a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, followed by QB Nate Donavan’s 16-yard touchdown pass to TE Ashton Pillard.
Sumner RB Mika Petaia bulldozed through the middle for a nine-yard touchdown run and kicker Landon Azbill drilled a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, ensuring a way-too-early running clock after intermission: Sumner 48, Eastmont 0.
“One thing that’s great about Sumner… We can all run the ball,” McGee said. “If I’m out or if I’m not doing my thing, you put them in and they’ll take on the load. It’s great having other running backs that can come in and carry the game, too, for sure.”
With McGee, Donavan, and Co. resting in a game decided before halftime, Sumner’s AJ Barnby took over. The sophomore RB/DB scored on both sides of the ball in consecutive possessions — erupting for a 44-yard touchdown run down the right sideline before intercepting an Eastmont pass and racing for six more.
“It was clogged in the middle,” Barnby said of his 44-yard touchdown, the game’s longest play from scrimmage. “It was supposed to be an inside run, but I just bounced it out and went to work. Shoutout to my blockers for getting me downfield.”
Perhaps an underrated element in most one-sided blowouts: Unexpected heroes.
“(AJ’s) my guy,” Ross said. “He’s our next (Matthew) Spurbeck. Every time he gets in there, he’s making things happen. Whether it’s punt returns, running the ball, pick-sixes… the kid’s got juice, man. I love him.”
McGee sees the potential in Barnby, too. “He’s something else,” he said. “He’s helped us a lot this year, but next year? He’s going to be something different. I’m excited to see where he goes and what he does.”
McGee took seven carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Eastmont DB Conley McGinnis added a first-quarter interception.
The No. 6 seed in 4A’s district Round of 32, Sumner expects a similar rank when WIAA state tournament brackets are released Sunday. Plan for another home game at Sunset Chev.
“I had never been in a playoff game before,” McGee said, a Davis (Yakima) transfer. “Coach Ross, he was telling me after the game how amazing it is, how great it feels. I just love it, everything about it.”
LAKES 49, DECATUR 7
If there was any question about the explosive capability of the Lakes offense, it was answered in 90 seconds.
With under two minutes to play in the first half of its Week 10 playoff game against Decatur at Harry Lang Stadium on Friday night, the Lancers struck twice, first on a 30-yard pass from freshman quarterback Jadis Lefono to receiver Corey Irish.
Decatur answered with a touchdown, but then, with just one second left on the clock, Lakes running back Korben Reed took a carry 58 yards for another touchdown, giving the Lancers a 28-7 lead heading into the break. Home run. Game over. Lakes went on to win, 49-7.
“We showed a lot of explosiveness by showing our time management, trying to run our plays effective and fast,” Lefono said. “We knew what they were showing us so we just took what they gave us and we scored.”
With the win, Lakes (9-1) advances to the Class 3A state tournament, a familiar position for longtime coach Dave Miller. It’s the school’s 33rd state tournament appearance. Mostly, it felt nice for the Lancers to get back into the win column after a disappointing loss to Mount Tahoma in the 3A PSL championship game a week earlier.
“It was nice to bounce back,” Miller said.
Lefono passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another. His favorite target on the night was speedy wideout Ean Owens, who racked up 126 yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
“He’s just so fast and he’s a big threat on the field,” Lefono said. “But then when they leave him 1-on-1, he’s open all the time. He’s gonna beat any DB.”
Lefono completed 10-of-13 passes for 205 yards and the two touchdowns.
“He just gets better every week, every day,” Miller said of his freshman quarterback. “His work ethic is amazing. His humility, his ability to take coaching is phenomenal. You tell him one time and it’s done. Just the heart of a competitor. You see how hard he plays out there. He just wants to run through people.”
Running back Korben Reed also had an effective night, rushing 15 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Lakes should see the return of Idaho receiver commit Tristan Baker next week, giving Lefono another dynamic option in the passing game.
Miller is confident the Lancers will stay in the same seeding position and will host a Class 3A state tournament opening round playoff game next week.
“I think we’ll be right in that five or six range, we’ll host again next week and hopefully we can get healthy, get some more guys back,” he said.
After last year’s opening-round exit to Seattle Prep, the team is eager to make a run. Lefono, who wasn’t part of last year’s team, still knows his teammates weren’t happy about the early exit a season ago.
“They’re very motivated,” he said. “We’re not a first-round exit team. We’re gonna show everybody that we can make a run in the playoffs.”
PUYALLUP 78, KAMIAK 0
Noah Smith threw for five touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a thrashing of the Knights in the Class 4A Round of 32.
Smith was 10-of-12 for 254 yards on the night to lead a dominating performance on both sides of the ball.
“We had a goal on offense tonight of no punts and no turnovers and we did that,” Puyallup coach DJ Mims said. “On defense, we wanted to pitch a shutout and we were able to do that as well. We got a ton of kids in the game, so that was good.”
Puyallup (10-0) was coming off of an emphatic 43-14 victory against Graham-Kapowsin in the SPSL championship game a week ago, but there was no letdown against the overmatched Knights, who finished fourth in the Wesco Conference.
“We just felt like we wanted to play our brand of football,” Mims said. “We still practice hard every week no matter who we are playing and we just work on our craft no matter what the score says.”
Briytan Bailey carried the ball seven times for 130 yards and three touchdowns, while Jayden Woodland had four receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns, Lawson Looker had three catches for 72 yards and a score and J’Isaiah Mitchell had two receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
The Vikings will find out Sunday who they play in the first round of the state playoffs. Kamiak (3-8), which is located in Mukilteo, saw its season come to an end with the loss.
LINCOLN 48, MOUNT VERNON 14
For a two-loss team, the Abes sure are flying under the radar this season and that is just the way that coach Masaki Matsumoto likes it.
Lincoln opened the Class 3A playoffs with a 48-14 rout of the Bulldogs at Lincoln Bowl.
“It’s been awhile since we haven’t won league, so we have taken a bit of a backseat and it has been nice,” Matsumoto said. “We are just doing our thing while other teams get attention. We like where we are at.”
On Friday, Lincoln (7-2) started a bit slowly, but eventually got its offense cranking.
Running back Jadeon Scranton carried the ball 19 times for 145 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Sione Kaho was 17-of-21 for 199 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
“We were able to move the ball and run the ball like we have been, plus we made some key throws,” Matsumoto said. “Our defense stepped up as well. They gave up a couple of big plays, but overall we played pretty well. We feel like we are improving in all three phases.”
Elijah Carney had six receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, Ilaikimi Malafu had four receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown, while JT Williams ran the ball eight times for 59 yards and a score. Noah Dennis recorded a sack on defense.
The Abes will find out Sunday who they play in the first round of the state playoffs. Mount Vernon (6-4), which finished second in Wesco North division, saw its season come to an end with the loss.
MOUNT TAHOMA 58, PRAIRIE 7
The T-Birds hoped to come out strong Friday in their Class 3A Round of 32 game and make a statement.
But even coach Keith Terry couldn’t believe exactly what transpired.
The visiting Falcons punted on their first two possessions and both times a T-Birds player returned it for a touchdown.
On the third punt, Prairie finally stopped Mount Tahoma, but then on the first offensive play for the T-Birds Felix Diaz went 45 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
“Right from the jump – I haven’t seen anything like that,” Terry said. “It was off to the races.”
Elijah Durr returned the first punt 60 yards for a score and Quinten Hodge returned the second 50 yards for a touchdown.
“Everything was clicking tonight and it was a nice easy win,” Terry said. “The biggest thing was getting back to what we do well and we did that tonight at a high clip.”
Diaz finished with 14 carries for 185 yards, plus one reception for 45 yards and three touchdowns overall. Mikkah Cordero was 8-of-9 passing for 205 yards with a touchdown.
The T-Birds (10-0) will find out Sunday who they play next in the Class 3A playoffs. Prairie (6-4), which finished third in the Greater St. Helens League, saw its season come to an end with the loss.
WHITE RIVER 28, PENINSULA 17
What can’t Ray Palmer do?
The Hornets star scored a touchdown in all three phases of the game to lead White River to a Class 3A Round of 32 victory Friday.
“He should be the MVP of our league,” White River coach Wyatt Evenson said. “He took over the game.”
Palmer had a rushing, receiving and punt return for a touchdown as the Hornets got off to a slow start, but eventually went ahead 21-3 and seemed to have the game in hand until Peninsula took advantage of its tall receivers to pull within 21-17.
“We were feeling pretty good, but they have some incredible athletes – just some huge guys,” Evenson said. “We got the ball back and had some clutch drives to grind down the clock.”
Parker Fry added a receiving touchdown and also had two interceptions on defense.
“Our success is rooted in our transition from an Air Raid team two years ago to more of a run focused team last year to this year where we can win in so many different ways,” Evenson said. “They ran a very disciplined defense, but we were able to keep them off balance most of the night.”
White River (10-0) was coming off a 21-14 win against arch rival Enumclaw in the Battle of the Bridge, winning that game for the first time since 2007.
“There was so much emotion from last week and in the first quarter there was a bit of a hangover,” Evenson said. “We didn’t come out with our best first quarter, but we were able to dial it up.”
The Hornets will find out Sunday who they play in the state playoffs. Peninsula (5-4), which finished second in the PSL Narrows Division, saw its season come to an end with the loss.
ENUMCLAW 42, SHOREWOOD 20
Coming off of a devastating loss a week ago, the Hornets bounced back and opened the Class 3A Round of 32 with a victory against the Stormrays.
Enumclaw lost 21-14 to arch-rival White River last week in the 3A NPSL championship game, the first time the Hornets had lost the Battle of the Bridge since 2007.
“It was a tough week,” Enumclaw coach Mark Gunderson said. “It was a prove-it week for us. There was a lot of talk about how we beat ourselves (last week) and if that was the case, then we needed to go prove we were the team we thought we were.
“Our kids were hungry and determined to right the ship. That was the theme of the week here, and I think they did a good job of that tonight.”
Shorewood, which finished second in Wesco Conference South Division, scored on its opening possession and remained in the game throughout the first half, kicking a field goal to pull within 21-17 with 10 seconds left. But Enumclaw quarterback Gavin Trachte connected with Paxton Patterson on a 50-yard touchdown as time expired for a 28-17 lead.
Trachte had his foot rolled up on in the loss to White River, so once Enumclaw went up by 14 points Gunderson pulled him and backup quarterback Trey Kuzaro ran two long drives chewing up clock to help ice the victory.
“We were really happy with him coming in and he managed the offense well,” Gunderson said. “There is a lot more to play for. We know we are a good team and they see what is in front of them still.”
The Hornets (9-1) will find out Sunday who they play next in the Class 3A playoffs. Shorewood (7-3), which is in Shoreline, saw its season come to an end with the loss.
TUMWATER 51, SULTAN 6
Tumwater led 44-0 at halftime and took its foot off the gas. Five T-Birds rushed for touchdowns: two from RB Peyton Davis, one apiece from running backs Tyler Briscoe, Blake Heryford, Lorenzo Gaggiotti and one from QB Jaxon Budd.
Tumwater recovered three fumbles defensively. Linebackers Grady Wall and Gavin Kaikkonen combined for 15 tackles in the win. It was the 500th win in the program’s history.
“A terrific accomplishment for everyone who has worn a T-Bird helmet and coached from the sidelines, and it was great to do it in front of the community at a home playoff game,” Tumwater coach Willie Garrow said.
This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 11:10 PM with the headline "High school football roundup: Sumner crushes Eastmont, cruises into 4A state tournament."
