Week 1: High school football games to watch in the South Sound, predictions

Read team previews and score predictions for five games across the South Sound in Week 1, plus our pick for the state game of the week.

Miss any of our preseason coverage? We visited several programs across the South Sound during our preseason practice tour, providing insights, player interviews, photos and more.

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Graham-Kapowsin Eagles vs. O’Dea Fighting Irish

5 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium (Seattle)

A new era begins for Graham-Kapowsin in the shadow of the Space Needle on Friday night, when freshman quarterback AJ Tuivaiave is scheduled to make his first varsity start at Memorial Stadium. It’s no soft landing for the 6-foot-3, 205-pound signal caller, who already holds offers from Arizona State and Miami but will still have to go through freshman growing pains and adjusting to the speed of the varsity game. For all the talent G-K has with wide receiver Khris Norris and tight end Noah Flores, a UCLA commit, this is still a game both teams will want to win up front. O’Dea has to replace running back Jason Brown, too, so both teams will be breaking in new talent this year. We think G-K makes enough plays to get it done on the road.

TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin 21, O’Dea 20

Puyallup Vikings vs. Tumwater T-Birds

7 p.m. Friday at Tumwater High School

An always-tough Puyallup program visiting the perennial 2A powerhouse? This should be fun. We expect another prototypical year for Tumwater, built on its unchanged Wing-T scheme and led by three tailbacks with 400+ rushing yards and 8+ touchdowns in 2023. We’re looking forward to the battle between Tumwater linebackers Beckett Wall and Cash Short and a blossoming Vikings offense: Puyallup returns sophomore QB Brayden Paulino with an abundance of playmakers surrounding him, headlined by RB/WR Kyson Douglas and TE Kaden Rolfsness. Puyallup has the edge at the skill positions — it’ll come down to how well prepared the Vikings are against Tumwater’s Wing-T.

TNT pick: Puyallup 35, Tumwater 28

Yelm Tornados vs. Mount Tahoma T-Birds

7 p.m. Thursday at Yelm High School

Who’s up for a rematch of last year’s 3A quarterfinal? Yelm moved up to 4A this offseason after back-to-back trips to the 3A championship, opening this year with non-league Mount Tahoma for old time’s sake. Both programs rolled to undefeated league titles in 2023 before Yelm handled its South Sound neighbor in the quarterfinals, 29-12, part of a 27-game win streak that ended in last December’s title game. It always starts up front for the Tornados, which returns Boise State commit Jacob Tracy, all-league selection Chris Hauss, and 290-pound center Shane Creegan on the offensive line. Mount Tahoma gets back 14 varsity starters featuring Division-I corner Elijah Durr on the perimeter. The big news this week: Mount Tahoma quarterback Mikkah Cordero was recently cleared to play after an injury last season. Expect a physical game.

TNT pick: Yelm 24, Mount Tahoma 21

Enumclaw Hornets vs. Decatur Gators

7 p.m. Friday at Federal Way Memorial Field

Why this game is being played in Week 1 — when it very well could be the 3A NPSL championship game — we aren’t entirely sure, but the TNT’s sports staff doesn’t make the schedules. New league member Enumclaw is our pick to win the 3A NPSL this year, returning eight starters on offense and all 11 starters on defense. Enumclaw coach Mark Gunderson has things rolling at Pete’s Pool, where the Hornets are a perennial contender these days. Expect a heavy dose of the run game with Seamus Twohey as the Hornets break in junior QB Gavin Trachte, a first-year starter. Decatur has one of the area’s best running backs in Nehemiah Washington. If he runs wild, Decatur can win this at home, but we like Enumclaw’s depth.

TNT pick: Enumclaw 28, Decatur 21

Peninsula Seahawks vs. Gig Harbor Tides (Fish Bowl)

2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School

The annual Fish Bowl has a new home this season, across the Narrows Bridge and down Interstate 5 to nearby Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. Gig Harbor looks to repeat after winning last year’s rivalry for the first time since 2015, 21-20, in an installment that was stained by Tides QB Koi Calhoun’s broken jaw and subsequent logistical issues with emergency medical aid. Calhoun returns with top wideout DJ Darling and workhorse tailback Ryland Geldermann, bolstered by all-SSC lineman Peyton Howard on both sides of the football. Peninsula counters with dynamic QB Mana Smythe and standout linebacker Wyatt Abrigo, hoping to silence Gig Harbor’s “run the ball, stop the run” philosophy. We expect another competitive rivalry.

TNT pick: Gig Harbor 24, Peninsula 21

STATE GAME OF THE WEEK

Sumner Spartans vs. Lake Stevens Vikings

7 p.m. Friday at Sunset Chev Stadium (Sumner)

Two-time defending 4A state champion Lake Stevens travels south to Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner for what promises to be one of the state’s best non-league games this fall. Lake Stevens returning quarterback Kolton Matson, last year’s state Gatorade Player of the Year and a TNT all-state pick. He threw for 3,388 yards and 49 TDs last season, leading the Vikings to an emphatic win over Graham-Kapowsin in the 4A state championship game at Husky Stadium. He graduated some of his top receivers, but we expect more of the same from Matson. Sumner looks ready to contend in 4A this year, returning senior tight end Carter Cocke, sophomore rising receiver recruit Braylon Pope and an experienced, loaded defense. Can Mount Si transfer QB Nate Donovan go toe-to-toe with Matson in his first Sumner start? He’s going to have to for Sumner to keep pace and pull the upset.

TNT pick: Lake Stevens 31, Sumner 28

OTHER GAMES TO WATCH

Capital vs. Olympia

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at Ingersoll Stadium

Bellevue at Bethel

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at Art Crate Field

Lakes vs. Auburn Riverside

6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Auburn Memorial Stadium

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated the game time between Capital and Olympia was 6 p.m. The correct game time is 7 p.m.