5 non-league South Sound high school football games we’re looking forward to this fall

Keith Ross was searching far and wide for a final opponent to round out Sumner High School’s 2024 non-league football schedule.

The longtime Spartans’ coach fired off an email to Jon Eagle, former Camas coach and current coach of the West Linn Lions, which finished runner-up in Oregon’s Class 6A state tournament bracket last season.

Ross was actually asking Eagle about the availability of another Oregon program for a Week 3 matchup.

Eagle’s reply: “We’re open in Week 3.”

Ross told Sumner athletic director Chris Paulson. An hour later, Paulson told Ross the game was scheduled.

“I took a deep breath,” Ross told The News Tribune this week by phone, laughing.

Ross may not have been seeking out West Linn before beginning the 4A South Puget Sound League schedule in Week 4, but once the road game was finalized — West Linn will travel up to Sumner the following year — Ross’ Spartans are now staring down what has to be the state’s most daunting non-league schedule.

Sumner opens with defending 4A state champion Lake Stevens — which returns star quarterback Kolton Matson — in Week 1, before a matchup with 3A state tournament participant Auburn Riverside in Week 2, and a non-league road trip finale against West Linn in Week 3.

“We never try to duck anyone,” Ross said.

And if that means Sumner takes a loss in the process, then so be it. Ross remembered some advice he received from former Graham-Kapowsin coach Eric Kurle a few years ago.

“He just said, ‘Our goal is to win the state championship, it’s not to go undefeated,’” Ross said. “These epic battles early, by the time you’re in the playoffs, you’re not gonna be afraid of anybody.”

The 4A SPSL added former 3A schools Bonney Lake, Yelm and Spanaway Lake over the offseason, a result of the WIAA’s latest four-year classification cycle. Bellarmine Prep left the 4A SPSL for the newly-formed 3A Puget Sound League, now putting the 4A SPSL at 12 teams and forcing a split to divisions in football.

Previously, the 4A SPSL’s 10-team league didn’t allow for any non-league games.

“It’s fun to try to play some non-leagues, get to pick who we play,” Ross said. “We had a lot of people turn us down.”

But not Lake Stevens, which will visit Sunset Chev Stadium in Week 1.

Ross has spent some time this summer camping by himself near the Yakima River in Cle Elum. It’s peaceful time, spent grilling meat, swimming, reading and thinking in silence. Much of that time has been spent trying to figure out how he’ll game plan against a methodical Kolton Matson-led Lake Stevens offense in the home opener.

“Lake Stevens’ offense is as good as there is in our state,” Ross said. “They have a complex, efficient offense with a Gatorade Player of the Year at QB. … It’s one of the top offenses that I’ve ever seen. You need to be ready.”

Anyone who has taken in a game at Sunset knows it’s a special place to watch high school football. It will be a packed house on Sept. 6.

“We’re really excited because Sumner loves football,” Ross said. “We do it big there on Friday nights. This will be extra big. Our town will be really excited, football fans will be really excited.”

FIVE NON-LEAGUE GAMES WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING

Lake Stevens at Sumner, Sept. 6 — Expect fireworks. QB Kolton Matson is a playmaker and master of Vikings’ offense and Sumner has weapons everywhere, highlighted by sophomore national WR recruit Braylon Pope and sure-handed TE Carter Cocke.

Graham-Kapowsin at O’Dea (Memorial Stadium), Sept. 6 — Two different approaches between the high-flying Eagles and ground-and-pound Irish, but what they have in common: both want to win up front.

Puyallup at Tumwater, Sept. 6 — Good early test for 4A state tournament hopeful Puyallup and last year’s 2A state tournament runner-up T-Birds. Vikings will have plenty of time to prepare for Wing-T.

Mount Tahoma at Yelm, Sept. 6 — After meeting in last year’s 3A state tournament quarterfinals, they’ll run it back. How will last year’s 3A state runner-up Tornados look without Brayden Platt?

Yelm at Lincoln, Sept. 13 — Lincoln sophomore QB Sione Kaho is drawing all sorts of attention heading into his second season with the Abes. A win over Yelm would cement his status as one of the state’s top rising signal callers.