Results, recaps, stats and more from Week 8 of the high school football season around the South Sound will be posted on this page Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
FRIDAY’S GAMES (OCT. 23)
LAKES 21, PENINSULA 18
After a flurry of turnovers, a nauseating number of flags and lengthy meetings between the officials after seemingly routine calls, Lakes came out on top in a nearly three-hour high school football road game against Peninsula at Roy Anderson Field on Friday night.
It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t quick, but in the end, it was a 3A PSL Nisqually division title-clinching win for the Lancers. Lakes won, 21-18, intercepting a Peninsula pass near midfield to seal the win in the closing seconds.
“It feels good, man,” said Lakes running back Korben Reed. “You know, we worked so hard to be where we at now, so it feels good when the hard work pays off.”
Peninsula led 10-7 at half after a 2-yard keeper from quarterback Talen McDonnell, before a late touchdown run from Lakes running back Toetu Moliga. The energy on the Lakes sideline was low, but the Lancers ramped it up in the second half.
Moliga scored again on a 2-yard run in the third quarter, then Korben Reed broke free for a 61-yard run in the fourth quarter to push the Lakes lead to 11 points. Reed finished with 142 and the touchdown on 16 carries.
Peninsula scored again on a Kainoa Coit 6-yard run and a successful 2-point conversion, but Lakes hung on for the win.
Moliga, who had missed a few games with an injury, was back for his second straight game this week. He’s the more bruising back, while Reed’s the home run threat — something of a thunder and lightning combo, but the duo has a different nickname.
“Sonic and Knuckles,” they said, laughing.
Whatever they want to be called, Lakes coach Dave Miller is happy to have the 1-2 punch in the backfield together splitting reps.
“They get excited when the other one does it, so there’s no jealousy, and they just really complement each other so well,” Miller said. “They both play well on defense, too.”
Lakes moves to 7-1 on the season and figures to be a top 10 seed in the WIAA’s Week 10 playoff seeding. Peninsula moved to 5-3 with the loss.
The 3A Puget Sound League will not play a crossover league championship game this year, so Nisqually winner Lakes and Narrows division winner Mount Tahoma will both have a bye next week.
And after trailing at half against Peninsula on Friday night, Lakes was all smiles after coming out with the win.
“It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish,” Moliga said.
EATONVILLE 49, FOSS 12
Eatonville scored all its points in the first half before letting its foot off the gas in a blowout win on Fridayh night. Cole Fowler threw a pair of touchdowns to receiver Jacob Simons and rushed for another.
Eatonville moves to 5-2 and has an important home game against Orting to wrap up the season next Thursday night.
FEDERAL WAY 28, WHITE RIVER 27
White River scored a touchdown with a minute to go and went for a 2-point conversion to win the game.
It failed, but White River coach Wyatt Evenson doesn’t regret it for a second.
“Would go for two again in a heartbeat,” he said. “Great high school football game. Proud of our guys. Battled all the way to the end.”
Federal Way scored a touchdown in every quarter to win the game. White River quarterback Chaz Strickland threw for three touchdowns in the loss, two of which went to Parker Fry, who had over 100 yards receiving.
STADIUM 17, MOUNT RAINIER 14
For the second straight week, kicker Noah Collins was the hero. He drilled a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to win the game for the Tigers in a defensive battle.
Liam Clayton rushed for 110 yard son 25 carries. Alex Richard and Kingsten Huston-McDuffie both had touchdown runs.
“Gutsy win by our guys,” Stadium coach Pat Johnson said. “Our offensive line was key. It’s our most veteran group and they wore down the defense in the second half. We challenged our young group all season to keep fighting and now they have fought to a third straight playoff berth.”