HS Football: Enumclaw claws back to edge Federal Way in Defensive Stand-off

9/26/2025

by Adam Race

Enumclaw Hornets 14, Federal Way Eagles 7

(Federal Way, WA) In a matchup with heavy implications on the 2025 NPSL title, Enumclaw was able to improve to 4-0 with a dramatic late victory on the road against Federal Way. Enumclaw, last year’s NPSL runners-up, entered the game undefeated at 3-0 and coming off back-to-back 70+ point shutout wins. The host Federal Way entered the game with a 2-1 record, having just lost their first game of the season on the road against 4A Spanaway Lake.

Enumclaw started with the football, constructing a long methodical drive that spanned half of the first quarter and almost 20 plays behind accurate quarterback play from Gavin Trachte and running from Paxton Patterson. The drive however would stall in the red zone, as Federal Way came up with a fourth-down stop to keep the Hornets off the board.

Federal Way quarterback Anthony Marchetti would be on the mark in his first drive, completing twice to Jay Sinclair and once to Zamarie Tellez, but the Eagles would be forced to punt at the 40-yard line.

Enumclaw began their ensuing drive on their own 30-yard line to start the second quarter, and would once again march slowly up the field, combining short compilations from Trachte with a ground and pound from Paxton Patterson and Maddox Hendrickson. Once again though the Eagles defense would hold firm and force the only Enumclaw punt of the ballgame.

Marchetti would continue to be accurate both on screen passes and over the middle, connecting with Zamarie Tellez for a first down before scrambling 14 yards for a crucial first down on fourth and long near midfield. The Eagles would once again convert on fourth down with Marchetti diving past the line to gain and setting up first and goal. A screen pass on second and goal from Marchetti to Jay Sinclair would give Sinclair just enough time to extend across the goalline and open the scoring, 7-0.

Enumclaw would march their way to midfield with under two minutes left in the first half, but their hopes of a response before the break would be stifled when a deep throw from Gavin Trachte was picked off by Mike Fuavai. Federal Way would kneel out the half and go into the break up 7-0.

The Eagles would receive the ball first in the second half, making it to midfield on the back of some good runs from Ray Rondon, but Enumclaw found an interception of their own when Cole Chiechi picked off Anthony Marchetti near midfield.

Enumclaw would stick to the ground on their first drive of the second half, with Paxton Patterson, Maddox Hendrickson and Anthony Perez all chipping in crucial runs before Cole Chiechi was able to finish off what he started and punch it in at the goal line, 7-7.

The two teams would exchange drives ending in turnovers on downs, before an injury to Federal Way QB Anthony Marchetti would mean the Eagles would be without a quarterback for the 4th quarter. Despite putting Jay Sinclair in as an emergency QB, the Eagles would be forced to punt the ball back to Enumclaw with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

The Hornets would put the ball into the hands of sophomore Paxton Patteron with just seconds left in the 4th. He would deliver with two 20+ yard runs, the second of which punched in the game-winning touchdown with just over 30 seconds remaining.

Enumclaw would take it with a final score of 14-7, remaining undefeated and handing Federal Way their second straight loss.

The Sumner Holiday Inn MVP of the game was late hero Paxton Patterson, who carried the ball 20 times in the game, picking up nearly 150 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Cole Chiechi also had a standout performance, with an interception and touchdown which turned the tides for the Hornets.

For Federal Way, Mike Fuavai was all over the field defensively, racking up tackles and grabbing an interception. Anthony Marchetti went 13/18 passing the football while also carrying it for 30 yards on the ground. Jay Sinclair made five catches, including the Ealges Touchdown.

Enumclaw’s next game will see them host Thomas Jefferson on 10/2, while Federal Way will hit the road against Kent-Meridian

Video Highlights

The Eagles Jay Sinclair hauls in the TD