HS Football: Puyallup Stuns the Defending State Champions Sumner with a 58-22 Blowout Win

10/5/25

Puyallup Vikings 58, Sumner Spartans 22

(Puyallup, WA) In what many thought would be one of the best games of the year, the reigning and defending champions in the Sumner Spartans, go on the road to face the red-hot Puyallup Vikings. Sumner capped off a dominant year last season with a state championship victory. Coming into this year, they were the team to beat for obvious reasons. A newcomer, though, was lurking in the shadows, waiting to show their full strength. The Vikings look like the hottest team in football, coming into this game 4-0 with all wins coming dominantly. Their biggest test to date was going to be the 2-2 Sumner team that easily could have been 4-0 had a few possessions gone differently in their losses. Nobody could have anticipated the outcome of what was to come, though, once these two 4A powerhouses met.

First Half

The Vikings got off to a dream start to begin this game. Jayden Woodland received the opening kick for the Vikings. He bounced off a tackle for a huge run to put the Vikings on the Sumner 45-yard line to start the game. From there, Briytan Bailey, on the first play from scrimmage, burst through the hole for a 33-yard gain down to the Vikings’ 23-yard line. Puyallup continued to pound the run game to the 2-yard line before Bailey found himself in the endzone for the Vikings’ first touchdown. Sumner would get the ball for their first possession and go three and out. Vikings would get the ball back, and QB Noah Smith would air one deep that would be intercepted by Izear Ferguson.

After the pick, Puyallup’s defense came up big again and forced another three-and-out on Sumner. The Vikings marched down past midfield to their 44-yard line. Noah Smith launched a huge pass right on the money to Lance Looker for a 34-yard gain. On 1st and goal, Malcolm Akuffo gets the ball and rolls off the tackler to stay on his feet and find himself in the endzone. Sumner would drive down to their 32-yard line, but once again, Puyallup’s defense came up big. They would make 4 straight stops to get the turnover on downs as time expired in the first quarter. Vikings led 14-0 going into the 2nd.

Puyallup found themselves facing 3rd and long to start the second quarter. Sumner sent the pressure but Noah Smith found Jayden Woodland on the crossing route wide open to pick up the first down and then some. Penalties would have the Vikings facing a 3rd and 19 but that did not faze the offense. Smith dropped a pass right into the hands of Jai Mitchell for a 51 yard catch and run. Just like that the Vikings were pack inside the 10-yard line. They would put the ball back in the hands of Malcom Akuffo who stiffed armed his way in the endzone for a 8-yard touchdown.

Puyallup would force yet another three-and-out on Sumner and get the ball back. They would march down the field before penalties would push them back. Sumner would send the pressure on 3rd and long and somehow Noah Smith escaped what appeared to be a sure fire sack. After breaking free, he threw a risky crossbody pass to the opposite side of the field to Jai Mitchell. Mitchell was hit as he caught the ball but stayed on his feet. He spun away and ran his way into the endzone for the 37 yard touchdown. Sumner got the ball back and was forced to punt. Puyallup would drive down again and scored a field goal from Braylon Bowie. Vikings entered halftime leading 31-0

Second Half

After a rough first half for Sumner, they got to start with the ball to start the second. On the first play of the half, Lance Mcgee refused to go down rumbled his way to a 69 yard touchdown run. This was the play that Sumner needed to light a fire from beneath. This would be short lived however. Noah Smith on the next drive, rolled out and found Lawson Looker who broke free for a 78 yard touchdown. Tragedy would strike for Sumner as on the next possession. After a mishandled snap, the Vikings sent the pressure on Sumner’s Nate Donavan. Donavan tried to throw the ball away but was hit on the throw. The ball launched in the air and fell right into the hands of defensive lineman Kitiona Tupua who ran the ball back for the pick-six. Midway through the third, Nate Donavan found Braylon Pope for the 15 yard Sumner touchdown. After three quarters, Puyallup led 45-15.

Early in the 4th quarter, Noah Smith completed a 11-yard touchdown pass to Lawson Looker for his 2nd touchdown of the day. Sumner immediately responded with a 56 yard rushing touchdown by Israel Nabors. The rest of the quarter would be more or less a stalemate. The last touchdown would come late as Noah Smith found Jai Mitchell for the 22 yard score. After one of the most dominant performances you might see all year, Puyallup takes the 58-22 victory against the defending state champions in Sumner.

Puyallup is set to take on South Kitsap on the road on Thursday, October 9th with a 7:00 pm kickoff. Sumner is back on the road to take on Rodgers on Friday, October 10th with a 7:00 kickoff.

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MVP and Stats

Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP of the game went to Puyallup quarterback Noah Smith. There was a lot of debate as multiple Vikings had a legit argument for the award, but Smith would end up winning it with a 15/26 for 329 yards and four touchdown performance. It was a masterful performance for the junior quarterback who shined bright in the biggest game of his career.

Elsewhere for Puyallup, Briytan Bailey ran the ball 18 times for 103 yards and a touchdown while catching an eight-yard pass as well. Malcolm Akuffo ran the ball eight times for 29 yards and two touchdowns while Luke Parker had two carries for nine yards and went 1/2 passing for seven yards. Jai Mitchell was the star in the receiving game with ten catches for 194 yards and two touchdowns but Lawson Looker had a monster game as well with three catches for 117 yards and two scores as well. Jayden Woodland was dangerous in the return game and had two catches for 17 yards. Defensively, Keegan Johnson had two sacks while Kitiona Tupua had a sack and an interception returned for a touchdown.

On the other side for Sumner, Nate Donavan went 7/24 through the air for 77 yards and a touchdown. Braylon Pope was his leading receiver with three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown while Ashton Pillard had two catches for three yards and Wyatt Plylard had a five-yard reception. Lance McGee led the rushing attack with eight carries for 88 yards and a touchdown and had a seven-yard reception. Israel Nabors carried the ball four times for 59 yards and a scored and had a 35-yard reception while Mika Petaia had an eight-yard carry. AJ Barnby finished things off on the ground with four carries for 40 yards. Izear Ferguson had a nice game on defense with an interception while Shaun Griffith and Gray Longoria were disrupti on the defensive line with a sack each.