HS Football: Lakes is 8-0 and Back to Back PSL Nisqually Champs

10/24/25

(Lakewood, WA) The Lakes Lancers came in 4-0 in the PSL-Nisqually and hosted the Capital Cougars on a rainy night. The Cougars came in 3-1 in league and looking to put an end to the Lancers perfect season. A Capital win would jumble the standings going into the crossovers with the top 3 teams Lakes, Capital and Peninsula all beating each other.

Final Lakes 47 Capital 6

It didn’t take the Lancers long to get on the scoreboard with Tristan Baker running the opening kickoff back 89 yards for the score. The PAT was blocked so the Lancers had to settle for a 6-0 lead 17 seconds into the game.

Lakes added to that lead on their next possession after 3 plays. Freshman quarterback Jadis Lefono connected with Lee Snyder running down the sideline. Snyder broke a tackle and tightroped the sideline before regaining his balance for the 51 yard touchdown.

Capital went 3 and out on both of their first quarter drives.

Lakes got the ball with 6:24 left on the clock in the 1st quarter. They put together a 14 play drive that ended with a 1 yard Toetu Moliga touchdown run on the first play of the 2nd quarter.

The Cougars had 2 first downs on their next drive and were starting to build a little momentum. Until a fumble that was scooped up by Lakes Ta’u Mareko ended the series. However, Capital held strong and got the ball back after stopping the Lancers on 4th down.

The very next play Garrett Murphy found a gap and left a trail of dust behind him as he ran 61 yards for the Cougars lone touchdown of the game.

Two fumbles and an interception led to a wild end to the first half. First Mareko pounced on his 2nd fumble recovery of the game. Then Capital forced a fumble of their own but threw an interception on the first play of the drive.

With 51 seconds left in the half Lefono dropped back and heaved a pass that looked like it was ripe for the picking. Instead it is tipped into the air and snatched by Ean Owens for the 50 yard touchdown. Lefono ran in the 2 point conversion for a 27-6 halftime lead.

Halftime Lakes 27 Capital 6

After forcing a 3 and out on Capital the Lancers took over on the Cougars 44 yard line. A 7 play drive that had another 50 yard touchdown called back due to a hold ended with another 7 points. On 4th down Lefono found Owens again this time for a 21 yard score.

The freshman QB for Lakes was done throwing touchdowns for the night but not scoring them. He ran in a 10 yard touchdown on the Lancers last drive of the 3rd quarter making it 41-6.

Koi Calhoun stepped in at quarterback for Lakes in the 4th quarter. The senior came in and capped a nearly 6 minute 10 play drive with a 6 yard touchdown pass to Korbin Reed for the 47-6 final score.

MVP and Stats

Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP went to senior Ta’u Mareko for his 2 fumbles and endless number of big plays on defense. We like to spread the love around on MVP and Lefono and Owens have already been crowned in previous games. It is also fitting a senior takes the award on senior night.

Lakes:
Jadis Lefono finished 7-18 passing for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 3 rushes for 27 yards and a TD. Koi Calhoun went 5-7 passing for 31 yards and a TD with 3 rushes for 11 yards. Ean Owens led all receivers with 6 catches for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns he also had 2 rushes for 11 yards. Lee Snyder had 1 catch for 51 yards and a touchdown and had 1 rush for 27 yards. Tristan Baker had 2 catches for 19 yards to go along with his 89 kickoff return TD to start the game. Toetu Moliga led the Lancers in rushing with 15 rushes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Korbin Reed finished with 8 rushes for 42 yards while snagging 2 passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. Ta’u Mareko had 2 fumble recoveries and multiple pressures. Romiece Taviuni had the one interception of the game.

Capital:
Cale Burkheimer went 11 of 18 passing for 66 yards and an interception to go with 5 rushes for 15 yards. Carter Pennington caught 4 passes for 20 yards. Chayton Hatch had 2 catches for 12 yards. Noah Amina had 2 catches for 22 yards while Julien Mikealson had 2 catches for 10 yards. Patrick Halpin had 3 rushes for 0 yards and had 1 catch for 2 yards. Lavi Makhakha had 2 rushes for 4 yards. Garrett Murphy was a work horse with 11 rushes for 92 yards and a touchdown.