10/25/25
Puyallup Vikings 45, Curtis Vikings 0
(University Place, WA) The SPSL-North had all kinds of wild postseason scenarios heading into Week 8. With two of the top three teams set to square off, the division champion would either be crowned tonight or on Tuesday in a Kansas Tiebreaker. As the rain pelted the teams in warmups, the Curtis Vikings and Puyallup Vikings prepared for a chance to be SPSL-North champions and a date at Art Crate Field next Friday, for the right to play for an SPSL championship.
Puyallup received the ball first, and one of the most potent offenses in the state went to work. Puyallup faced an early third and one, but running back Briytan Bailey scooted ahead for the first down. On the next play, Noah Smith zipped a pass over the middle for Lawson Looker, who went for 27 yards on the catch and run for a first down. Two plays later, Bailey hit a hole and bulldozed his way into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown run. Puyallup went for two, and the pass was swatted away for them to hold a 6-0 lead. Curtis then took the ball and worked the clock very well. They picked up five first downs on their drive and worked the ball to the 13-yard line before being forced to kick a field goal. The kick missed wide right and Puyallup kept a 6-0 lead, but Curtis took off over seven minutes of clock in 13 plays.
Puyallup struck in only three plays, as after a first down, Bailey took a handoff and went 63 yards, almost bringing it to the house, but was yanked down a yard short. He punched it in on the next play as the Puyallup extra point went off the upright and they took a 12-0 lead. After a three-and-out, Puyallup got the ball back and had its longest drive of the night, an 8-play, nearly a four-minute drive. Bailey found the end zone again, this time on a 10-yard carry where his offensive line created a massive hole for the sophomore to score his third touchdown of the game with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half. Puyallup’s two-point conversion attempt was no good, and they had an 18-0 lead.
After a great kickoff return, Curtis moved the ball into Puyallup territory and faced fourth and three. The Curtis offense was stopped and turned the ball over on downs. Puyallup used a pair of big plays, first a 22-yard catch and run for J’Isaiah Mitchell. Then, Smith targeted Jayden Woodland for a leaping grab and 33 yards on the acrobatic catch. From one yard out, Smith hit Mitchell for the one-yard score to make it 25-0. Curtis punted on another three-and-out, and Puyallup had its third three-play touchdown drive of the first half. On third and nine, Smith had to roll out to his left and found Luke Parker for the catch. Parker broke a tackle, scampered down the sideline for a 67-yard touchdown, and gave Puyallup a 32-0 halftime lead.
On the second half’s opening kickoff, Puyallup forced a fumble and recovered it at the 31-yard line, giving them terrific field position. They struck in just three plays once again, as Smith hit Parker, who made a twisting catch in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. Puyallup led 38-0 after the two-point conversion attempt failed. Curtis put together a nice 10-play drive but was forced to put after taking off nearly five minutes. Puyallup’s Jasiah Denmark took a pop pass and went 56 yards to flip the field. Curtis forced a turnover as Charles Torrone picked off Smith’s pass on a screen play. Puyallup forced a fumble that was recovered by Tyler DuCharme, but they had to punt. Curtis turned it over on downs on the ensuing drive, and Cody McFadden went 48 yards on the first play but got tackled inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later, he broke through for a three-yard touchdown to give Puyallup a 45-0 lead. Curtis punted on the next drive, and Puyallup ran out the clock for a convincing 45-0 win on the road to clinch the SPSL-North.
The Sumner Holiday Inn Express Game MVP went to Puyallup’s Briytan Bailey. Bailey scored the first three touchdowns of the game and set the tone early with his 30-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the game, and bursted for a 63-yard run on the next drive.
Puyallup remains undefeated at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the SPSL. The Vikings have won the SPSL-North and will play Graham-Kapowsin next Friday at 7 PM at Art Crate Field for the SPSL Championship. Puyallup has secured a spot in the Round of 32 by being the division champions. ESN will be streaming that game with the Centralia College Pregame Show at 6:45 PM and the kickoff at 7 PM.
Curtis drops to 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in the SPSL. The Vikings will have to play their way into the Round of 32 next week with a win at Yelm on Thursday in a loser-out game.
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Game Highlights
Game MVP Briytan Bailey Walks In His Third Touchdown Of The First Half
Noah Smith Connects With Luke Parker For 67-Yard Touchdown
Charles Torrone Makes INT For Curtis
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