11/9/25
Graham-Kapowsin Eagles 48, Stadium Tigers 12
(Elk Plain, WA) The final piece of the 4A State Playoff puzzle needed to be completed as the Stadium Tigers, in their second straight Round of 32 appearance, made the trip to take on the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles, who have played in the last two State Championship games held in odd-numbered years. On a gorgeous night under the bright lights of Art Crate Field, the 16th team for the State Playoffs would be settled on another action-packed November weekend.
Graham-Kapowsin won the toss and elected to receive, and the offense quickly made that pay dividends. Sophomore quarterback, AJ Tuivaiave, hit Jayce Halasz on a screen, and Halasz zipped down the field for 54 yards to put the Eagles within striking distance. Randy Reyes Jr. punched in a one-yard touchdown to get Graham-Kapowsin out in front, 7-0. After the touchdown, the Eagles were penalized for a dead-ball, 15-yard personal foul penalty, which resulted in them kicking off from the 25-yard line, rather than the 40. Matthew Vollmer hammered a line drive kick off one of the Stadium players, and Derick Manibusan recovered it for Graham-Kapowsin, as the Eagles added an extra possession. Graham-Kapowsin swiftly drove down the field in only three plays, and Tuivaiave connected with Kase Betz for a nine-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead only two and a half minutes into the game. After a Stadium punt, Graham-Kapowsin drove down the field again, this time Tuivaiave hitting his tight end, Quinncey Ratteray, for a 26-yard touchdown as the Eagles led 21-0 halfway through the opening quarter.
Both teams punted once, and Stadium had the ball back. The Tigers put together an 11-play drive, but on fourth down, couldn’t convert, giving Graham-Kapowsin the ball inside their own 20-yard line. Stadium nearly forced a safety, as Cruz Nolan sacked Tuivaiave at the three-yard line and eventually Graham-Kapowsin punted. Stadium started at the Eagles’ 32-yard line and took advantage of the field position. After a 25-yard catch and run from the dynamic senior, Darius Sum, Stadium’s Milo Edwards scored on fourth and goal to make Graham-Kapowsin’s lead shrink to 21-6 with two and a half minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Eagles went down the field in a hurry, and with three seconds left, Tuivaiave connected with Halasz for a 30-yard touchdown to take a halftime lead of 28-6.
Stadium received the ball to start the second half and moved it down the field nicely. The highlight of the drive was a fake punt from the Tigers, as Easton Young took the direct snap and plunged forward for a first down, but they eventually punted it away. On the first play, Graham-Kapowsin fumbled, and Diego Cabrera hopped on the ball for Stadium to put the offense right back on the field. Stadium again took the ball into Graham-Kapowsin territory, but turned it over on downs. Graham-Kapowsin struck again with Tuivaiave hitting Ratteray for the second time for a two-yard score, making it 35-6 with just under a minute and a half left in the third quarter.
Stadium punted, and Tuivaiave matched his jersey number for passing touchdowns, as his fifth of the game would go to a familiar target, Kase Betz. The pair connected for a second time for a touchdown, this one going for 34 yards to make it 42-6, early in the fourth quarter. Graham-Kapowsin’s Chisimidi Njoku recovered the Eagles’ kickoff, sending the offense right back out on the field. Kolton Wadley came in to play quarterback for the Eagles, and on fourth and goal, lofted a pass for Dustyn Myers, who made a remarkable grab in the back corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Graham-Kapowsin led 48-6 with seven and a half minutes left in the game. Stadium marched down the field one last time, and Kooper Tasler capped it off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Diego Cabrera, who made a nice catch himself, with two minutes to go in the game. Graham-Kapowsin ran out the clock to win 48-12.
Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express Game MVP went to Graham-Kapowsin’s AJ Tuivaiave. He threw for over 300 yards, 5 touchdowns, no interceptions, and completed over 80% of his passes.
Graham-Kapowsin moves on to the State Playoffs, where they will await being seeded and who they will play in the First Round. The Eagles improve to 9-1 on the season.
Stadium’s season comes to a close with a record of 6-4, but the program is certainly heading in the right direction after back-to-back Round of 32 appearances.
Click here to view the full game replay (Subscription Required).
ESN Talks With Game MVP, AJ Tuivaiave
Game Highlights
Game MVP, AJ Tuivaiave, Hits Kase Betz For The Score
Graham-Kapowsin’s Quinncey Ratteray Hauls In TD Grab
Stadium’s Diego Cabrera With Diving Touchdown Grab
www.elisportsnetwork.com