HS Football: Graham-Kapowsin Storms Into Quarterfinals

11/15/25

#6 Graham-Kapowsin Eagles 34, #11 Kennedy Catholic Lancers 7

(Elk Plain, WA) With seven of the eight Opening Round games complete, Graham-Kapowsin and Kennedy Catholic squared off to see who would be the final team in the State Quarterfinals. Each team has had success in the State Playoffs this decade. Graham-Kapowsin won the title in 2021 and made a title game appearance in 2023, while Kennedy Catholic made the championship game in 2022. In a game where fewer than 20 seniors combined suited up, one team’s season would continue, while the other would end in heartbreak.

Graham-Kapowsin had the ball first, but punted it away, and Kennedy Catholic’s offense went to work. The Lancers picked up a first down but then faced fourth and one. Graham-Kapowsin’s defense stopped them and forced a turnover on downs. The Eagles then took just five plays to fly down the field and score as quarterback A.J. Tuivaiave hit his running back, Blake Pearson, for a seven-yard touchdown for the game’s first score. Graham-Kapowsin led 7-0 just five minutes into the first quarter. On the ensuing drive, Kennedy Catholic picked up a pair of first downs, but disaster struck for the Lancers. On the fifth play of the drive, Kennedy Catholic ran the ball, and Graham-Kapowsin’s linebacker, Gavin Deaton, yanked the ball out of the ball carrier’s hands. Derick Manibusan jumped on the pigskin to give the Eagles the ball. The Lancers’ defense forced another Graham-Kapowsin punt, but the turnover bug bit them for the second straight drive.

On a handoff, the exchange was bobbled, and Graham-Kapowsin’s Jeremiah Leumuava hopped on it for the Eagles for the second straight turnover. This time, Graham-Kapowsin turned it into points, as on the first play of the second quarter, Tuivaiave dialed up Jayce Halasz for a 36-yard touchdown to put the Eagles up 13-0. Both teams traded punts, and Kennedy Catholic was getting the offense going again, but fumbled for the third time in the first half, and Gavin Deaton recovered the loose ball for Graham-Kapowsin. The Eagles took advantage for the second time in the half, as Tuivaiave found tight end Quinncey Ratteray for a 16-yard passing touchdown. Graham-Kapowsin went for two but didn’t convert, and it was a 19-0 Eagles lead. Kennedy Catholic was forced to punt late in the first half, and G-K kneeled down once to run out the clock to maintain their 19-point advantage.

Graham-Kapowsin kicked off to start the second half, and it was a ground ball that was hard to field. Kennedy Catholic couldn’t handle it, and Graham-Kapowsin’s Chisimidi Njoku secured it for the Eagles to steal a possession. Graham-Kapowsin cashed in right away, as Tuiaiave lobbed a pass for Kase Betz, and he came down with it in the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown to put Graham-Kapowsin up 26-0 just 10 seconds into the half. After a terrific kickoff return by Jayce Fitzgerald for Kennedy Catholic, the Lancers took over nearly at midfield, but after getting a first down, they faced fourth down. Kennedy Catholic wasn’t able to convert, but again forced Graham-Kapowsin to punt.

The Lancers put together another drive where they picked up multiple first downs and found themselves deep in Graham-Kapowsin territory. Kennedy Catholic zipped a pass to the end zone, but Graham-Kapowsin’s George Woods made a spectacular play, diving in front of the receiver and making the interception. Graham-Kapowsin punted again, and Kennedy Catholic had the ball with less than a minute left in the third quarter. The Lancers got into G-K territory at the 46-yard line, and as time was winding down, snapped the ball before time expired. Dante Saladino spun a pass to his right, the ball was tipped by one of the Eagles’ defenders, and Jordan Noel, on a slant pattern, used phenomenal concentration to bring in the pass and scurry down the field for the nifty touchdown. Kennedy Catholic trailed 26-7 but had some momentum heading into the final stanza.

Kennedy Catholic kicked an onside kick, and it was perfectly executed as Dante Saladino recovered it for the Lancers at midfield. The Lancers quickly got a first down, but three plays later, freshman George Woods got his second interception of the game for Graham-Kapowsin and returned it to the 40-yard line. The Eagles would score again, as Pearson ran in a seven-yard touchdown to go over 100 yards in the game and find paydirt for the second time. Graham-Kapowsin went for two, and Tuivaiave hit Halasz in the corner of the end zone for a 34-7 lead. Kennedy Catholic’s offense continued to pick up yards and first downs as the Lancers found themselves deep into G-K territory again. The Lancers looked to pass downfield, and after a ricochet, Woods dove out and made his third interception of the half. Graham-Kapowsin ran out the remaining 4:42 and would go on to win 34-7.

Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express Game MVP went to Graham-Kapowsin’s George Woods. The freshman tallied three second-half interceptions in his first State Playoff game and helped seal the deal for Graham-Kapowsin.

Graham-Kapowsin’s linebackers of Gavin Deaton and Derick Manibusan were lights out, stopping an extremely powerful rushing attack of Kennedy Catholic, forcing turnovers, and each recovering a fumble. Jayce Halasz was the home run hitter again for G-K, coming up with double-digit receptions every catch he made and scoring a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Blake Pearson came back from being injured last week and ran for over 100 yards, scored twice, and showed how valuable he is to the balanced Eagles’ attack on offense.

Kennedy Catholic’s Jordan Noel was a big play machine. His tremendous 46-yard touchdown reception was a highlight, and on defense, he laid the lumber numerous times. Dante Saladino ran the ball effectively for the Lancers, while also playing on defense and coming up with some nice tackles. Derek Colman-Brusa and Yoshi Nu’u swatted multiple passes on the defensive front all night long.

Graham-Kapowsin improves to 10-1 and will travel to face #3 Gonzaga Prep in the Quarterfinals.

Kennedy Catholic’s season ends at 8-3.

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