In a much-anticipated clash between two of Washington's top Class 4A high school football teams, Lake Stevens emerged victorious against Graham-Kapowsin with a score of 31-26. The game, held at Lake Stevens High School, drew a sellout crowd eager to witness the showdown between these powerhouse programs.
Lake Stevens junior defensive end Antoine Griffin III played a pivotal role in the victory, leveraging his understanding of Graham-Kapowsin quarterback AJ Tuivaiave's penchant for deep passes. "He loves to throw it long, loves to throw long passes," Griffin noted. This insight allowed him to accelerate his pass-rushing efforts, contributing significantly to the defensive pressure throughout the game.
Alongside Griffin, three-star recruit Ty Tautolo also made his presence felt in the Graham-Kapowsin backfield, as both players consistently disrupted the Eagles' offensive rhythm. Initially, the game was expected to be an offensive showcase; however, the first half turned into a defensive struggle, exacerbated by heavy rain that made conditions feel more like late fall than the opening week of the season.
At halftime, Lake Stevens held a narrow lead of 12-7, with quarterback Blake Moser, who has committed to Iowa State, scoring a late touchdown to boost his team's momentum. The second half saw Lake Stevens continue to build on that momentum, as Moser connected with Seth Price for another touchdown early in the third quarter.
Graham-Kapowsin responded with a touchdown pass from Tuivaiave to senior receiver Kase Betz, who is committed to Montana State, narrowing the gap. However, Lake Stevens quickly countered with a 26-yard touchdown run from Moser, extending their lead to 25-13. Despite another touchdown pass from Tuivaiave to Keh’ano Corpuz, Lake Stevens managed to control the clock with a lengthy drive capped off by a touchdown run from Jay Ferell, making it difficult for the Eagles to mount a comeback.
In the aftermath of the game, Betz acknowledged the challenges faced by his team, stating, "There were times when we definitely made some mental mistakes, but it’s Week 1, it’s early September, we have three more months to play football." He reflected on last season's experience, recalling how Sumner lost in their opening week but went on to win the state championship, which kept his spirits high.
Tuivaiave also recognized the need for improvement, noting, "Some things just happened, we didn’t execute. Just watching film this weekend and seeing what we can do better." Despite the loss, the Eagles were grateful for the competitive test, especially after being eliminated from last year's 4A state tournament.
Looking ahead, Graham-Kapowsin will face a challenging road trip in Week 2 as they travel to the Tri-Cities to take on the Richland Bombers. Tuivaiave expressed determination, stating, "We’re gonna take out all our anger on Richland." As both teams continue their seasons, this early matchup serves as a reminder of the competitive spirit and resilience that defines high school football.
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