Puyallup wins battle of the unbeatens in SPSL South

The Todd Beamer Titans proved they can play with the supposed best team in the South Puget Sound League South Division. But the Puyallup Vikings still walked out of Federal Way Memorial Stadium with a perfect 3-0 record after a 35-21 win over the Titans Friday night.

The loss was the Titans’ first of the season after starting the year with wins over Thomas Jefferson and Decatur. The game was the SPSL South opener for both teams.

The fourth-ranked Vikings jumped all over Beamer in the first quarter, rolling out to a 21-0 lead. Puyallup’s Justin Yeltung returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, Steven Matthews scored on a 3-yard run and Joseph Leinweber ran back an interception for a touchdown for Puyallup.

But the Titans (2-1) fought back with 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to cut the Puyallup lead to 21-14. Senior wideout Josh Waller hauled in a 60-yard pass from quarterback Christian Cooper senior running back Lamardray Fuller scored on a fourth down from the 1-yard line with 6:24 left in the first half.

Puyallup made it a two-touchdown game again later in the second quarter when Joel Smith recovered a Puyallup fumble in the endzone to make it 28-14.

Beamer’s Travis Koch cut into the Viking lead with seven seconds left in the first half when he turned a basic post pattern into a 60-yard touchdown pass from Cooper.

Puyallup quarterback Alec Elliot put the game out of reach with 1:30 left in the third quarter when he snuck through the middle of the Beamer defense.

Cooper had another solid night for the Titans. The senior passed for 221 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Fuller added 112 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

Puyallup’s star running back, D.J. Williams, had 155 yards on just 17 carries.

The Titans will have another tough SPSL South game Thursday night when they host Rogers at Federal Way Memorial Stadium. Rogers (1-2) lost a heartbreaker to unbeaten Emerald Ridge Friday night, 20-19.

Federal Way 37, Kentlake 14

The Eagles rolled over the Kentlake Falcons Saturday night at French Field in Kent. The win moves Federal Way to 1-0 in the South Puget Sound League North Division and 2-1 overall.

The Eagles got 191 yards and four touchdowns from junior tailback Andre Barrington, and senior wideout Aaron Broussard had four catches for 112 yards and a score.

Things didn’t start out too well for Federal Way. Kentlake’s (0-3) Taylor Angevine gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run.

But the Eagles stormed back in the second and third quarters, scoring 37 unanswered points to get the win. Federal Way quarterback Justin Southern had another efficient game. Southern finished an impressive 10-of-14 for 197 yards and the touchdown pass to Broussard.

The Eagles host 2-1 Kent-Meridian Friday at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Kent-Meridian 41, Jefferson 21

The Royals jumped out to a 28-0 lead and defeated the Raiders in both teams’ SPSL North opener Thursday night at French Field.

Sean Harris hauled in scoring passes of 71 and 51 yards from Jesse Earle, while Johnny Wilson and Andre Moore added two scoring runs each for Kent-Meridian (2-1).

Taylor Stark threw a pair of touchdown passes to Bryant Cameron and Trenton Pinson tallied their final score on a 75-yard run in the loss, which dropped the Raiders to 0-3.

Jefferson travels to Tahoma (1-2) Friday night.

Kentwood 35, Decatur 6

The Conquerors downed the Gators in both teams’ SPSL North opener Thursday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Kentwood’s Demetrius Bronson rushed for three first-half touchdowns, and the Conquerors rebounded from last week’s loss to Puyallup.

Kentwood (2-1, 1-0 SPSL North) also got an 18-yard touchdown pass from Luke Angevine to Danny Kondikoff, and Tristian Askew returned a blocked punt for a score.

Decatur’s (1-2) only score came on a 27-yard pass from Cam Schilling to John Duncan in the second quarter. The touchdown tied the game’s score at 6-6 before the Conquerors tallied 28 straight points.

The Gators take on winless Kentlake Saturday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com

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