South Puget Sound League North Division beware, the Federal Way Eagles football team is starting to get its swagger back.
The Eagles, who won the school’s first SPSL championship since 1976 last season, dominated the Kentridge Chargers Friday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium, 38-18. The win was the Eagles’ second straight after suffering a loss to Auburn in their opening game of the season.
Helping Federal Way (2-1 overall, 1-1 in the SPSL North) get back on track against Kentridge (1-2) was the return of all-everything Andre Barrington. After missing the Eagles’ first two games of the season with a knee injury, Barrington contributed 163 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Barrington, a running back/defensive back, has already given a verbal commitment to play next season at Washington State University. He led of the scoring Friday night with a 14-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. Federal Way junior Rian Miller followed with a 33-yard touchdown catch from Nick Tanielu. Kicker Kelyn Rowe added a 34-yard field goal to give the Eagles a commanding 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Kentridge’s first points came when Devin Topps returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 17-7.
But Federal Way responded 21 seconds after the Chargers’ touchdown, when Barrington rolled 80 yards after a Nick Tanielu screen pass for to give the Eagles a 24-7 lead. Kentridge added a field goal to make it 24-10 at the half.
The Eagles added third-quarter touchdowns from George Williams and Gage Develaar to take a 38-10 lead. Kentridge added a late touchdown and two-point conversion to finalize the score.
Tanielu, a sophomore, completed 9 of 16 passes for 239 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Senior wide receiver Nico Curran caught four passes for 76 yards. Federal Way had a total of 358 yards of offense.
The Eagle defense, led by middle linebacker Andru Pulu, never allowed the Kentridge running game to get going. The Chargers had only 68 yards on the ground and quarterback Brandon Reiter finished 12 of 34 for 196 yards and two interceptions. Pulu, who committed to the University of Washington, finished with 12 tackles, including a pair of sacks for the Eagles.
Federal Way plays another big game Friday night when they travel to French Field to take on the unbeaten Kentlake Falcons. Kentlake has beaten Kentridge, Kent-Meridian and Jefferson in their three games.
Auburn Riverside 21, Beamer 14
The Todd Beamer Titans (0-3) were close to picking up their first victory of the season Friday against the Auburn Riverside Ravens at Auburn Memorial Stadium. The two teams were tied at 14-14 before a fourth-quarter Riverside touchdown pass from John Hakala to Dalton Thomas gave the Ravens the win. The 29-yard pass was the second touchdown hookup between Hakala and Thomas.
Beamer’s two touchdowns came on passes of 65 and 70 yards from Tyair Love to Travis Koch during the third quarter. Koch finished with three catches for 160 yards for an average of 53 yards a catch.
The non-league win moved Auburn Riverside to 2-1 on the season.
The Titans host the Puyallup Vikings (2-1) Friday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.
Spanaway Lake 6, Decatur 2
The Decatur Gators moved to 0-3 on the season with a loss to the Spanaway Lake Sentinels Friday night at Art Crate Stadium.
The Gators scored their only two points of the game in the first quarter when Spanaway Lake (2-1) snapped the ball through the end zone on a punt for a safety.
But Decatur’s lead didn’t last long. Spanaway Lake’s Marquise Miller scored a touchdown a little later in the first quarter from two yards out. The Sentinels missed the extra point to take a 6-2 lead.
Things don’t get any easier for the Gators. Decatur hosts 2-1 Curtis Saturday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.
Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com
