HS Football: Sumner pulls out OT win in heart stopping battle with Lake Stevens

9/6/2024

Sumner 31, Lake Stevens 28 (OT)

(Sumner, WA) When the Sumner Spartans learned of the new format in the SPSL 4A which would allow them to pick up 3 non-league games instead of playing 9 straight league games Head Coach Keith Ross knew immediately what he wanted to do. When we talked with Ross at the SPSL 4A 1st media day earlier in August he said I am going to try and lose these non-league games. He said with a wry smile. He scheduled the 2 time defending state 4A champs Lake Stevens to start the season and in week 3 they will travel south to West Linn high school in Oregon who are a regular 6A power in the Beaver state.

Ross says I don’t want to waste this chance from challenging our team as best we can and find out now where we stand and what we have to do to reach our ultimate goal. Ross said of course we are playing to win every single game but winning in the long run means taking on the best as much as you can to challenge his players to rise to the occasion.

This set up a classic battle with the best there’s been in the 4A for the past 2 years and of course when you play in Sumner it comes with the spectacle of Spartans football. That means over-flowing stands, a marching band as big as the football team, flag team, huge cheer staff and that small town feeling that everyone in town is at “the game”. Add a very warm late summer evening and it was the perfect setting for the return of High School Football.

On the other side of the field was one of the best, if not the best coach in the state right now in Tom Tri leading the Vikings. Tri has had the same attittude and has been playing West Linn the past few years and fell short each time. TRi has also scheduled Bellevue regularly who won last year’s 3A State title and in fact the Vikings host Bellevue next week. Tri says it’s important to get something out of these games and if you take one on the chin it is a great learning experience.

The game no doubt has lots of tape for both coaches to go over with their teams and many mistakes to clean up. But man the effort, the unwillingness to give in and having it come down to the very last play and on that play our play of the game to determine the outcome is what Friday Night Lights is all about.

Sumner began with the ball but on their 1st play from scrimmage the home crowd fell silent after starting QB Nate Dononan over threw his intended target and the Vikings intercepted. Lake Stevens took over on the Spartan 47 and quickly drove down scoring on a Koltan Matson QB keeper to go up 7-0.

Sumner then answered with a few drives later with a touchdown pass from Dononan to tight end Austin Glivar the PAT was good from kicker Austin Ferencz. The Spartans defense then stiffened forcing the Vikings to punt. But the swarming Spartan defense would block the punt with Neicko Noffke getting to it and then the loose ball was scooped up and returned to the house by Che Molina and Sumner was up 14-7.

Lake Stevens had a nice drive on their next possession and settled for a Lucas Mooring 25 yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-10. Sumner had time to answer and finished the 1st half with a 21-10 lead when Dononan hit Kiano Grounds just prior to the break.

In the 2nd half Lake Stevens came out with energy and a new purpose and reeled off 15 unaswered points with Limar blitzing right up the middle for 28 yards and the go-ahead score taking a 25-21 lead. On the ensuing drive though, Sumner’s Israel Nabors took a sweep and busted off a 50 yard sprint to the endzone for the lead once again up by 3 28-25.

The fun was just beginning as we headed for the stretch run and final drive from Lake Stevens and some confusing calls. The Vikings ended up with the ball on the Sumner 11 yard line with 3 seconds to play and Mooring booted home the field goal to push the game to overtime.

Lake Stevens began the Kansas tie-breaker with the ball on the 25 yard line. The Vikings would throw an interception that Austin Glivar picked off ending their turn.

Sumner then only needed to score to win the game. Spartans running back Steele Isaacs who had rushed for 111 yard had 98 going into the OT. After 2 hand-offs the Spartans were down to the 12. Sumner then went to the air and completed a TD pass to TE Carter Cocke`but a hjoldong call pushed the Spartans back. Then after a late hit on the QB by Lake Stevens and more confusing calls the Spartans ended up with a 4th down field goal try from the 17 yard line.

The kick was certainly in Ferencz’s range but the snap was high and holder Aaron Black lept up and grabbed it and somehow got the ball down and Ferencz never lost focus and stepped through delivering the game winning kick on the final play of the game.

Some of the highlights stats include Isaacs finishing with 111 yards rushing and Dononan going 8-17 for 114 yards and 2 TD’s with the 1 Int.Kianoa Grounds had 2 catches for 44 yards and a TD. Defensively we don’t have the numbers but Shaun Griffith, Mason Thayer, Taylor Rebar and Will Maxwell all had outstanding performances.

Lake Stevens fell short but the Vikings never gsave in and battled back to force the OT. The Vikings put up a lot of numbers led by the rushing of Jayshon Limar rushing for 138 yards and 2 TD’s. Kolton Matson was 31/47 for 304 yards and 2 ints. Defensive stand-outs included Seth Price, Keegan Howard and Cannon Kennard.

The Cole Health MVP of the game went to Sumner’s Austin Glivar with a huge effort on both sides of the ball catching a TD and coming up with a huge interception to highlight his impact on the game.

For a full rundown of the game check out the ESN Post Game show below along with interviews and game highlights.

Link to the Game Replay on Demand on the NFHS Network (Subscription required).

ESN Post Game Show