Viking Athletics Gear Up for State: Football, Soccer, and Volleyball Aim for Deep Playoff Runs
Girls Soccer in State tourney action at Sumner, Wed 7 pm; Volleyball in district play Thursday; Viking football hosts Kamiakin Sat. 3 pm.
LAKE STEVENS— The Lake Stevens High School fall sports scene is charging into the state tournament bracket, with three major programs—football, girls soccer, and volleyball—all battling for championship status.
Defined by dominant regular seasons and high state seeds (or defending title holder status), the Vikings are expected to make noise deep into November across three fronts.
All three programs are in action this week. J425 has the times, locations and analysis to get you ready to root. Here’s the update on football, soccer and volleyball playoff action, with a bottomline analysis and upcoming schedule information.
Football: Perennial Power Reloaded in Quest for Third Title
The Bottomline: While upstart Puyallup is widely viewed as the 4A favorite, Lake Stevens Viking football is firmly in the title picture and well-positioned for success, with a clear path of home games over the next three stages of the playoffs, before a possible return trip to Husky Stadium in early December.
The Vikings, unbeaten and seeded second under the direction of Head Coach Tom Tri, are once again a title favorite, powered by a still-maturing team heavy on star power and experience.
The two-time champion duo of head coach/playcaller Tom Tri and defensive coordinator Eric Dinwiddie are recognized by peers and media as the best at their disciplines in the state. Transcendent junior QB Blake Moser has the belief of his teammates and is a Gatorade Player of the Year candidate.
Path to Playoffs & Seeding:
Reloading after losing program icons and four-year impact players Kolton Matson and Jayshon Limar to graduation, the Vikings responded with a dominant regular season punctuated by star turns from a pair of juniors: QB Moser and RB Jayvian Ferrell —athletes whose performances have the state on notice.
Finishing with a perfect 10-0 record and securing a 13th straight Wesco 4A crown, the Viks earned the No. 2 seed in the WIAA 4A State Playoff bracket, opposite unbeaten Puyallup’s top seed on the other side of the 16-team slate.
Current Playoff Status & Schedule:
The Vikings successfully navigated the first round, defeating No. 31 seed Woodinville 56-28 last Friday (Nov. 7) in a game that saw the offense explode for over 500 rushing yards.
Previous History:
Lake Stevens has consistently been one of the top programs in the state, reaching the 4A State Championship game multiple times in recent years, including a title win in 2021. The team is driven to secure another championship after a strong showing in the previous year’s tournament.
Girls Soccer: From District Drama to State Contention
The Bottomline: This playoff season is shaping up eerily similar to last year’s title-winning effort. Both seasons saw one-loss campaigns run into losses tom Skyline in the district tournament, followed by victories over Bothell in must-win settings. In 2024, Lake was seeded eighth, this year they’re a seed lower.
The Lake Stevens girls soccer team (16-1-1 overall) entered the postseason as a dominant force and the current title holders, but have yet to gain the respect of the 4A soccer community, as demonstrated by the fact they are seeded ninth and must play a road game at a team with a lower RPI. That said, they faced adversity early in the district tournament and rebounded well.
Path to Playoffs & Seeding:
The Vikings finished the regular season as undefeated Wesco 4A champions and earned a high seed in the District 1/2 tournament. However, they suffered their first loss of the season (a 2-0 defeat to Skyline) in the district bracket, mirroring their elimination in the district semifinals from the previous year. The Vikings then fought back through the loser’s bracket, securing their spot in the state tournament with back-to-back wins, including a crucial 1-0 victory over Bothell/Inglemoor.
Current Playoff Status & Schedule:
The Viks qualified for the WIAA 4A State Tournament (Round of 16) via their 0-0 (5-4 on penalty kicks) win over Bothell last Saturday. Lake Stevens received the ninth seed and plays at Sumner Wednesday.
Previous Year History:
The 2024 team had an outstanding run,
culminating in the program’s monumental achievement as the 4A State Champions. While the 2025 squad lost a score of seniors from that title-winning team, the ability to rebound from an early district-playoff loss to Skyline (for the second straight season) — not to mention going through on penalty kicks against Bothell — shows hints of the resiliency and mettle needed to defend a crown.
Volleyball: Undefeated League Campain Drives State Bid
The Bottomline: Led by one of the best players in ther history of the state, boasting a program record unmatched across the state over the last five seasons, Coach Kyle Hoglund’s program has one task left to complete: win a title. This may be their best chance ever. The Viks enter playoff season as one of the most consistent teams in the region, boasting a stellar record and an elite attack.
Path to Playoffs & Seeding:
The Vikings clinched the Wesco 4A league title with a perfect 14-0 league record, contributing to a strong overall record of 26-3. The team’s RPI standing reflects the campaign: the Viks are currently ranked No. 2 in the WIAA 4A classification with two game days left in the District tournament.
Current Playoff Status & Schedule:
Having secured a spot in Yakima via their win over Juanita Saturday in District 1 tournament play, the Vikings preparation for the State bracket is comprised of completing the seeding work in front of them at districts.
The Viks play in Lake Stevens Thursday at 7:00 pm vs Mount Si and should they win, they’ll play for the District 1 title Saturday, Nov. 15 at noon.
The WIAA 4A State Volleyball tournament is held Nov. 21-22 in Yakima and the schedule will be finalized after the completion of district tournaments across the state. Check back at J425 or at the WIAA website for seeds and times.
Previous Year History:
Lake Stevens volleyball has been a perennial power in Wesco, consistently achieving high state rankings and making regular appearances in the WIAA State Tournament, including a successful run in 2024 that saw Lake finish runners-up to Curtis with Viking star outside hitter Laura Eichert claiming state tournament MVP honors, followed by Gatorade State Player of the Year. Kyle Hoglund’s program is considered one of several favorites to claim the 4A state championship crown. For the third straighrt season, J425 will cover the state tournament live from Yakima.
Previously:
Lake Stevens (9-0) Crushes Arlington 55-7 to Claim 13th Straight Wesco Title; Second-seeded Viks Host Playoff Game Friday, 7 pm
LAKE STEVENS — “We waited 365 days to get a little redemption.”