LAKE STEVENS — Head Coach TOM TRI’s Lake Stevens Vikings open camp this week at LSHS — practices begin Wednesday.
It’s a season where the Viks enter as a consensus top three team in the state — and number one in some 4A rankings.
For Tri, it’s also a milestone year as the Viking shot caller is in line to possibly win his 200th game — while also coaching his 250th at Lake Stevens.
If all goes well those milestones could occur at home on Senior Night and at home, Week 10.
The 4A state runner up Vikings ate coming off of a memorable 13-1 campaign that ended in a 41-35 overtime loss to Sumner at Husky Stadium, a game that nonetheless achieved instant classic status, with Blake Moser pulling the Vikings back from a 28-14 halftime deficit and tying the game late in the fourth quarter with his fourth rushing touchdown of the game.
Appraising the 2026 Vikings’ Roster
Lake features five returning first team All State performers, led by the incandescent star quarterback (and Iowa State commit) BLAKE MOSER, but you know about him by now.
Pac-12 commit and four year starter WILL LYNCH anchors the O-line, 25-TD back JAYVIAN FERRELL returns w/ mid 4.4s speed, Idaho Vandal commit SETH PRICE is a three year starter at X and dominant DE TY TAUTOLO picks up OT responsibility, even as he sorts through 15 D1 offers.
2028 WR MAX COOK ran a program record 4.36 40 this Spring, which pairs nicely with his 6’3 185 build.
Fellow 2028s include AKIO YONESAKA - a three year starter at nickel and emerging RB; accomplished return man and expected starting slot WR DEUCE WILSON; returning OL starters RYDER GOBIN-TOLENTINO and CALVIN MIDDENDORF; and emerging pass rushing standout ANTOINE GRIFFIN III, a 6’3 225 pound force who sports a sub 4.7 40 time.
The immensely talented 2028 wideout/DB JAYDEN HOLLENBECK is also in position for a breakout season.
2029 LOEKA LAVEA, a quick-footed immovable object at 6’1 300 pounds — steps into the starting O line picture with Tautolo.
Returning seniors include RB COLTEN FINK who averaged over 13 yards per carry as the Viks’ RB2, hybrid safety & returning starter FELIX RAMSEY plus three year LB starter KAYDEN BLANCHARD, slimmed down and looking fast and strong as he seeks a new ILB partner after returning captain BRAYDEN SLEZAK went down to an ACL.
Look for the big, strong and fast 2029 GAVIN SMITH to step up for Slezak — but 2028 BROOKS PUGMIRE is in the frame for LB and/or a hybrid OLB/S role after adding 25 pounds of muscle — at least.
Plus, well… he’s…a Pugmire.
A new safety pairing is in the cards for DC Eric Dinwiddie’s crew, with standout QB2 NOLAN NETTLES looking assured of one slot and fellow 2028 XANDER GARCÍA in the other.
Both are tall, long and agile — but not particularly fast, at least according to Spring Combine 40s. This isn’t a criticism, it just is.
Cook, with his 4.36 speed (and even the 4.37-timed Moser could see the field in a pinch) could be options if the backend becomes speed-compromised.
DB starters will include the three-year cornerback starter Seth Price and some combination of Hollenbeck, Ferrell and possibly 2029 KARTER BRINGEDAHL, who runs in the mid 4.5s. The Viks will find out quick how that secondary holds up.
Secondary is the Viks’ biggest question mark entering a season in which they may have to play the pass-happy SPSL giants G-K and Puyallup twice each.
Graham - Kapowsin ended the 2025 season in Lake Stevens, the Viks’ prevailed in a hard-fought state semifinal in which Eagles’ ‘28 QB AJ Tuivaiave threw 4 TDs while passing for 344 yards. Senior WR KASE BETZ, a Montana State commit, caught ten balls for 106 yards and a TD, while four star 2028 WR JAYCE HALASZ caught six for 167 and 2 TD. Over the offseason, the Eagles added another all SPSL wideout as former Rogers star MALIK BURNS, an Eastern Washington commit transferred in and it’s unknown whether he’ll be cleared for Week 1 or subject to a four game elective transfer sit out. 2029 wideout KEHANO CORPUZ also looked like a talent last November. Point being, the Viking secondary will be tested — but so will the Eagles line.
Graham Kapowsin dethroned Lake at the Lakewood 7v7 tournament late last month, a rare feat at the event sometimes called “the Lake Stevens Invitational”.
That said, a format in which Blake Moser is forced to stand still and line play is removed is a poor facsimile for real football.
Moser out-gained Tuivaiave 364 to 344, passing for 236 yards and rushing for 128 yards on 13 carries, including the last second decisive bit of QB power in which Will Lynch cleared a path and Moser took on an Eagle LB in the hole, winning the encounter and the game.
The season kicks off September 4 in Lake Stevens at 7:00 pm.
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