Viking Football: Title Defense Begins Friday Night in Lake Stevens

The 4A Champion Lake Stevens Vikings welcome 3A power Garfield for the home opener this Friday, 7 pm kickoff at Lake Stevens High School Stadium.

From right: David Brown, Jayshon Limar, Tom Tri and Kolton Matson. Photo art by KTH/J425.

Coming off a magical 2022 season that ended with Viking players and coaches hoisting a trophy in Tacoma, the 4A State Champion Lake Stevens Vikings open the 2023 season this Friday in Lake Stevens (kickoff at 7pm) versus 3A power Garfield… in one of the most anticipated openers in the Northwest. 

The Vikings will look to avenge last year’s 26-16 season-opening loss to Garfield in Seattle, a contest in which Cal-bound Bulldog QB EJ Caminong diced up the Viking D with his strong right arm and ability to scramble. Garfield has high hopes for 2023 after adding three highly-recruited players this offseason, including four star athlete Rahshawn Clark, formerly of Federal Way. Clark is also committed to California. 

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As always, J425 will publish a pick and preview Friday morning and the Hall of Famer Mike Anderton will compile stats and pen the game story, and J425 will be on the sidelines for a live game blog, posting 4K highlights of every big play and TD as it happens. Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss a snap.

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The Vikings, on the other hand, must contend with the loss of the best player in program history, reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year Jayden Limar, who is sporting #27 in Eugene this season. The 2023 Viks are also dealing with the graduation of four of five offensive line starters as well as the loss of backup QB Kaden Laplaunt and starting WR/CB Cassidy Bolong-Banks, both of whom moved out of district (Laplaunt is the new starting quarterback at neighboring Granite Falls). 

With all that attrition, it’s almost hard to believe that Lake Stevens tops the MaxPreps 4A and regardless-of-classification polls and is considered by many to be a top title threat for the third consecutive season. Key word: almost.

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Expectations Remain High in Lake Stevens

Junior running back Jayshon Limar sporting the 17 jersey made famous by Oregon Duck RB Jayden Limar - the reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year as well as holder of every major Lake Stevens Football rushing and scoring record. Photo by KTH/J425.

Expectations and morale are high in the 425 because of a pair of rising juniors in the backfield, a packed, talented defense and a matched set of bad-asses at the offensive tackle positions (both of whom carry big responsibilities on defense). Leading the way is third year starter and rising junior QB Kolton Matson.

Number twelve has started the last two 4A title games and followed up a stellar showing in the 2021 playoffs with a 2022 season marked by increasing confidence and ultimately – a calm and decisive performance in the state title game. Sporting a ring and enjoying a growth spurt, Matson hit the camp circuit and turned heads with an increasingly powerful arm and his noted 4.65 speed.