Viking Football Tonight: #4 Lake Stevens Hosts State Champion #1 Sumner Spartans, 7:00 pm Kickoff at LSHS
Read on for J425's game preview, score prediction and 2025 Viking season overview.
LAKE STEVENS — After posting the team’s worst record in a decade1, losing a 62-game Wesco winning streak and graduating program icons Kolton Matson (Gatorade Player of the Year, 99 career passing TDs) and Jayshon Limar (25 total TDs and 1,299 yards rushing last year), outsiders would be forgiven for assuming Tom Tri’s Viking football program was on the downswing.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Tonight, a retooled Viking roster helmed by new starting QB junior BLAKE MOSER looks to turn the page on last year’s 8-4 State Quarterfinals campaign by welcoming in the reigning 4A State Champion Sumner Spartans in a Week 1 classic, set for kickoff Friday at 7:00 pm in Lake Stevens.
Tonight’s game is the return engagement of a two-game series inked between Lake Stevens Head Coach Tom Tri and Sumner’s living legend of a coach Keith Ross. Last year, the reigning state champ Viks opened on the road at fourth-ranked Sumner, out-gaining and out-possessing the Spartans by over a two-to-one margin, but ultimately losing a hard-fought battle, 31-28 in overtime.
This year, the reigning champion Spartans – holding down #1 in 4A in the inaugural Varsity WA rankings – must travel to Lake Stevens Stadium, where an overflow crowd and the fourth-ranked Vikings await the newly-crowned champs. Between the two teams lie the last three 4A trophies.
The Journal 425 is honored to kick off another year of signature Viking Football coverage. With archives dating back to 2006, no one covers the Purple and Gold like J425. In the days that follow, we’ll publish interviews with Head Coach Tom Tri, Defensive Coordinator Eric Dinwiddie and Viking captains KAIDEN PECK, DYLAN PHINNEY and BRAYDEN SLEZAK, among others.
We’ve also got a feature story on the 24-year reign of Tom Tri and why Tri and Dinwiddie continue to turn down external offers in order to remain in Lake Stevens.
But today, we’re concentrating on Sumner at Lake Stevens.
Tonight’s game will be covered by J425 live via social media and with game recaps and official stats postgame. STSPN has the live telecast tonight, which has also been picked up across local cable networks including KIRO’s Seattle Sports. Viking fans can catch the action on STPN’s Youtube.
Tonight’s Opponent: the Reigning State Champion #1 Sumner Spartans
The Spartans seem unlikely to stray far from their usual hard-hitting base defense and their tight end heavy, run-heavy offensive formations, with HC Keith Ross remarking on social media that the Spartans don’t change their game plan for the opponent, they just play the Spartan game and tip their collective caps if defeated.
The Spartans are led by returning QB starter NATE DONAVAN, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 26 TDs in his junior campaign. Last year, Lake’s KEKOA OKIYAMA picked Donavan off on the game’s first play, starting what would be a difficult night for the Spartan signal caller. Eric Dinwiddie’s defense held the Sumner QB to just 10/18 passing for 133 yards.
Four star 2027 WR BRAYLON POPE is the top receiver recruit amongst Washington state juniors – Lake secondary held him to one catch for 11 yards, forcing turnovers on two of Pope’s targets.
…Three star senior DB IZZY NABORS will shoulder the RB load with Davis transfer LANCE MCGEE. Nabors had 51 yards on two carries and a TD last year. The 6’1 230 pound McGee is expected to be the lead back…McGee and senior DL SHAUN GRIFFITHS earned Preseason All State nods from Varsity WA. Senior LB/TE AUSTIN GLIVAR gave the Viks fits last year, picking off Matson in overtime and laying the wood from his linebacker position.
How Will the #4 Lake Stevens Vikings Respond?
Tom Tri, on the other hand, is a master of strategy and adjustment. Doubtless, both Tri and Dinwiddie have spent countless hours looking for perceived advantages on the Sumner game tape from last year, and the Viks will likely look to expose any advantages spotted by the two-time state title winning coaching duo.
When the Viks have the ball, look for Tom Tri to ease junior QB BLAKE MOSER into his first start, given the opponent and high-pressure platform. That said, Moser proved he has no issues performing on the big state: last year, the then-sophomore backup QB was forced into his first meaningful varsity action starting at WR in the playoffs after the Viking skill position roster was decimated by injury.
Moser responded by leading the team in yards and catches and reeling off one breath-taking play after another…
Hit the jump for a dozen more photos, a video of RB Jayvian Ferrell, our full game preview, Viking roster preview and score prediction. Please consider subscribing to support J425’s wall-to-wall coverage of Viking football and 425-area prep athletics.
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