Looking back at the Lake Stevens vs. G-K state playoff rivalry

Published 1:30 am Friday, December 1, 2023

State rivalry

Saturday’s Class 4A high school football state championship game between the Lake Stevens Vikings and Graham-Kapowsin Eagles is the third straight year and sixth time in the past eight postseasons the teams have met in the state playoffs. Lake Stevens leads 3-2. Here’s a rundown of those meetings:

Nov. 21, 2015, quarterfinals: Lake Stevens 49, Graham-Kapowsin 14

The story: Vikings quarterback Jacob Eason, on his way to being named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, lived up to his billing by throwing for 262 yards and four touchdowns, while Andrew Grimes added 280 yards rushing and three TDs for the Vikings. Eian Olmos caught seven passes for 201 yards and a score for Graham-Kapowsin.

Nov. 11, 2017, first round: Graham-Kapowsin 38, Lake Stevens 31

The story: The Eagles, led by Micah Smith’s 187 yards rushing and two touchdowns, built a 38-17 lead and withstood a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Vikings. Tre Long threw for 449 yards and tossed two touchdowns to Anthony Hutchinson to lead Lake Stevens.

Nov. 17, 2018, quarterfinals: Lake Stevens 45, Graham-Kapowsin 28

The story: The Vikings struck for big play after big play, with quarterback Tre Long completing three touchdown passes of 54 yards or longer, while running back Dallas Landeros was a workhorse with 241 yards on 32 carries and three scores. Dylan Morris threw for 200 yards and a TD for the Eagles.

Dec. 4, 2021, championship: Graham Kapowsin 44, Lake Stevens 7

The story: The Eagles utterly dominated the game, rushing for a 4A state championship game-record 524 yards — 190 from Zack Lee and 172 from Joshua Wood. Lake Stevens, with freshman Kolton Matson forced to start at quarterback in place of injured senior Grayson Murren, was unable to get anything going offensively.

Nov. 26, 2022, semifinal: Lake Stevens 42, Graham-Kapowsin 28

The story: Jayden Limar went wild for the Vikings, rushing for 174 yards and five touchdowns, and he also threw for the clinching score in the fourth quarter on a halfback pass to Isaac Redford as Lake Stevens avenged its drubbing in the previous year’s championship game. Daveon Superales thew for 230 yards and a TD to lead Graham-Kapowsin.

– Nick Patterson, Herald writer