Number of top football recruits set to hit field at Lakewood

The Cougars host their annual 7-on-7 tournament Saturday featuring both local and non-local squads.

Lakewood High School will host its 12th annual Cougars Championship Passing Tournament on Saturday. (NW Ballers video frame)

Lakewood High School will host its 12th annual Cougars Championship Passing Tournament on Saturday. (NW Ballers video frame)

The high school football season’s start is inching closer and closer, but those that want to get a taste of some local gridiron action sooner rather than later have the opportunity to sink their teeth into the perfect appetizer Saturday at Lakewood High School.

The Cougars and coach Dan Teeter are set to host their 12th annual Cougars Championship Passing Tournament, a 7-on-7 competition that features many local teams and some non-local squads with rosters that feature talented NCAA Division I prospects.

“It’s kind of our last thing for the summer that we can do with the guys (before practices start),” Teeter said. “It’s a good send-off for that.”

Local teams Arlington, Glacier Peak, King’s, Lake Stevens, Mountlake Terrace, Oak Harbor and South Whidbey join host Lakewood at the tournament, giving an early glance at a handful of area teams.

Kennedy Catholic highlights the non-local squads at the event. The Lancers feature Sav’ell Smalls — an outside linebacker prospect ranked fourth overall nationally for the class of 2020 by 247Sports — and Sam Huard — the son of former UW and NFL quarterback Damon Huard. Sam Huard is ranked as the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country and sixth overall for the class of 2021. Justin Baker, Jabez Tinae and Junior Alexander make up a talented group of skill-position players with D-I offers that surround Huard.

Lincoln — which plays Lake Stevens in the regular season and features the talented trio of high-level recruits Julien Simon, Jaylen Clark and Donovan Clark — is another non-local team to keep an eye one.

“There’s gonna be a lot of college talent here,” Teeter said. “So it’s gonna be great for people locally here that don’t always get to see those teams to come out and get a little preview of them.”

Offensive linemen will have a chance to compete in the tournament’s lineman competition, which features individual and team events such as a bench press competition, tug-of-war and a 4×100 relay.

“That’s something that makes it a little bit unique, too,” Teeter said. “Lots of time linemen get left out at 7-on-7s, but we do stuff for them, too.”

Teeter said that when the tournament started 12 years ago, it had just five teams. That number quickly jumped near 12 the next year and has held strong at 20-plus teams over the years.

Play begins at 9 a.m. with round-robin pool play, with the championship game scheduled for 6 p.m. The 20-team tournament is broken down into five four-team pools, which Teeter puts together by trying to balance the number of larger and smaller schools in each. He said that he also avoids putting teams that will play each other in the regular season in the same pool.

The lineman challenge starts at 10 a.m.

Rules of the tournament

Games are played on a 40-yard field that’s regulation width. Team’s start on the 40-yard line and have three downs to pick up 15 yards. Once teams reach the 10-yard line, they have four downs to score.

Quarterbacks have 4 seconds to throw the ball, and players are down after a one-hand touch.

Offenses are awarded seven points for a touchdown with the option of going for a PAT from the 3-yard line. A successful attempt adds one point and a failed attempt subtracts one.

Defenses are awarded three points interceptions that aren’t returned for TDs.

Complete list of teams

Arlington, Ballard, Bothell, Garfield, Glacier Peak, Hazen, Inglemoor, Kennedy Catholic, Kentwood, King’s, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Lincoln, Mercer Island, Mountlake Terrace, North Creek, Oak Harbor, Sequim, South Whidbey, Woodinville.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

The Jackson girls golf team poses with the state championship trophy and sign on the 18th green of Eagle's Pride Golf Course after winning the WIAA 4A State Championship in DuPont, Washington on May 21, 2025. Pictured left to right: Coach Jerome Gotz, freshman Karen Shin, sophomore Kayla Kim, senior Paige Swander, senior Lindsay Catli, sophomore Chanyoung Park and junior Christine Oh. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Jackson girls golf wins first state title

The Timberwolves turn one-shot lead on back nine into 14-stroke victory for 4A crown.

Kamiak’s Tristan Kim putts during the 4A District 1 Boys Golf Championship at Legion Memorial Golf Course on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Kamiak Flip’ powers Knights boys golf to top-five state finish

Kamiak leverages a strong second round to win hardware as Tristen Kim finishes third individually.

Snohomish’s Griffin Triggs and Chase Clark celebrate getting the final out to beat Bellevue in loser-out opening round 3A state game on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish baseball mounts comeback against Bellevue

The Panthers score five runs in the sixth to win 6-2 and advance to the WIAA second round.

Prep roundup for Tuesday, May 20

Mohr scores twice to lead Wildcats to state second round.

Snohomish’s Luke Davis yells after getting an out at first base during the opening round 3A state game against Bellevue on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep state tournament results and schedule

Here’s a look at what’s happening this postseason.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 11-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 11-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Jorge Polanco of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his three-run home run during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Seattle. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Simple approach leading to Polanco’s improvement

Despite not being 100% healthy, Polanco is off to a hot start… Continue reading

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates as the Thunder pull away in the fourth quarter Tuesday night in Oklahoma City to beat the Timberwolves. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)
Anthony Edwards tried to rattle SGA, and it didn’t work.

Four minutes into a Western Conference finals headlined by… Continue reading

Snohomish sophomore Deyton Wheat (22) celebrates his go-ahead, three-run home run with senior Brayden Holscher (11) during the Panthers' 4-2 win against Monroe in a District 1 3A consolation game in Woodinville, Washington on May 17, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Brea Bursch / Snohomish Baseball)
Snohomish, Shorewood earn state baseball tourney berths

Panthers top Monroe 4-2, Stormrays blank Edmonds-Woodway 7-0 in District 1 3A consolation.

The Shorewood boys soccer team celebrates with their trophy after winning the District 1 3A title on May 17, 2025 at Shoreline Stadium. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Shorewood boys soccer storms to district three-peat

An early penalty lifts the Stormrays to a 1-0 win over Monroe in the title game.

File Photo: Stanwood senior Gavin Gehrman delivers a pitch during the Spartans' 8-3 win against Arlington in Stanwood, Washington on March 19, 2025. In Stanwood's 7-4 loss to Mount Vernon in the District 1 3A Championship on May 17, 2025, Gehrman went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Stanwood baseball slips in District 1 3A Championship

The Spartans’ early 3-0 lead crumbles as Mount Vernon wins 7-4 in comeback.

Jackson High School's Kyle Peacocke hands the 2023 WIAA class 4A softball championship trophy to the team after their win in Richland, Wash., on Sat., May 27. (TJ Mullinax/for The Herald)
Prep state tournaments set to begin this week

Here’s a look at where local teams will open tournament play.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.