9/11/2026
(Sumner 38, Tahoma 21)
(Sumner, WA) The two-time defending 4A Champions Sumner Spartans got off to a fast start with a big win ayt Eagle High school in Idaho last week. The Tahona Bears also rolled in their opener at home against Eastlake. The Bears wanted to let everyone know they are a team to keep their eye on.
1st Half
Tahoma took the 1st possession on their own 35 and had to punt but a missed catch gave the ball back to the Bears on the Spartan 17-yard line with a 1st and 10. Brady Bonnell then found Maddux Provence with a 17-yard strike and Tahoma took full advantage of the early miscue by Sumner to lead 7-0 after Sebastian Stiff knocked through the extra point.
Sumner’s offense is going to rely on a heavy dose of running the football with Santos Hernandez-Ruiz carrying the biggest load. Sumner began on their own 37 and the big play was a 33-yard run from Hernandez-Ruiz. Hernandez-Ruiz would finish off the drive with a 7-yard blast, add the extra point and with 5:16 to play is was even at 7-7.
The Sumner defense would hold the Bears as they went for it on 4th down and gave the ball back to the Spartans on their own 49. Sumner’s running attack chewed up yardage with runs of 20 and 25 yards getting down to the 1 where Hernandez-Ruiz plowed in for the lead. Samuel Goff added the PAT to double up the Bears 14-7 with 10:25 to go in the half.
Tahoma wasn’t ready to back down and came firing back beginning on their own 17 and driving down to the Sumner 15. Bonnell dropped back to pass again and found Josh Mark in the flat and led him perfectly on a swing pass that Mark scooted in for the score. A high snap on the PAT killed the chance to tie but the Bears were down 14-13 with 6:17 to go in the half.
On the next possession it was time for AJ Barnby to get to run the ball as the Spartans began on their own 25. Barnby would hit a 20 yard run to the Tahoma 21 and then take it in from 21 yards out on the next play, the PAT was good and Sumner pressed their lead to 8 with 2:38 to play and that’s how it would stay until halftime.
2nd Half
Sumner had the chance to double dip so to speak with the last score in the 1st half and they got the 1st possession of the 2nd half starting on their own 24. With plenty of runs in the drive and they took half the clock off the board the Spartans faced a 3rd and 20 from the Bears 31.
QB Brennan Abbott stepped back to pass and dropped a bucket shot into the arms of Ethan Richardson in the right corner of the end zone for a perfect strike and score. Sumner led by 15, 28-13.
Sumner would add another score from Abbott this time a 1 yard keeper to go up 35-13 and would cap their scoring with a 36-yard field by Bergen Eriksson.
Tahoma did scored between those final two scores for the Spartans with another touchdown strike from Bonnell to Mark again on a 36-yard scoring play. Bonnell would throw the ball to Provence on the 2-point play to make the final score 38-21.
Sumner Holiday Inn MVP of the Game
The Sumner Holiday Inn MVP of the game was awarded by the West 42 Sports crew to Spartan QB Brennan Abbott.
What’s Next?
Sumner improves to 2-0 and will be at home next Friday hosting the Mount Tahoma T-Birds.
Tahoma drops to 1-1 and begins conference play next week with a home game against Mount Rainier. The game is at 4pm on Friday and played at Maple View middle school as Tahoma’s stadium is undergoing renovations.
Link to watch full game broadcast on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
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