9/12/2026
Puyallup 32, Bellevue 14
(Puyallup, WA) Expectations is the word for both these teams coming into 2026. The Bellevue Wolverines are well familiar with that term with all their success for the past 26 years+. The Puyallup Vikings had high hopes last year before falling short in the semifinals to Sumner.
Although just week #2 of the year this game had the feel of a play-off game.
1st Half Fireworks
Puyallup coming off a big win in Idaho wasted no time in setting the tone. The Vikings got the ball to begin the game on their own 46 and drove the 54 yards with a balanced attack of 3 runs and 3 passes. Briytan Bailey would bounce it to left on the next carry to get into the end zone for 6. Brodey Naylor hit the PAT and with 9:57 to go in the 1st the Vikings led 7-0.
Bellevue a little stunned defensively was ready to answer with their first chance with the ball. They began on their own 20 and the usual run heavy offense for the Wolverines was intact. Bellevue reeled off 7 straight run plays capped off by Trevon Barnes with a 24 yard blast. Ryan Kamai booted the extra point and it was all ever at 7-7 with 7:15 left in the 1st quarter.
The balanced Puyallup offense continued on their next possession beginning on their own 32. 4 runs and a pass worked the Vikings down to the Bellevue 21. Noah Smith dropped back to pass on a 3rd and 15 just looking to get better field goal position or a chance at a short 4th. Smith with good protection found Luke Parker near the 10 when Parker side-stepped a would be tackler and then scooted in for 6 with 3:46 to go in the 1st.
Puyallup’s Head Coach DJ Mims decided to go for 2 after Bellevue jumped offsides. Bailey powered in over the left side to give the Vikings a 15-7 lead.
The Vikings forced Bellevue to punt it away on their next possession and took-over in good field position on their own 42. With a 1st and 10 on the Bellevue 45, Smith dropped back to pass and found freshman Sosaia Sekona on a slant route over the middle and he broke free going the distance for 6. Naylor added the PAT and Puyallup was no in control 22-7 with 10:34 to play in the half.
Bellenue and Puyallup would trade possessions but if anyone thought the Wolverines would be happy getting to halftime with no further damage woould be wrong. The Wolverines held the Vikings on 4th down to get the ball on their own 34.
The offense came out with 3:34 to play and beganm with a steady run game again working it down to the 12 yard line. With clock ticking with less than 10 seconds to go in the half the Wolverines would not give up on the run and handed it to Gino Esquibel who swept around the left side, saw a hole planted and cutted up the field running past a stunned Vikings defense in for the score with no time left on the clock.Kamai added the point after and Bellevue was within striking distance trailing 22-14 at the break.
2nd Half
Bellevue was looking to double dip scoring with no time left in the 1st half and getting the 1st possession of the 2nd half. They began on their own 29 and were meticulously grinding away with a 9 play drive all on the ground, picking up hard earned 1st downs until they faced a 4th down on the Puyallup 40 and could not convert handing the ball back to the Vikings.
Puyallup started in decent field position and answered the long drive to nowhere of Bellevue with their own 10-play drive, 7 on the ground and 3 through the air getting to the 18. Facing a 4th down, Puyallup decided to try and make it a two possession game sending out Naylor who drilled a 35-yard field goal with just 5 seconds to play in the 3rd with a 25-14 lead.
The next drive was what determined the game and the Vikings defense rose to the occassion. Bellevue was on yet another long drive that began on their own 40. 10 plays and they were facing a 4th and goal from the 1 when William Lorenz run blittzed and met Romulus Ward in the backfield and dropped him short of the goal line and Puyallup held with 5:45 to play in the game.
Puyallup then went on a controlled 10-play drive that resulted in a another Bailey TD run from the 5 and the Vikings iced the win 32-14 with 1:33 to play.
Sumner Holiday Inn MVP of the Game
Our Sumner Holiday Inn MVP of the Game went to freshman receiver Sosaia Sekona. The 6’2 receiver had a huge night for Puyallup in his first home varsity game, tallying four catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t just the big numbers put up by Sekona that earned him the MVP, it was the timing of those four catches. Every time the Vikings had their backs up against the wall, Sekona was right there to help bail them out and keep the high-powered offense rolling.
Stats of Note
Elsewhere for Puyallup, Briytan Bailey was an absolute workhorse out of the backfield with 25 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Malcolm Akuffo tallied three carries for 15 yards and a five-yard catch as well for the Vikings. Quaterback Noah Smith was a duel threat for Puyallup with four carries for 23 yards while going 15/20 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns. To go along with Sosaia Sekona’s four catches for 128 yards and a score, Jai Mitchell had six catches for 56 yards while Luke Parker had three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown and an interception on defense. Kicker Brodey Naylor was 3/3 on extra points and hit a 35-yard field goal.
For the Bellevue Wolverines, Trevon Barnes was the featured back with 25 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown in the ground and pound offense. Romulous Ward had the next most carries with eight for 24 yards while Dreson Jimerson had five carries for nine yards. Gino Esquibel had a nice night as well with four carries for 27 yards and a touchdown and had a 43-yard reception. The only other reception was by Calvin Ferguson for 15 yards. Kason Carta was 2/4 passing for 58 yards and ran the ball three times for 35 yards as well. Rian Kamai hit both of his extra point attempts.
What’s Next?
Puyallup earned the win in their home opener to move to 2-0 on the season. The very tough non-league schedule concludes next Friday for the Vikings when they visit the 2-0 Lake Stevens Vikings. Bellevue falls short for the first time in 2026 to drop to 1-1 on the year. They will host a 1A title contender next Friday at 7pm when the Lynden Christian Lyncs come to town.
Link to watch full game broadcast on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
Game Highlights
Puyallup Scores First
Bellevue Answers
Puyallup QB Noah Smith Finds Freshman WR Siosaia Sekona
Gino Esquibel Scores Just Before Halftime
Puyallup Goal Line Stand Seals the Win
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