9/17/2026
Kentwood 40, Auburn Riverside 26
(Kent, WA) The Auburn Riverside Ravens were facing the Kentwood Conquerors for the 10th time in program history and were still looking for their first win against the Conks. The Ravens are off to a fast start in 2026 with a pair of wins and a 2-0 record. Auburn Riverside blanked Rogers (Puyallup) in their opener, 38-0, then held off River Ridge last week, 35-29.
Kentwood comes in 0-2 but has taken on two teams with play-off aspirations. In their opener, they dropped to Skyline 28-19 and fell short at Emerald Ridge last week, 28-18.
Fast Start for Kentwood
The Ravens received the opening kickoff, and a nightmare of a start began on the kick return as the ball was fumbled out of bounds on their own 2-yard line. On their first play from scrimmage, Macai Hensley-Siufanua for Kentwood sliced through and dropped the running back in the end zone for a 2 point safety.
Auburn Riverside had to kick-off from their own 20 and Kentwood began the drive on the Ravens side of the 50. Kentwood using a balanced attack moved the ball to the 6-yard line. QB Calvin Ibale found Eden Gilbert for 6. The Ravens then blocked the PAT to keep it a one score game at 8-0 with about 9-minutes to go in the 1st quarter.
Kentwood’s defense would strike again when James Armstrong jumped on another fumble by the Ravens and the Conks were back in business on the A-R 31. Kentwood would face a 3rd and goal from the 1 when Ezra Moaalii took the Wildcat snap and ran it in for the score. The 2-point attempt failed and Kentwood led 14-0 with less than 6 minutes to go in the 1st.
Momentum shift
The Auburn-Riverside Ravens needed something to change the momentum after a quick three-and-out; they were back on defense. The Conks moved the ball again, but Ibale let one fly over the top of his intended receiver, and Brayden Rudolph picked it off back on the A-R 10-yard line and returned it to the 25.
The Ravens then picked up their first 1st down of the game, then a big 25-yard run down to the Kentwood 37. But on the next play, a fumbled shotgun snap, and the Ravens lost 10 yards, setting up a 2nd and 20. They would turn it over on downs and the momentum shift was short-lived.
The Conks’ Iabale shrugged off the interception, drove the Conks into Ravens territory, then dropped back and hit Jacob Bail with a perfect drop-in for 6. Kentwood finally hit a PAT as Paul Wenzel booted it through for a 21-0 lead with 9:15 to play in the half.
2nd Half
A crazy possession to start the 2nd half. Kentwood drove the ball into Ravens territory, but then a huge sack and a delay of game penalty put the Conks in a 2nd and 30. They picked up about half the yardage, setting up a 3rd and 16 when Ibale handed the ball off to Av Woods, who hit the edge and took it to the house for a 36-yard touchdown. The PAT was good, and Kentwood led 28-0 with about 7-minutes to play in the 3rd. The Conks would force another punt to get the ball back and were within striking distance after a 44-yard catch-and-run from Michael Fike. Kentwood would fumble in the red zone, though, and gave the Ravens the spark they needed.
Emediong Ukpe would get going for AR as well as the offense as he delivered a 35-yard run-after-catch and quickly after cashed in with a ten-yard run for his first touchdown and the first points of the game for the Ravens. The AR defense would force a three-and-out and get the ball back. It didn’t take long for another touchdown as a botched punt put them within 30 yards of the end zone. Colten Reid would find Gavin Danielson for a 19-yard touchdown and bring the game within two scores. The Conks would respond well and quickly after a 50-yard run from Av Woods, which led to a 12-yard touchdown run from Ezra Moaalii to make the score 35-14.
The next three drives would feature quick scores from both teams, which turned the game around as madness kept unfolding for each offense. Emediong Ukpe would run for a 65-yard touchdown for the Ravens in their next offensive drive, which Kentwood responded to with a 47-yard touchdown run from Ezra Moaalii for his third of the day. With time close to expiring, AR wanted to end with the last score of the game. They did just that as Ukpe would deliver a 45-yard run followed by an 11-yard touchdown catch to Gavin Danielson from Colten Reid. Time would be up, however, and Kentwood would kneel it down for the win, 40-26.
Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP
The Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP of the game went to Ezra Moaalii as he had three touchdowns in the game on only six carries for 66 yards. The definition of efficient, as every other time he got the ball, he was good for six points. A driving force in the offense who didn’t need the carries to produce. Moaalii gets the hat trick and helps lead his team to their first win of the season.
What’s Next?
Auburn Riverside will face Mt. Rainier on the road Thursday, September 24th with a 6:00 pm kickoff. Kentwood will face Kennedy Catholic on the road on Saturday, September 26th with a 1:00 pm kickoff.
Watch the full replay of this game on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Postgame Show
Game Highlights
Jacob Bail With the Flashy Touchdown
Av Woods 36 Yard Touchdown Run
Gavin Danielson Gets AR’s First Points of the Game
Emediong Ukpe 65-Yard Touchdown Run
Ezra Moaalii Third Touchdown Good for 47 Yards
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