9/18/2026
Lakes 32, Curtis 22
(University Place, WA) The Lakes Lancers built up a big lead and then had to hold on to pull off the win at Curtis. As the game got underway both sides were feeling each other out with three straight punts. Curti’s second possession looked to be a 4th straight punt when the Vikings pulled a fast one and ran a fake punt and picked up the 1st down only to fumble the ball and the Lancer’s fell on the loose ball on their own 40.
Lancer’s start to Roll
Lakes needed just three plays to break the ice. After moving the ball down to the Vikings 28, a hand-off to Korbin Reed was all Lancer QB Elijah Gafa-Shields needed to do and Reed did the rest bursting up the field going 28 yards in for the score, Jude Grape hit the PAT and it was 7-0 with 2:37 left to go in the 1st.
After forcing another Viking punt the Lancers took possession on their own 42. Mixing up the pass and run they ended up on the Curtis 3-yard line and Reed carried the rock in for another touchdown. The PAT failed and Lakes led 13-0 with 9:19 to play.
The Lakes defense flexed again forcing Curtis to punt from deep in their own territory and a high snap to Luca Niebergall where he had to leap and knocked the ball down preventing it from going into the endzone but dropped his knee down and the play was blown ded at the 8-yard line.
Lakes quickly took advantage in a 2-play drive with Reed getting the 1st four yards followed by Toetu Moliga pounding it in on the 2nd carry. The Lancers tried for 2 and were stopped short but extended their lead to 19-0 with 5:50 to play in the half.
The Lancer defense stiffened again on the next drive forcing the Vikings to go for it on 4th down only to turn it over to Lakes on downs. Beginning on their own 45, the Lancers drove down to the Curtis 16 where they faced a 4th down and Grape came on to attempt a 33-yard field goal but pushed it wide and the 19-0 lead would take them to halftime.
New Beginning for the Vikings
Curtis came out with a re-newed focus and were ready to get back into this game. They got the ball to start the 2nd half and began on their own 35 and came out throwing the ball. QB Sam Patterson moved them quickly down field with 5 straight pass plays ending up on the Lakes 8-yard line. Tyce Kinney finished it off running it in from the 8. Niebergall hit the PAT and the Vikings were on the board trailing 19-7 with 10:21 to go in the 3rd.
The Vikings defense still had to figure out how to stop the Lancers as Lakes got the ball on their own 38. The Lancers then decided to go on a 14-play drive picking up a key 1st down on a 4th down play when QB Elijah Gafa-Shields plowed in from the 1 on a keeper but the PAT was again no good but Lakes still up comfortably 25-7 and burned nearly 8 minutes off the clock.
Curtis got the ball back on their own 29 and went on their own impressive drive pushing the ball to the Lakes 3-yard line. On the 9th play Kinney was called uponm once again and again did not disappoint scoring with 9:22 to play in the game. They would go for 2 to get within 10 and Patterson found Craig Sale on a slant for successful 2 point play to make it 25-15.
The Vikings needed a big stop and forced a 3 and out for Lakes giving Curtis fabulous field position on their own 43. It would take the Viks 8 plays to get to the Lancers 24 who were giving up ground begrudgingly and Curtis Head Coach Brian Jensen knew they needed to score sooner than later.
On 3rd down and 10 from the 24, Patterson dropped back to pass and found Taylor Smith in the back of the end zone and Smith able to get a foot down for the score. Neibergall hit the PAT and with 4:43 to play it was a 3-point game.
Coach Jensen then decided to gamble and called for the onside kick which was a little chip shot to the right side, the Lancers scrambled but the Vikings jumped on the loose ball to get possession on the Lakes 48.
Lakes long time Head Coach Dave Miller quickly gathered his defense and re-set them saying they need a huge stand right now. The defense listened and came up with a huge stand. It began with a 7 yard sack of Patterson by Kam Warren. Facing a 3rd and 17 a 9-yard completion set up 4th and 8. The Lancers were ready with more pressure and an incomplete pass and had the Vikings picked up the 1st down they would have been flagged for an illegal formation.
The Lancers took-over on their own 46 with 3:31 to play. After an 8-yard pick-up Reed got the ball again and began to the left side of the offensive line, then cut back and wound his way back to the right side of the field and darted 46 yards icing the game with his 3rd touchdown of the game. The PAT was good pushing the lead back to 10, 32-22 and that is how the game would end.
Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP
There was plenty of options for the MVP of the game, Korbin Reed, Kam Warren and Tietu Moliga all in the discussion but the West 42 crew decided the impact from Kyran Sessoms was too much as Sessoms was big on both sides of the ball doing the dirty work and was named the Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP.
What’s Next?
Lakes improves to 2-1 with the win all in non-league play. The Lancers will open conference play next Thursday at North Thurston. Curtis falls to 1-2 and will travel to Sparks Stadium next Friday to take on Puyallup in SPSL 4A conference play.
Watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Sports Postgame Show
Game Highlights
Korbin Reed breaks away for the 1st score of the game
Curtis strikes on 3rd and long to pull within 3
Lakes Korbin Reed ices the win with a huge run
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