9/25/2026
Sumner 24, Emerald Ridge 14
(Sumner, WA) Both teams came into the game 3-0 against nonleague opponents. Emerald Ridge already has more wins than last season (2) and are looking to keep their hot start to the season going as they enter league play. The Jags shut out Heritage 28-0 in their last game.
Sumner is the back-to-back 4A champions and looking to get a statement win to start the South Puget Sound League. The Spartans grinded out a 22-19 win over Mt. Tahoma in their last game.
1st Half
The Sumner Spartans got the ball first but their opening drive stalled. On 4th down they tried a run play but the ball carrier never secured the ball and Emerald Ridge pounced on it at their own 38 yard line. A 5 minute 10 play drive all on the ground by the Jags ended with a 5 yard scramble by quarterback Brayden Paulino for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Sumner ran out the first quarter clock on their next drive and on the first play of the 2nd quarter got a 3 yard TD run by Von Jackson to even the score at 7 all.
The Jaguars came back with a gutsy 13 play drive. On 4th down punter Hunter Rustler threw a pass to a wide open Tyler Tutty to keep the drive alive. Emerald Ridge converted another 4th down on a 2 yard run. The drive ended in a 14 yard touchdown pass from Paulino to tight end Cody Dalton to go up 14-7.
Each team would put on their next possession and Sumner got the ball with 47 seconds to go in the first half. The Spartans went to the air and got down the field quickly on their last passing play of the half the Jags rush got there late and a roughing the passer call put Sumner in field goal range. Bergen Eriksson nailed the 24 yard field goal and the half ended with Emerald Ridge leading 14-10.
Halftime Emerald Ridge 14, Sumner 10
Emerald Ridge got the ball to start the 2nd half and just like the first drive of the game ended in a fumble. The Spartans however got a big return on the fumble by Tyson Kukahike to
the ER 4 yard line. After a 1 yard run Sumner qb Brennan Abbott found tight end Gray Longoria for a 3 yard touchdown to give the Spartans their first lead of the game 17-14. That score would hold to the 4th quarter.
The first drive of the 4th quarter Sumner put together a 13 play drive that ate up 6 and a half minutes of the final quarter. The drive ended on a 8 yard pitch from Abbott to running back Santos Hernandez-Ruiz for the touchdown.
The Jags rallied and got some nice passes down the field but couldn’t find the end zone in the 2nd half resulting in their first loss of the season.
Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP
The MVP went to senior TE/DE Gray Longoria. Longoria had a touchdown catch and pressured the ER quarterback all game long. Tyson Kukahike was also in the running with that fumble scoop and run but came up 4 yards short of the MVP.
What’s Next?
Sumner is now 4-0 on the year and heads to 1-3 Curtis for their next game on October 2nd.
Emerald Ridge is now 3-1 and looks to bounce back with a road game at 1-3 South Kitsap also on October 2nd.
Stats of Note
Sumner
Brennan Abbott went 11-17 passing for 120 yards and 1 TD while adding 33 yards rushing. Santos Hernandez-Ruiz had 18 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown. Ashton Pillard was the leading receiver with 4 catches for 41 yards. Bergan Eriksson hit all 3 PATs and a 24 yard field goal.
Emerald Ridge
Brayden Paulino went 4-11 passing for 58 yards and 1 TD and ran 7 times for 20 yards and 1 TD. Tre Robinson had 81 yards on 14 carries while Quintin Gardley had 64 yards on 9 carries. Amosa Masaniai had 61 yards rushing on 12 carries. Hunter Rusler was 1-1 passing for 14 yards and had 1 catch for 19 yards. Cody Dalton had 1 catch for 14 yards and 1 TD.
Watch the full replay of this match on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Sports Postgame Show
Game Highlights
Emerald Ridge digs deep in the playbook with the fake punt
Brayden Paulino rolls to his left and fires a laser to Cody Dalton
QB Brennan Abbott with a run pass option found a wide open Gray Longoria
Sumner pushes to a 2 possession game on the option
Sumner’s defense tookover late in the game to seal it
Photo Gallery
www.West42Sports.com