10/17/2026
Kentwood 34, Mount Rainier 13
(Kent, WA) The Saturday afternoon matinee featuring long time league rivals the Mount Rainier Rams and Kentwood Conquerors. The Rams and Conks came in tied for 4th with 2-2 league a half game behind Stadium for 3rd who sits at 3-2. The winner of this one will move into a tie with the Tigers for 3rd.
This was an important game for postseason considersation and both teams played like they knew their season’s may be on the line.
1st Half led by Defense
The halftime score was 14-7 Kentwood with the lead after a defensive tussle for the first 24-minutes. Of the three touchdowns scored, two were defensive pick 6’s. The Mount Rainier Rams struck first as Kentwood was backed up on their own 35 facing a 2nd and 19 when QB Calvin Ibale dropped back to pass. He stepped into a throw that was quickly scatched out of mid-air by 6’7 defensive end Mason Emil who then returned it 33-yards for the score and 6 points. Luis Casillas Avila booted home the PAT and it was 7-0 with 6:08 to play.
Kentwood’s offense would have an answer in spectacular fashion on the next drive. After a penalty and loss on the play the Conks were on their own 45-yard line facing a 3rd and 33. Ibale dropped back and had great protection when he unleashed a 40-yard strike dropping it into the hands of Eden Gilbert in stride who then covered the final 15 yards for a massive pass-catch and finish. Ethan Nonthaveth kicked the point after to tie the game with 1:47 left to play in the 1st quarter.
The two teams would exchange possessions 9 more times when the Rams had possession on their own 23-yard line with less than 2-min to play. QB Nicholas Harmon dropped back and threw a pass over the middle to his receiver but the ball got tipped up in the air and into the hands of Mana Ve II at the 25-yard line. Ve had his mind on matching the Rams pick 6 and raced to the far Pylon getting in for 6. The PAT was good and Kentwood had their first lead in the game 14-7 with 1:30 left to play. That is how it would go to the halftime break.
Conks offense adds to their lead while defense clamps down
The Conks offense did get off to a great start with the 1st possession of the 2nd half. They began on their own 26 and marched the ball down the field to the 3-yard line. From there Av Woods woould cap the 11-play drive by plowing into the endzone for 6. The PAT was no good but the Conks led 21-7 with 7:01 to go in the 3rd.
The Kentwood defense then locked down the Rams in the 2nd half while the offense added another score after the Rams feeling the pressure went for it on a 4th down from their own 6-yard line and turned the ball over on downs.
The Conks Ezra Moaalii punched it in from the 5, the PAT was good and Kentwood iced it with 6:41 to play in the game leading 34-7.
Mount Rainier would get a late score on a nice 26-yard pass from Harmon to Wyatt Wagner with just 1:06 left to go to end the scoring.
Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP of the Game
Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP of the game went to Mana Vi for Kentwood. The linebacker completely took control of the game for the Conquerors in the 2nd quarter with a pick six that gave momentum, and the lead to Kentwood and they would not give up any more points until Mount Rainier’s final drive.
What’s Next?
Kentwood pulls into the tie for 3rd with Stadium at 3-2 in the NPSL 4A league. The Conks will next take on Auburn next Friday in a home game at 7pm, followed by a potential huge match-up on Thursday, October 29 also at home against Stadium.
Mount Ranier drops to 2-3 in league play and into 5th place. They have a shot at creating some chaos when they host Stadium next Friday and then finish the regular season on the 30th at Auburn.
Stats
For the Kentwood Conquerors, it was a balanced attack offensively. Avan Woods got going on the ground in the second half and finished with 18 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown while catching one pass for 18 yards. The only other running back with positive rushing yards was Ezra Moaalii who carried the ball five times for 10 yards and a touchdown.
Calvin Ibale would go 8/17 passing for 127 yards and two touchdowns while finding five different receivers. Eden Gilbert and Michael Fike each had two catches and a touchdown with Gilbert having 60 yards and Fike with 33. Caleb Erickson also had two catches for nine yards while Jacob Bail had a seven-yard reception.
Defensively, James Armstrong had two sacks while EJ Ah-Siu and Bryce Ruhl each had one sack. BB Bourgeois Jr. and Ezra Moaalii each had an interception while Mana Vi had a pick six. Ethan Nonthaveth hit four extra points.
For Mount Rainier, it was Nicholas Harmon shouldering the offense, going 16/31 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Avelar was his go-to target with seven receptions for 55 yards while Mason Emil had four catches for 58 yards. Wyatt Wagner had the lone touchdown on offense in his three catches for 45 yards. Jenner Smith caught a 12-yard pass and Stevieon Wilkes had a five-yard catch.
Running backs had a tough day with three going down to injuries for the Rams. Anthony White had five carries for 13 yards and Tray Hogan had two carries for three yards. Zyrus Galoia was the featured back in the second half and had eight carries for 10 yards while Wawani Valerio Sabio had a six-yard run.
Defensively, Stevieon Wilkes had four tackles for a loss while Mason Emil had a sack and a pick six. Zyrus Galoia had a sack as well and Leland Moi recovered a fumble. Luis Casillas Avila hit one PAT.
NPSL 4A Standings
| WIAA | League | Overall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Name | CL | W | L | T | W | L | T |
 Kennedy Catholic |
4A | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
 Tahoma |
4A | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
 Kentwood |
4A | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
 Stadium |
4A | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
 Mount Rainier |
4A | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
 Auburn |
4A | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
 Auburn Riverside |
4A | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
 Kentridge |
4A | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Sports Postgame Show
Video Highlights
Mt Rainier strikes first with an impressive Pick 6 from the DE
Kentwood responds with a 55 yard bomb for 6
Kentwood’s defense gets in on the scoring action
www.West42Sports.com