OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Tumwater runs the Wing-T offense, and a good portion of it runs through senior half back Andrew Brown, who was selected the Evergreen 2A Conference MVP. Brown not only leads the team in rushing, but also receiving, and he has breakaway speed and terrific open-field abilities, as evidenced by his 22 total touchdowns this season. Fullback Christian Cummings provides a valuable second option for the Thunderbirds' ground game. Quarterback Jayden Croft is the grandson of coach Sid Otton - the state's career wins leader - and is the son of former Lynden basketball standout Derric Croft, who still holds the school record for points scored in a season. Tumwater, as a team, has attempted only 108 passes this season, though. Seniors Hunter Shaner and Kendall Reed were first-team all-Evergreen 2A Conference selections on the offensive line. Tumwater has averaged 36.5 points per game during November.
DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Senior defensive tackle Jamie Bryant, who was the Evergreen 2A Conference Defensive MVP, is a rock in the middle of the Thunderbirds' defensive line. If he can get penetration, the rest of the Tumwater defense is able to clean things up. Defensive end Nick Foerstel leads the team with six sacks and seven tackles for loss, while defensive tackle Korye Trejo was an all-conference pick. Senior linebacker David Durden, who also was first-team all-Evergreen 2A, has shined after moving up from the junior varsity squad last year, and he leads the team with 133 tackles. Fellow senior inside linebacker Joe Brueske also is a first-year starter this season and is second on the team with 110 tackles. First-team all-conference defensive back Gabe Gleizes has shown good ball-hawking skills, as he leads the team with four interceptions and four fumble recoveries, and the defense as a whole set a school record by scoring 58 points this year.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ANDREW BROWN
Senior, HB/FS
Brown leads the Thunderbirds in rushing and receiving and is a threat every time he touches the ball. He's scored 24 of Tumwater's 44 touchdowns this season and holds the school record with a 100-yard interception return and a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown.
JAMIE BRYANT
Senior, TE/DT
At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, he's got the size and strength to be disruptive in the middle of Tumwater's defense. He's also athletic enough to return an interception 40 yards for an interception. How he matches up with Lynden's interior line could be a key to how well Tumwater is able to shut Lynden down.
CHRISTIAN CUMMINGS
Junior, FB/DB
Cummings rushed for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13 carries last week against Prosser, proving if you focus too much on Brown in Tumwater's Wing-T offense, you can still get burned. He's averaging 5.9 yards every time his number is called and has rushed for 11 touchdowns this season.
KEYS TO VICTORY
1. Hang in there
Lynden has been jumping out to big leads on teams, outscoring its four postseason opponents 151-0 in the first half. The T-Birds can't fall in a big hole.
2. Keep in close
Tumwater has a 4-0 record in games decided by 14 or fewer points. Lynden hasn't been in a competitive game since a Week 1 loss to King's.
3. Steal a few
The T-Birds have forced 30 turnovers and have athletes capable of turning those into instant points. Lynden has shown a knack for turning the ball over.
TUMWATER ROSTER
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
10 Jayden Croft QB 6-1 170 Jr.
11 David Cooper QB/FS 6-5 175 So.
12 Tim Wansing K 5-11 170 Sr.
13 Spencer Dowers QB/DE 6-1 185 Fr.
14 Elijah Hill K 6-3 190 So.
15 Easton Trakel HB/DB 5-8 150 Fr.
16 Aiden Boyd HB/DB 5-8 155 So.
17 Craig Westby DB 6-1 185 Sr.
18 Josh Nelson K 5-8 205 Sr.
19 Dominic Jones HB/LB 5-10 160 Fr.
20 Trevor Davis HB/LB 6-2 185 So.
21 Tyrus Snow HB/LB 6-0 190 So.
22 Gabe Gleizes SE/DB 5-11 150 Jr.
23 David Durden HB/LB 6-2 175 Sr.
24 Andrew Brown HB/FS 5-11 175 Sr.
25 Addison Barrett FB/LB 5-11 170 So.
26 Ian Saner FB/DB 5-8 140 So.
27 Kody Berry FB/DB 5-8 150 So.
28 Michael Johnston DB 5-8 130 Sr.
29 Logan Schiendelman HB/DB 5-10 155 Jr.
30 Christian Cummings FB/DB 5-10 160 Jr.
31 Donovan Chafin DB 5-8 140 Sr.
32 Josh Mackenroth DB 6-0 140 So.
33 Jarid Barrett FB/LB 5-8 150 Fr.
34 Hunter Moore HB/LB 5-11 150 Jr.
35 Jesse Hoeschen DB 6-0 165 Sr.
36 Zach Wendler HB/DB 5-11 170 Jr.
37 Griffin Shea HB/DB 5-11 160 Fr.
38 Dakota Tressner FB/DB 5-9 155 Jr.
39 Michael Morrissey HB/DB 5-8 140 So.
40 Cameron Roper LB 5-9 170 Sr.
41 Damien Higashi SE/DB 5-11 155 So.
42 Dan Ewing DB 6-0 140 Jr.
43 Chase Martin HB/LB 5-9 165 So.
44 Sterling Crain DB 6-3 195 Sr.
45 Colton Barrett FB/LB 5-9 160 Jr.
47 Oscar Olsvik TE 6-1 175 Sr.
48 Caleb Whiteash HB/LB 5-11 180 Fr.
49 Dalton Palkovitz SE/DB 6-1 150 So.
50 Jesse Pullins C 6-2 215 Jr.
51 Nathan Padgett G 6-0 190 Jr.
52 Jake Miller G 6-2 220 Sr.
53 Jordan Curry C/NT 5-8 230 Sr.
54 Ethan Brock C 6-1 225 Jr.
55 Mark Yuk G/LB 5-9 175 So.
56 Hunter Shaner C/NT 6-2 250 Sr.
58 Thomas Brassfield C/NT 5-11 190 Fr.
59 Adam Zimmerman T/DT 6-1 240 So.
60 Korye Trejo G/DT 6-1 240 Jr.
61 David Whittle 6-2 180 So.
62 Garrett Elliott C/DT 5-8 200 So.
64 Joe Brueske G/LB 6-3 230 Sr.
65 Cole Stoddard G/LB 6-0 190 So.
66 Kaden Prosser C 6-1 231 So.
67 David Wenzel G 5-11 180 So.
68 Daniel Dickason G/DE 6-1 180 So.
69 Taylor Hendershot DT 5-11 280 Sr.
70 Kolton Yale T/DT 5-11 230 So.
71 Kendall Reed T/DE 6-3 215 Sr.
72 Dayton Newell T/DT 5-10 185 Jr.
73 Chris Kendall G/LB 5-10 235 So.
74 Chris Jenkins T/NT 6-3 275 So.
75 Justin Broeckel T/NT 6-0 300 Jr.
76 Jose Jimenez T/DT 6-3 225 Sr.
77 Zane Wolf T/DT 6-4 200 So.
78 Jonathan JonesNewman T/DT 6-4 270 So.
79 Walker VandenHazel T 6-7 260 Sr.
80 John Lathrop DB 6-0 170 Sr.
81 Logan Hedin-Baughan TE/DE 6-4 180 So.
82 Riley Owen TE/DE 6-6 170 So.
83 Justin Brascher SE/DE 6-0 180 Jr.
84 Nick Foerstel TE/DE 6-3 205 Jr.
85 Kyle Plamondon SE/DB 6-0 160 Sr.
86 Jon Duncan TE/DE 6-3 180 Jr.
87 Zach Delucco TE/DE 6-6 185 Jr.
88 Jaimie Bryant TE/DT 6-5 255 Sr.
89 Dalton Shedd-Kirkland SE/DB 6-3 170 Jr.
90 Michael Wertz T/DT 6-4 240 Jr.
91 Zach Slater SE 6-0 164 So.
92 Jordan Frost DT 6-3 240 Sr.
93 Nate Frampton DT 6-1 200 Sr.
94 Keenan Milligan TE/SS 6-0 170 Fr.
TUMWATER RESULTS
Aug. 31 at Shelton L 42-21
Sept. 7 Timberline W 48-26
Sept. 14 Inglemoor W 31-28
Sept. 22 at Capital W 35-28, 2OT
Sept. 28 Chehalis W.F. West W 21-20
Oct. 5 at North Thurston W 28-12
Oct. 12 Centralia W 48-0
Oct. 18 at River Ridge W 27-12
Oct. 26 Black Hills W 35-7
CLASS 2A SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS
Nov. 2 Hockinson W 45-7
CLASS 2A STATE PLAYOFFS
Nov. 9 Steilacoom W 45-22
Nov. 16 Archbishop Murphy W 21-0
Nov. 23 Prosser (at Kennewick) W 35-21
TUMWATER STAT LEADERS
RUSHING
Player Att. Yards Avg. TD
Andrew Brown 170 1,237 7.3 14
Christian Cummings 111 659 5.9 11
Tyrus Snow 71 435 6.1 4
Dakota Tressner 65 387 6.0 1
Hunter Moore 14 115 8.2 2
PASSING
Player Cmp. Att. Yards TD Int.
Jayden Croft 55 107 822 9 5
Andrew Brown 1 1 36 1 0
RECEIVING
Player Rec. Yards Avg. TD
Andrew Brown 17 378 22.2 4
Zach Delucco 12 187 15.6 0
Kyle Plamondon 10 127 12.7 3
Christian Cummings 6 58 9.7 1
Tyrus Snow 4 74 18.5 0
TACKLES
Player Solo. Ast. Total
David Durden 70 63 133
Joe Brueske 62 48 110
Gabe Gleizes 68 22 90
Jamie Bryant 35 40 75
Korye Trejo 34 24 58
SACKS
Player No.
Nick Foerstel 6
Korye Trejo 5
David Durden 4
Joe Brueske 2
TACKLES FOR LOSS
Player No.
Nick Foerstel 7
Jaimie Bryant 6
Korye Trejo 5
David Durden 4
INTERCEPTIONS
Player No.
Gabe Gleizes 4
Andrew Brown 3
Craig Westby 3
Hunter Moore 2
FORCED FUMBLES
Player No.
David Durden 4
Nick Foerstel 3
Korye Trejo 2
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Player No.
Gabe Gleizes 4
Joes Jimenez 3
Korye Trejo 2
Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.
