The Federal Way Eagle football team experienced a difficult defeat on September 25, losing 28-27 to the undefeated Enumclaw Hornets. The Eagles, who had established a significant lead in the third quarter, were outscored 16-0 in the fourth, allowing Enumclaw to secure the win with just 45 seconds remaining in the game.
Federal Way had built a commanding 27-12 lead over Enumclaw with 5:45 left in the third quarter at Pete’s Pool. However, the game shifted dramatically in the final quarter due to what head coach Marcus Yzaguirre described as "self-inflicted wounds." Yzaguirre stated, "We gotta control what we can control… We’re giving them opportunities, when they got opportunities they capitalized. That’s what a good team does."
One pivotal moment occurred with Federal Way leading 27-21 and four minutes remaining. Senior running back Curtis Gilmer, praised by Yzaguirre as the team’s top back, was stripped of the football on a handoff, allowing Enumclaw to recover. This turnover provided Enumclaw with a crucial lifeline that eventually led to their game-winning touchdown. Coach Yzaguirre affirmed his continued confidence in Gilmer, noting, "He’s been running the ball really well for us. He’s made great strides from last year to this year, we are just going to keep riding that horse."
The game-winning score came when Enumclaw’s Kannon Kuzaro connected with freshman Kolten Patterson for a touchdown, followed by a successful extra point that sealed the 28-27 victory. This left Federal Way with a 3-1 record, while Enumclaw improved to 4-0.
The Eagles started strong, with sophomore quarterback Isaiah Healy connecting with Kaicen Carter for a 38-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. Tayven Collins also contributed in the first half, bulldozing his way into the endzone. Coach Yzaguirre commended Healy’s performance, particularly given his limited experience. "He played freshman ball last year. For a kid like that to come in here in this environment to manage the game the best he can and he’s still learning, I am proud of him," Yzaguirre said, adding that Healy "stepped in during a big game and threw three big touchdowns."
Federal Way’s scoring continued into the third quarter with a 66-yard touchdown throw and catch from Isaiah Healy to Mikey Waller. RJ Niupulusu and Mikey Waller were seen celebrating a touchdown in the third quarter, which extended the Eagles' lead to 27-12. Ray Rondon and Curtis Gilmer were also noted for running the football for Federal Way.
Enumclaw’s first touchdown came on a 65-yard run from Paxton Patterson in the first quarter. Before halftime, Federal Way’s Miicah Trumbo made a significant defensive play, stealing the ball on a botched handoff deep in Eagle territory and running 60 yards for a touchdown with 36 seconds left in the half.
In the fourth quarter, Enumclaw’s comeback began. On a fourth-and-goal situation, Kannon Kuzaro fumbled the snap but recovered to find Quinton Kuzaro for a touchdown with 11:54 remaining, narrowing Federal Way's lead. Another critical moment, identified by Enumclaw head coach Mark Gunderson, was a bad snap on fourth down by Federal Way that went out of the endzone, which Gunderson stated was the spark for Enumclaw’s rally.
The loss likely impacts Federal Way's "inside track to the North Puget Sound League title," as Enumclaw is noted to have no teams with a record above .500 left on their schedule. Despite the setback, the Eagles are preparing for their next challenge against White River at Federal Way Memorial. The team anticipates being significantly bolstered by the eligibility of transfer quarterback Corde Norling, linebacker Andrew Pea Pea, and four-star recruit Justin Suega, who transferred from Cascade Christian. Yzaguirre expressed optimism for the upcoming game, stating, "We’ll be one of the best teams in our league next week... I feel like we can play with anybody at any given time. We’ve got big play ability, our kids believe, are locked in and our kids play hard. We just got to put it together."