Puyallup Vikings emerging as Northwest’s best team (Part 1)

Looking for the top high school football team in the Northwest this season?   In the state of Oregon, the current leader in the clubhouse is the West Linn Lions, an undefeated bunch which boasts a win over No. 2 Lake Oswego (Oregon) and a narrow victory over Sumner (31-24).   There's just one problem with their claim.   The Puyallup Vikings have been equally impressive on their way to a 7-0 record - and led that same Sumner squad 31-0 at halftime in a 58-22 victory.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/puyallup-vikings-emerging-as-northwests-best-team-part-2/">Part 2 - Puyallup defense here</a>   Comparing scores is a slippery slope, especially when trying to make “if X, then Y” arguments.   But Puyallup certainly looks the part of the best team in Washington - and arguably the best team in the region (if only they could play West Linn head-to-head).   Was that anticipated?   Puyallup coach D.J. Mims knew he might have something special on his hands during spring scrimmages at PLU.    “We went to that camp and scrimmaged O'Dea and a lot of other premier 3A and 4A programs and played well,” he said. “We knew we were going to get some transfers, so we knew we had a lot of potential.”   From there, the first-year coach coach said it was about building a culture, setting a standard and establishing new energy and expectations for his program.   “You look at a lot of teams in the Pacific Northwest and they either have good size or good speed,” Mims said. “There's rather programs that display both — that are bigger than everybody but then also faster and more athletic. That's what we have right now.”    Because of that, Puyallup has one major goal in mind… even as they take the schedule one week at a time.    “For us, our mentality is state, because we have everything we need,” Mims said. “When you are on the sideline as a coaching staff and you look at your 11 starters on both side of the ball and you don't see a weakness, then the sky is the limit.”   “We're taking it one game at a time, but the ultimate goal is championship.”    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/4a-washington-mid-season-all-state-1st-2nd-team-o-2/">Midseason Washington 4A All-State Offense</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/4a-washington-mid-season-all-state-1st-2nd-team-d-2/?itm_source=parsely-api">Midseason Washington 4A All-State Defense</a>   Here's a position-by-position look at what makes the Puyallup roster so tainted:   Quarterback    Class of 2027 quarterback Noah Smith is a 6-foot, left-handed playmaker who has more than admirably led the charge for the Vikings.    “He's very dynamic,” Mims said. “It's a little different for our receivers to catch from a lefty, but they've adjusted. He's a leader in our locker room. He's a student of the game with a high-football IQ.”    Smith showcased all of that ability in just one half last week in a 65-6 win over Rogers, throwing for 152 yards and 7 touchdowns.    Running backs   The dynamic sophomore thunder and lightning duo of Briytan Bailey (5-foot-9, 155 pounds) and  Malcolm “Mal Mal” Akuffo is special.   “Bailey has about 750 rushing yards right now. He's solid, runs hard for his size, breaks a lot of tackles and is good in open space,” Mims said. “He's a one-cut North and South runner. Akuffo is a 5-foot-11, 230-pound running back. He brings a ton of experience with grounding out yards o third and fourth and short, but he also has the ability to get to the edge.”   It's an incredibly talented 1-2 punch that will in high school for two more years, a scary proposition for opponents.   “They are going to be one of the best duos to watch in the next two-and-a-half years,” Mims said.    Wide receivers   It's probably our most loaded position group,” Mims said.    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1188105' first='J'Isaiah' last='Mitchell'] leads the way.   He's a 6-foot-5, 180-pound athlete who is nearly double-digit offers, led by BYU, Cal, Washington and Washington State.   Mitchell could blossom into a national recruit sooner than later, and is already putting up monster numbers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165415' first='Jayden' last='Woodland'], an Eastern Washington commit, and [player_tooltip player_id='726165' first='Jasiah' last='Denmark'], a Sacramento State pledge, are both likely to play defensive back in college, but both are dynamic weapons at the high school level.   Woodland has proven to be difficult to bring down in space.    “He's probably one of our most explosive players and is dynamic with the ball in his hands,” Mms said.    [player_tooltip player_id='1969012' first='Lawson' last='Looker'], the son of former NFL'er Dane Looker, is an almost unfair playmaker when he gets the ball, as 7 of his 17 receptions have been taken to the house.    [player_tooltip player_id='1605386' first='Luke' last='Parker'], a slot, quarterback and team captain, is yet another pass-catcher that Puyallup can rely upon.   With five-plus playmakers at receiver, Puyallup brings nightmarish athleticism and depth to the perimeter.    Offensive line   The top prospect along the offensive line is unquestionably left tackle Genova Doyal, a junior who has generated national attention.    “He's been a three-year starter at Puyallup and he's probably the best tackle in the state of Washington,” Mims said. “He's got offers from everywhere. He keeps our quarterback upright and is nasty in the run game.”   The 6-foot-3, 290-pound lineman holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, SMU, Tennessee and others.    Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1338208' first='Marley' last='Malotumau'] is a returning starter at left guard and has paired with Doyal for a dominant left side in year two of what will be three for the pairing.    Malotumau leads the team in pancakes as a sophomore and specializes in run blocking. ,   [player_tooltip player_id='643215' first='Preston' last='Liberal'], a 6-foot-2, 310-pound center, is “the leader of the offensive line” and brings his smarts to the position.   Liberal has Division III offers, but is beginning to hear from schools at higher levels.   Another rise to his profile could be in order before his high school career comes to an end.    On the right side, Colby Kier has slid in from right tackle to right guard, while Washington Huskies commit [player_tooltip player_id='1165418' first='Ah' last='Deong Yang'] plays right tackle.   “He's probably, pound-for-pound, our best offensive lineman right now,” Mims said.    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/puyallup-vikings-emerging-as-northwests-best-team-part-2/">Part 2 - Puyallup defense here</a>

Looking for the top high school football team in the Northwest this season?