Sumner running back Lance McGee had a simple message for Spartans’ head coach Keith Ross in chats before the team’s Class 4A state tournament semifinal game against top-seeded Puyallup on Saturday afternoon at Sparks Stadium.
“Just give me the ball every play,” he recalled telling Ross. “I told him I was gonna make something happen and that’s what happened. I made something happen.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat something: knocking off Sumner’s valley rival, the undefeated, No. 1 seed Puyallup Vikings, who had blown out nearly everyone on their schedule this season. It’s a resume that included a 58-22 win over the same Sumner team on the same field in early October.
Sumner wide receiver Braylan Pope (0) reacts to a touchdown against Puyallup during the first half of the 4A state semifinal game at Sparks Stadium, on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 in Puyallup, Wash.McGee and Sumner’s offensive line weren’t going to let that happen again. McGee, who transferred from Davis (Yakima) in the offseason, rushed for 313 yards and five touchdowns on Saturday afternoon. Puyallup’s defense had no answers for the three-star recruit. McGee deflected credit to his offensive line after the game.
“It wasn’t even an individual game for me, it was all my line,” he said. “I just ran the ball.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd he didn’t stop running until the clock struck zero. The final score: Sumner 42, Puyallup 35. Ross, Sumner’s coach, called it the “most satisfying” win of his coaching career, which included a win over Camas in the Class 4A state championship game last year.
“Nobody thought that we could do it,” he said. “Everyone had counted us out. What a resilient story the Spartans have been on. We’ve been on the road less traveled. We had to write our own story this year. We started believing in ourselves, we think we’re the best team in the state and I think today, we put a show on.”
About McGee’s effort? All Ross could do was smile.
“He’s a beast, we know that,” he said. “And our o-line is the greatest o-line and we knew we could feed him the ball and run it on them.”
Puyallup wide receiver Lawson Looker (3) reacts to a touchdown against the Sumner Spartans during the first half of the 4A state semifinal game at Sparks Stadium, on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 in Puyallup, Wash.McGee accounted for five of Sumner’s touchdowns, while receiver Braylon Pope racked up 113 yards and a touchdown for the Spartans. Puyallup quarterback Noah Smith passes for 239 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Receiver Lawson Looker led the Vikings with 133 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt was a far cry from the beatdown Sumner suffered at the hands of Puyallup in the regular season.
“After that first game, we never looked back,” McGee said.
Sumner returns to the 4A state championship game at Husky Stadium next weekend, where Sumner hoisted the trophy last year after beating Camas. Sumner will face the winner of Saturday evening’s matchup between Graham-Kapowsin and Lake Stevens.
“It’s unbelievable,” Ross said. “In August, we thought that was gonna be the plan. It certainly wasn’t. It made us look in the mirror and figure out that we can’t just assume we’re gonna be good and be good. To make it back there, it’s so wonderful for Sumner, so wonderful for these kids who have worked hard and responded.”
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