This holiday weekend is shaping up to be a great weekend for football fans! With college football getting started around the country, and with the NFL season kicking off in a mere few days, our eyes and attention turn to the very exciting season of Friday Night Lights and Washington state’s 3A football league.
The opening week of Washington’s 2026 high school football season provided plenty of excitement and evidence that the 3A race could be one of the most competitive in the state. From Seattle to the South Sound, several schools with established programs opened with impressive victories, while others were handed early tests that could prove valuable as the season progresses. With just one week in the books, it is far too early to identify a favorite—but several teams have already made their presence known.
The defending state champion O’Dea Fighting Irish looked every bit like a team capable of making another championship run. O’Dea traveled to Roosevelt and came away with a 56-28 victory, scoring 28 points in the opening quarter and piling up more than 450 yards of offense. Running back J’Shaun Wilson was particularly impressive, rushing for 229 yards and three touchdowns on only nine carries. The Irish have now won 14 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Eastside Catholic also delivered a strong opening statement. The Crusaders defeated West Seattle 47-12 in a game that demonstrated the depth and explosiveness that have made the program a perennial 3A contender. Eastside Catholic entered the season ranked among Washington’s top teams and will quickly find out where it stands when it hosts Seattle Prep in Week 2.
Perhaps the most surprising result involving a preseason contender came in Tacoma, where Mount Tahoma fell to Hawaii’s Waipahu, 26-7. The Thunderbirds reached the 3A state championship game last season before falling to O’Dea, and expectations remain high for a program that has established itself as one of the state’s premier 3A teams. The Week 1 loss, however, immediately gives Mount Tahoma something to prove when it returns to Washington competition.
Bellevue, meanwhile, began its season with the type of defensive battle that has become familiar to followers of the Wolverines. Ranked No. 1 in the state’s 3A classification entering the season, Bellevue defeated Kennedy Catholic 14-10 on Saturday. It was hardly an offensive showcase, but the result demonstrated Bellevue’s ability to win a close game against a quality opponent—and those kinds of victories often become important later in the season.
In the 3A Metro, Rainier Beach also made an early statement, traveling to Bishop Blanchet and returning home with a 41-19 victory. The Vikings entered the season ranked among the state’s top 3A programs and wasted little time establishing themselves as another team to watch in what should be a highly competitive Metro race. Bishop Blanchet, meanwhile, will look to regroup before facing Lincoln in Week 2.
Seattle Prep had one of the more convincing defensive performances of the opening week, shutting out Chief Sealth 30-0. The Panthers begin the season 1-0 and now face one of the toughest possible tests in the classification when they travel to Sammamish to meet Eastside Catholic. That matchup should provide an early measuring stick for a Seattle Prep team that is currently ranked among Washington’s top 3A programs.
The North Puget Sound 3A also produced several noteworthy results. Auburn Mountainview opened with a 44-12 victory over Todd Beamer, while Federal Way blanked Kent-Meridian 42-0. Enumclaw was even more dominant, overwhelming Jefferson 70-0 on Saturday. Those results suggest that the race in the NPSL could become particularly interesting as Auburn Mountainview, Federal Way and Enumclaw begin working through league play.
Skyline also survived its opening challenge, defeating Kentwood 28-19 on Thursday night. The game was scoreless at halftime before the Spartans found their offensive rhythm in the second half. Quarterback Knox Carr threw two touchdown passes, while Ari Gibbons added a rushing touchdown. Kentwood quarterback Calvin Ibale threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns despite the loss, giving the Conquerors plenty of positives to build on heading into Week 2.
Not every 3A contender had the opening night it envisioned. Peninsula, a longtime force in the classification, traveled to 2A power WF West and fell 42-21. The Seahawks were competitive early but couldn’t overcome a fast start by the Bearcats. For Peninsula, the result is less a reason for panic than an early opportunity to identify what needs to improve before the 3A schedule becomes more demanding.
If Week 1 proved anything, it is that Washington’s 3A classification has plenty of depth. O’Dea, Bellevue, Eastside Catholic and Rainier Beach all opened with victories, while programs such as Skyline, Auburn Mountainview, Federal Way and Enumclaw also made strong early impressions. Mount Tahoma and Peninsula, meanwhile, will have to respond after difficult opening-week results. With league play beginning to take shape, the road to the Tacoma Dome is already looking crowded—and Week 2 should provide an even clearer picture of which teams are genuine championship contenders.