The News Tribune’s annual preseason preview shines a spotlight on the Capital High School football program, the Capital Cougars, as they prepare for the 2026 campaign.
A fresh look for the Cougars
Quarterback Nolan Potts returns as the centerpiece of the squad, looking to build on his dramatic overtime heroics from a year ago. After a left leg injury sidelined him in Week 4, Potts now hopes to finish the story he started.
Coach Terry Rose, in his ninth season, stresses teamwork and unity, believing the chemistry forged in the offseason will translate into on‑field success. The roster features three experienced receivers — Carter Pennington, Carter Armstrong and others — who will give Potts reliable options.
Defensive standouts such as Kennon Valentine and tackle Karver Bulloch anchor a unit that finished 5‑4 last year, while the offense aims to capitalize on a revamped backfield.
The Cougars open the season with a high‑profile rivalry at Ingersoll Stadium on September 4, facing Olympia in the annual Spaghetti Bowl matchup. The game marks the first test of Rose’s vision and Potts’s full‑speed return.
With a schedule that also includes contests against Kelso, Bonney Lake, River Ridge, Peninsula, North Thurston and Timberline, the team is poised to test its depth and resilience throughout the year.