Lake Stevens’s football program is poised to rebound in the 2026 season after a painful 4A State Championship loss to Sumner, but the Vikings bring back a core group of proven playmakers and a coach determined to reshape the team’s identity.
Seth Price, the team’s leading receiver and starting defensive back, returns alongside quarterback Blake Moser, the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year, and running back Jayvian Ferrell, giving the offense a potent mix of speed and power. At the same time, versatile senior Ty Tautolo, an eighth‑ranked recruit who has committed to playing offensive tackle for the first time at the varsity level, adds size and athleticism to the line, while Colorado State commit Will Lynch will aid his transition.
The opening slate is demanding, beginning with a Week 1 showdown against Graham‑Kapowsin, the team that fell in the semifinals last year, followed by contests against Bothell in Week 2 and Puyallup in Week 3, a stretch that will test the Vikings’ readiness and help cement their regional reputation.
Defensively, the squad mourns the departure of senior Brayden Slezak to injury, yet the depth chart remains stocked with talent across the board, allowing the unit to maintain its competitive edge despite the setback.
Coach Tom Tri has made controlling the line of scrimmage the cornerstone of his preparation, believing that dominance at the point of attack will open lanes for his skill players and give the defense the leverage needed to force turnovers.
Coach Tri’s Emphasis on Controlling the Line of Scrimmage
In practice sessions that included a jamboree against Snohomish and Noosack Valley just days before the season opener, Tri drilled his linemen on leverage and pad level, insisting that winning the battle at the line will create the space required for Price, Moser and Ferrell to exploit. The coordinated effort reflects a broader philosophy that success this season will hinge on physicality as much as on talent.
With the schedule’s early tests and the emphasis on line play, the Vikings enter the new campaign carrying both the weight of last year’s disappointment and the optimism of a roster capable of contending for another state title.