For the two years that the Northwest Christian High School football team spent playing six-man football from 2023 to 2024, the Wolverines were the Goliaths in the Coastal League.
The Wolverines never lost in their six-man era, going a perfect 15-0 in that two-year span by averaging 58 points per game in 2023 and 68 points per game in 2024. In those 15 games, they allowed an average of just 9 points per game.
But coming back to eight-man football in 2025, Northwest Christian expected to relatively fall back to Earth and be more like David in a Sea-Tac League full of Goliaths. The Wolverines were the smallest team in the league in both the height department and in roster size.
To the Wolverines’ surprise, they acclimated to the eight-man game and the new league much faster than anticipated. Northwest Christian finished third in the league and 5-4 overall, advancing to the Class 1B District 2 playoffs and falling to Quilcene 40-34 in the crossover. This success was largely because of the play of a certain Goliath wearing the number 22 in teal and white.
Junior running back Jacob Kearns, who earned the Coastal League’s Offensive Player of the Year title as a freshman in 2024, ripped defenses to shreds as a sophomore en route to a Sea-Tac League MVP award. He rushed for 1,768 yards and scored 20 touchdowns on 159 carries, good for 196.4 yards per game and 11.1 yards per carry, in just nine games.
And he may have yet to reach his ceiling.
During Tuesday’s practice at the Regional Athletic Complex soccer fields, Kearns took his first carry and quite literally ran through the entire defense in a five-on-five drill.
“You just got a glimpse of Bo Jackson in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” head coach Chris Pontius told his team after the highlight-reel run. “That’s the most underrated running back in Thurston County, if not the state.”
What’s the secret to Kearns’ success?
“I don’t try to juke people out. I try to run through them,” Kearns said.
Kearns started playing flag football as a sixth grader before trying tackle football the following year. He was admittedly afraid of playing running back at first, but three plays into his first TCYFL Rams game in the backfield, he flipped a switch to inflicting fear upon his opponents.
“I will never turn down the opportunity to run the ball. I love running the ball,” Kearns said. “This year, I just want to beat my rushing total from last year.”
Northwest Christian has the largest roster that it’s had under fourth-year coach Pontius, with 17 players set to suit up for the Wolverines as they join the Sea-Tac League’s north division. Also in the division are Concrete, Muckleshoot Tribal School, Lummi Nation, Charles Wright Academy, Crescent, Quilcene, Neah Bay and Vashon Island.
Pontius’ bunch has embraced the identity of the young shepherd in the David vs. Goliath story, and they are confident that they can take a step forward this fall.
“We actually don’t focus on wins or losses. The goal is to get better every practice. If we’re doing that, I feel like winning follows that. We’re competing against ourselves,” Pontius said. “But I do think that we have an opportunity to be very competitive.”
Kearns will headline the offense in 2026 after refusing to transfer to a bigger school and opting to stick with Northwest Christian.
“He decided to stay at our school because he wanted to be with his friends, and he loves the school,” Pontius said. “He wanted to be true to his Christian faith. I’m never going to forget him for what he’s done for our school. I’ve never once heard him brag or talk about himself. He’s so unassuming. He’s a dream player.”
Joining Kearns in the backfield will be sophomore quarterback Sully Snyder, who played running back and wide receiver a season ago. Pontius said Snyder has “MVP talent” at the quarterback position and described him as an unselfish player. Sophomore Koa Paresa may own the title for the best hands on the team, and he’ll catch passes as a tight end. Sophomore Luke Nickel is a versatile speedster who can run downfield routes and take handoffs out of the backfield. Sophomore Ronin Vahey and senior Easton Payment are among the starters on the offensive line. Robb Jimenez is the offensive coordinator for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines’ defense, coached by first-year defensive coordinator Tommy Adger, will be led by Paresa at free safety and junior Spence Coleman at linebacker. Sophomore Andrew Graves will also play linebacker, while Kearns, Payment and Nickel will line up along the defensive line. Jadon Dillingham, Snyder and JJ Nobles will roam the secondary.
Adger’s defensive philosophy is to give his players the new scheme in a simple manner, calling it “Barney style.”
“The more they understand their position, the harder they play once the ball is snapped. When you have no doubt in your mind about what your responsibility is pre-snap, that makes you run and play harder,” he said. “They’re picking it up really fast.”
Throughout Tuesday’s practice, particularly on defense, coaches spent time thoroughly walking players through drills and schemes and making corrections. Coaches asked for defenders to bring their “dog” out when tackling or attacking the ball.
“I love how aggressive we are, especially the defensive line,” Payment said of the defense. “That group of guys is really hard-working. Coach Tommy puts everybody in the best position to be successful.”
Kicker Justin White was cashing in kicks throughout the three-hour practice, as well, and received praise from coaches and teammates after the session.
Pontius expects that Northwest Christian will again be the smallest team in its league this fall, but he knows his team will embrace the challenge and continue its path toward sustained success. The program has grown in numbers each year he’s been on the staff.
“This is the first year I’ve really seen the momentum of football at the school. Kids are talking about it. There’s kind of a buzz,” Pontius said. “With all the hard work we’ve put in and the family atmosphere we’re creating, kids are starting to want to be part of it, and that’s exciting. As long as we’re growing and getting better, I feel like the program will go in the direction that I set out for it to go.”
Northwest Christian, which plays its home football games at Tenino’s Beaver Stadium, opens the season against Concrete on Friday, Sept. 4.
