High school football rankings: Yelm finishes No. 1 in final Washington MaxPreps Top 25

By Staff Report Dec 8, 2022, 2:00pm

Tornados claim top spot after dramatic victory in the Class 3A state championship game.

The high school football season in Washington came to a close over the weekend with state champions crowned at multiple sites. Yelm was among the victors, beating Eastside Catholic (Sammamish) 20-13 in the Class 3A title game. That victory helped propel the Tornados to the No. 1 ranking in the final state MaxPreps Top 25.

Yelm brought home its first state title thanks to a dramatic finish that saw All-State senior Kyler Ronquillo snatch an intercepted ball away from an Eastside Catholic defender and race to the end zone in the final minute of Saturday's 3A title contest.

The Tornados were dominant throughout the 2022 season, winning by an average margin of 36 points per game. Behind 174 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns from MaxPreps Washington Player of the Year Brayden Platt, Yelm knocked off Bellevue in the semifinal then Eastside Catholic in the final – a pair of programs that have combined for 14 state titles in the 2000s.

Class 4A state champion Lake Stevens finished No. 2. The Vikings extended a dominant run under head coach Tom Tri that has included three trips to the state final in four seasons and a record of 83-9 since 2015.

Two other dynasties prevailed to win the 2A and 1A titles. Lynden won its second straight in Class 2A and eighth since 2006 while Royal (Royal City) came out on top in Class 1A for the sixth time in seven years and 11th time since 1996.

Read on for a complete look at the final Washington MaxPreps Top 25.



2022 WIAA STATE CHAMPIONS

3A – Yelm
2A – Lynden
2B – Napavine

FINAL WASHINGTON MAXPREPS TOP 25

# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Yelm14-012.3+2
2Lake Stevens12-221.5--
3ECHS (Sammamish)12-117.5-2
4Kennedy Catholic (Burien)12-212.8--
5Lynden13-010.6--
6Bellevue9-311.1+2
7ERHS (South Hill)10-318.9-1
8Graham-Kapowsin (Graham)10-319.7+1
9O'Dea (Seattle)10-213.0-2
10Sumner10-212.5--
11Royal (Royal City)12-1-3.2--
12Chiawana (Pasco)10-16.7--
13Lincoln (Tacoma)11-18.1--
14Eastlake (Sammamish)8-314.1--
15Ferndale8-310.4--
16Napavine13-0-13.8+9
17Kennewick9-310.0-1
18North Kitsap (Poulsbo)12-2-1.5-1
19Gonzaga Prep (Spokane)9-311.1--
20Skyline (Sammamish)8-314.0-2
21Lynden Christian (Lynden)8-1-5.7--
22Stanwood10-26.6-2
23Skyview (Vancouver)8-36.0--
24Enumclaw12-1-3.2-2
25Rainier Beach (Seattle)7-37.2-1