Reported by Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
The Federal Way Hawks came into Saturday’s 10U playoff opener prepared, focused, and determined to prove why they’re one of the Washington Youth Football League’s top 10U teams. From the first snap to the final whistle, they delivered on all fronts, rolling to a dominant 40–0 shutout over the Royal T Titans to advance to the next round.
The Hawks didn’t waste time making their presence felt. After recovering a fumble on the Titans’ opening possession, Anthony Langston provided an early spark with a 25-yard run, then followed it up moments later with a 15-yard touchdown to give Federal Way a 6–0 lead. Though the conversion was no good, the tone had been set.
On the next Royal T possession, quarterback Alijah DeMyers broke free for a long run — but it didn’t last long. Messiah Nettles tracked the play and stripped the ball, recovering it for Federal Way. That takeaway quickly turned into opportunity as Kobe Pankey sprinted 15 yards to put the Hawks in scoring range again. Langston did the rest, powering in from 16 yards out for his second touchdown of the quarter. A successful extra point made it 13–0 heading into the second.
The second quarter began the same way the first ended: with Federal Way in control. After forcing a three-and-out, the Hawks got the ball back and leaned on their speed and precision. Nettles picked up four yards on a run, then Pankey broke loose on a 38-yard touchdown sprint. The extra point extended the lead to 20–0.
Shortly after, the defense made yet another big play. Federal Way forced a fumble and recovered it deep in Royal T territory. Davion Lyles followed with a 40-yard run to get the Hawks close before finishing the drive himself with a 4-yard touchdown. With another extra point, Federal Way entered halftime leading 27–0.
While the Titans showed flashes on offense — especially through the hard running of Devin Hughes, who gained positive yards throughout the game — Federal Way’s defense never let them get into a rhythm. Tackles by Delano Tito, Kobe Pankey, and Davion Lyles shut down several key plays behind the line of scrimmage.
In the third quarter, the Hawks picked up right where they left off. Lyles broke loose for a 36-yard gain before Nettles added another 23 yards on the ground. The Hawks then dialed up a perfectly executed play-action pass, with Nettles finding LRodney Josiah Carter for a 31-yard touchdown. Though the conversion missed, the Hawks extended their lead to 33–0.
Royal T continued to fight in the fourth quarter, with Hughes picking up another solid gain and Jonah Smith adding a short run. But Federal Way’s depth and discipline remained the difference. Nettles continued to grind out tough yards, and Carter added a 25-yard dash to flip the field once more. Nettles capped the drive — and the day — with a 4-yard touchdown run and a successful conversion to make it 40–0.
After the game, Federal Way head coach Jacques praised his team’s execution and mentality.
“Royal T’s solid on both sides, so it’s good to get a victory against a team like this,” he said. “It boosts our team’s morale and confidence even more moving forward to next week.”
With the win, Federal Way advances in the 10U playoffs on the back of a complete team effort — explosive offense, relentless defense, and opportunistic playmaking in all three phases.
Player Stats
Federal Way Hawks (Offense):
Davion Lyles – 3 rushes, 80 yards, 1 TD
Messiah Nettles – 6 rushes, 49 yards, 1 TD; 1/1 passing, 31 yards, 1 TD; 1 fumble recovery
LRodney Josiah Carter – 1 rush, 25 yards; 1 reception, 31 yards, 1 TD
Anthony Langston – 3 rushes, 56 yards, 2 TDs
Kobe Pankey – 2 rushes, 53 yards, 1 TD
Royal T Titans (Offense):
Devin Hughes – 5 rushes, 34 yards
