Reported by Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
After back-to-back losses and slipping to fourth place in the division, the 10U Federal Way Hawks entered Saturday’s matchup with something to prove. Mission accomplished.
Behind a relentless ground game, a smothering defense, and a renewed sense of focus, the Hawks handed the red-hot Benson Bruins a 19–6 loss, snapping their five-game winning streak in decisive fashion. With playoff implications looming large, it was a statement win for Federal Way — and a reminder to the rest of the division that the Hawks aren’t going anywhere.
“Basically, we teach a lot of resilience, and learning how to fight through adversity,” said the Hawks head coach after the win. “We lost the last couple of weeks getting too comfortable, but we’re teaching the kids how to stay focused and grounded in practice to keep their focus and preparation consistent come game day.”
Saturday’s contest pitted two of the division’s top contenders against each other. Benson entered at 5–1, sitting in third place and boasting a bruising run game that had powered them through a dominant stretch. Federal Way, despite a 4–2 record, had dropped two straight games and desperately needed a bounce-back performance.
The first quarter was tightly contested, with both teams trading defensive stops. Anthony Langston, who would go on to lead all rushers with 113 yards on the day, helped the Hawks establish early control of the line of scrimmage. Still, it wasn’t until the second quarter that the breakthrough came.
After Benson’s Malachi Williams Jr. sparked a promising drive with a series of tough runs, the Bruins fumbled deep in Hawks territory — and LRodney Josiah Carter was there to recover. Just moments later, Langston broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown run, giving Federal Way a 6–0 lead.
The Bruins tried to respond, leaning again on Williams Jr. and the powerful legs of Isley Pua, who added 48 rushing yards. But once again, ball security issues derailed their efforts. Another fumble, recovered again by Carter, gave Federal Way excellent field position.
Federal Way would capitalize on the turnover, as quarterback Messiah Nettles, who was steady all game long, connected with Carter on a 25-yard touchdown pass, pushing the Hawks’ lead to 13–0 heading into halftime.
While the offense was executing with precision, the Federal Way defense was equally impressive. Nettles, Carter, Kobe Pankey, and Jacques Williams all contributed to a smothering effort that left Benson struggling to move the ball. Pankey, in particular, was a force — his backfield pressure and textbook tackling consistently set the tone at the line of scrimmage.
But Benson refused to go quietly. In the second half, the Bruins defense tightened up, with Matthias Fuiava recording multiple tackles to stall Federal Way’s drives. But on offense, the Bruins continued to struggle with negative yardage plays and tackles behind the line, often finding themselves facing long down-and-distance situations.
The turning point — and perhaps the backbreaker — came midway through the fourth quarter. Clinging to hope and trailing by two scores, Benson turned the ball over on downs. On the very next play, Federal Way handed it off to Pankey, who raced 67 yards untouched for the exclamation point touchdown that extended the lead to 19–0.
It was the kind of momentum-seizing moment that teams peaking at the right time of the season find a way to produce.
Still, Benson showed the grit that got them to this point. Late in the fourth quarter, Williams Jr. continued to battle, carrying the load for a drive that finally broke through the Federal Way defense. His 4-yard touchdown run put the Bruins on the board, capping a 78-yard, 20-carry performance that spoke volumes about his toughness and stamina.
But it was too little, too late.
With the win, Federal Way improves to 5–2, reclaiming momentum as they look to position themselves for a strong playoff push. Benson also drops to 5–2. Both teams showed flashes of what makes them contenders. For Federal Way, Saturday’s result was about more than just a win — it was about rediscovering the identity that made them dangerous to begin with.
If these two meet again in the postseason, fans can expect another hard-hitting, physical matchup — and likely, another exciting game.
Player Statistics
Federal Way Hawks 10U (Offense):
• Anthony Langston: 9 rushes, 113 yards, 1 TD
• Messiah Nettles: 13 rushes, 53 yards; 1/1 passing, 25 yards, 1 TD
• LRodney Josiah Carter: 1 reception, 25 yards, 1 TD
• Kobe Pankey: 1 rush, 67 yards, 1 TD
Federal Way Hawks 10U (Defense):
• Messiah Nettles: 2 tackles
• LRodney Josiah Carter: 2 fumble recoveries
• Kobe Pankey: 3 tackles
Benson Bruins 10U (Offense):
• Malachi Williams Jr.: 20 rushes, 78 yards, 1 TD
• Isley Pua: 9 rushes, 48 yards
Benson Bruins 10U (Defense):
• Matthias Fuiava: 2 tackles
