Reported By Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
The Parkland Raiders came into Saturday’s 8U Division playoff opener with a plan — and for the first half, it was working.
Parkland set the tone early, striking first and playing with energy and urgency on both sides of the ball. The Raiders showed up ready to compete, moving the ball with confidence and making stops on defense as they jumped out to a 7–0 lead. But after halftime, the Federal Way Hawks found their rhythm. Fueled by a bruising run game, timely passing, and an increasingly dominant defense, the Hawks roared back with 26 unanswered points to claim a 26–7 victory and secure their spot in the Washington Youth Football League semifinals.
Parkland’s first possession showcased a well-prepared offense. Carter Osborne got things started with a 4-yard run before Koa Barcinas and Noah Muliufi followed with back-to-back gains. Luther Oloapu added an 11-yard carry, and on the next play, Aizaeh Kapesi-Dulan raced into the end zone from 13 yards out. The extra point was good, giving the Raiders a 7–0 lead and sending a clear message: they came to play.
Federal Way struggled to find momentum early. Running back David Baker broke off a 34-yard run to give the Hawks life on their first drive, but the series stalled inside Parkland territory. Cornelius Maxey Jr. added a 12-yard run, but Parkland’s defense tightened up. Kapesi-Dulan, Muliufi, and Carter Osborne all made key tackles as the Hawks were forced to turn the ball over on downs.
Later in the first half, Parkland nearly extended their lead. Styles Softli sprinted for 29 yards, and Muliufi added a 12-yard run to put the Raiders back in scoring position. But a hard-hitting Federal Way defense made a stand, with Draven Franco and Kanan Rogers recording timely stops. A fumbled exchange in the backfield ended the drive, and Reece Liggens recovered the loose ball for the Hawks.
Still, the Hawks couldn’t capitalize. A backward pass turned into a defensive recovery for Parkland just before halftime, and the Raiders went into the break with a 7–0 lead and momentum still in their favor.
Then came the turning point. Late in the second quarter, Federal Way recovered a Parkland miscue, and Maxey Jr. followed with back-to-back rushes to set up one final shot before halftime. Though the Hawks didn’t convert, the adjustments being made were obvious — and when they returned after the break, they were a different team.
The second half belonged to Federal Way.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, quarterback Reece Liggens calmly led the offense downfield. He connected with David Baker on a 37-yard pass, then powered in from a yard out to tie the game at 7–7. The Hawks’ sideline came alive, and their defense fed off the energy.
Parkland’s next drive was cut short when Muliufi fumbled and Messiah Potts recovered for the Hawks. Liggens and Maxey Jr. combined for tough yards on the ground, and Baker added a 5-yard run to put them in scoring position. Liggens then hit Baker on a 20-yard touchdown pass to give the Hawks their first lead of the day. Another extra point made it 14–7.
From there, Federal Way’s defense went into lockdown mode. Potts added two more tackles, and Parkland was flagged for holding and forced into long downs. Franco, Carter Jackson, and Benjamin Cage all made contributions to help shut down the Raiders’ momentum.
With time ticking down, the Hawks turned again to Maxey Jr., who delivered in a big way. The bruising runner found the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run to make it 20–7, then followed it up after a fumble recovery with a 43-yard sprint down the sideline for the game’s final score. Though both extra point attempts missed, the statement was clear.
Parkland kept battling. Barcinas picked up two late runs for 24 and 17 yards, and the Raiders refused to quit. But the Hawks’ defense stayed composed and sealed the win with stops from Franco and Jackson to end the final possession.
Maxey Jr. finished with 121 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns, plus a fumble recovery on defense to lead Federal Way. Liggens threw for 57 yards and a touchdown, added another score on the ground, and recovered a fumble. Baker totaled 45 rushing yards and had two receptions for 57 yards and a score. Potts made a major impact on defense with two tackles and a key recovery, and the rest of the Federal Way unit contributed to a second half shutout.
Player Stats
Federal Way Hawks (Offense):
Cornelius Maxey Jr. – 17 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TDs
Reece Liggens – 2/4 passing, 57 yards, 1 TD; 7 rushes, 9 yards, 1 TD
David Baker – 5 rushes, 45 yards; 2 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD
King Baffour-Addo – 1 rush, 4 yards
Federal Way Hawks (Defense):
Messiah Potts –1 fumble recovery
Cornelius Maxey Jr. –1 fumble recovery
Parkland Raiders (Offense):
Koa Barcinas – 9 rushes, 61 yards
Noah Muliufi – 7 rushes, 27 yards
Aizaeh Kapesi-Dulan – 1 rush, 13 yards, 1 TD
Styles Softli – 2 rushes, 31 yards
Luther Oloapu – 3 rushes, 5 yards
Carter Osborne – 1 rush, 4 yards
