Reported by Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
In a gritty semifinal showdown in the Washington Youth Football League’s 10U division, the Federal Way Hawks pulled off a stunning 7–6 comeback victory over the 9U Benson Bruins. The win secured Federal Way’s spot in the WYFL 10U championship game, completing a contest defined by physical defense, tough yards, and one clutch drive that made the difference.
Both teams came into the matchup with something to prove. Benson, the younger squad stepping up an age division, had already made a statement by reaching the semifinals. Federal Way, a seasoned and resilient team, had its sights firmly set on a championship appearance. The result was a tightly contested game that went down to the wire.
The opening quarter saw both defenses dominate the line of scrimmage. Benson began the game with a solid opening drive, stringing together multiple runs by Jeremiah Sii, Jaxson Shandil, and Bless Austin-Curry to move inside the 5-yard line. It looked as if the Bruins would strike first, but a costly fumble at the goal line resulted in a turnover on downs and swung momentum to the Hawks.
Federal Way responded with a promising series of their own. Quarterback Messiah Nettles gained positive yardage on the ground and connected with LRodney Josiah Carter on a 10-yard pass that moved the chains. However, the drive would stall just short of scoring range after a few timely stops by the Bruins defense.
In the second quarter, Benson finally broke through. Liam Brown, who had been effective both as a rusher and in short-yardage situations, capped off a determined drive with a 1-yard quarterback keeper to give the Bruins a 6–0 lead. The extra point attempt failed, but Benson had the early edge.
Still trailing by six, Federal Way tried to get things going with a spark from Elijah Harris, who ripped off a 17-yard run before the half. Despite the momentum swing, the Bruins held on defense, and took their 6–0 lead into halftime.
The third quarter was marked by more defensive stops. Benson leaned on their running game with contributions from Kainoa Ongque and Johzais Failautusi, while the Hawks tried to open space for Nettles, Anthony Langston, and Kobe Pankey. Each side traded possessions, with neither team able to sustain long drives. Benson had a couple of missed opportunities on overthrown passes, and the Hawks were slowed by backfield pressure and timely tackles by Benson defenders including Cushy Ahto-Faamalele and Noah-Christopher Fulu.
With the fourth quarter ticking down and Benson still holding a 6–0 lead, Federal Way mounted what would become the defining possession of the game. Nettles took control of the offense, showing poise and patience. He broke off a 17-yard run to get into Bruins’ territory, then followed it up with a series of shorter gains, supported by Pankey and Langston moving the chains. After converting on a key third down inside the red zone, Nettles powered in for a 4-yard touchdown run with just under two minutes remaining.
The sideline erupted as the Hawks took their first lead of the game, after a successful point after attempt gave Federal a 7-6 lead with just minutes left in the fourth quarter.
With one final chance, the Bruins tried to answer. Brown and Shandil gained a couple of short runs, and Failautusi broke through with a 10-yard carry to give Benson some hope. But after a stop behind the line of scrimmage and a failed conversion on third down, time expired, and the Hawks celebrated a hard-earned trip to the championship.
After the game, Federal Way head coach Jacques praised his players’ composure and resolve.
“This is just work, man, another day in the office showing our resilience,” said Jacques. “We made plays we needed to make and got through this thing.”
For the Bruins, it was a tough way to end an incredible season. They controlled much of the game, especially early on, but were unable to convert key opportunities late. Their defense, led by Remington Scanlan and Ahto-Faamalele, kept the game close throughout.
Federal Way advances with momentum and confidence, knowing they can win in high-pressure situations. The Hawks will now turn their focus to next week’s title game as they look to complete their championship journey.
Player Stats
Benson Bruins (Offense):
Liam Brown – 4 rushes, 8 yards, 1 TD
Bless Austin‑Curry – 2 rushes, 13 yards
August Lee – 1 rush, 1 yard
Johzais Failautusi – 2 rushes, 13 yards
Kainoa Ongque – 1 rush, 5 yards
Jaxson Shandil – 8 rushes, 31 yards
Jeremiah Sii – 4 rushes, 14 yards
Federal Way Hawks (Offense):
Messiah Nettles – 14 rushes, 54 yards, 1 TD; 1/1 passing, 10 yards, 1 TD
LRodney Josiah Carter – 1 reception, 10 yards
Davion Lyles – 1 rush, 1 yard
Anthony Langston – 4 rushes, 15 yards
Elijah Harris – 1 rush, 17 yards
Kobe Pankey – 2 rushes, 5 yards
