This past offseason, Tumwater coach William Garrow wanted to challenge the Thunderbirds by having them play tough teams from multiple classifications in non-league play.
The T-Birds passed another test with flying colors on Friday, as they dispatched Nooksack Valley 49-12 for their fourth consecutive win to open the year.
Tumwater led 7-0 after one quarter of play, but pulled away in the second to go up 28-6 by halftime. The T-Birds added two more touchdowns in the third to erase any doubt.
As a team, Tumwater ran for 389 yards. Jaylin Nixon ran for 80 yards and a score on eight carries, while Tyler Briscoe scored twice while logging 56 yards on 10 rushes.
Cash Short did a lot of damage with his four carries, rushing for 67 yards and two scores, while Payton Davis added 53 yards on six tries.
Jaxon Budd completed just two passes on five attempts, and both of them went to David Malroy, who scored on one of them.
Defensively, Mehki Richardson tallied 12 tackles, including three for loss, and two sacks, while Beckett Wall also had three TFLs as part of his 11 tackles.
In addition to his rushing TD, Nixon returned a punt for a touchdown, and Malroy also came away with an interception.
The T-Birds (4-0) will have one final non-league test next week, as they’ll travel south to take on 4A Union.
