The Capital High School boys football team hosted cross-town rival Olympia High School September 5, 2025, in the 43rd annual Spaghetti Bowl, defeating Olympia 33-27 in overtime. Olympia led 27-16 at the start of the fourth period, but Capital scored two times, including a 2-point conversion with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter, to send the game into overtime, where they converted a touchdown on the second possession to capture the win.
Capital (1-0, 0-0 PSL) junior quarterback Nolan Potts was a game changer and scored on runs four times for Capital and kicked a fourth quarter field goal. Potts’ zig-zag athletic scramble tied the game in the fourth. He also ran for the overtime touchdown to clinch the win for the Cougars. Potts rushed 10 times for 110 yards and was 23/35 for 168 yards throwing. Olympia (0-1, 0-0 SPSL) Junior Tucker Downing threw for 178 yards for Olympia going 15 for 24.
Capital head coach Terry Rose was euphoric after the win and praised his team’s battle spirit. “My team are fighters and you saw our guys rise up and I told them to play and become legends and they did that,” Rose explained after the win. “I’m so proud of the team. Everyone doubts us every year and we are the ‘little brother’ so those kids play with a bit of a chip on their shoulders but we fought back, and the kids believed in what we do and bought into what we coach and we just made great plays.”
Capital wideout Carter Pennington went for 95 yards on 10 receptions. Garrett Murphy shined on defense for the Cougars with eight tackles, one PBU, and one INT. Olympia senior linebacker Austin Stull contributed with seven tackles, including four for losses on sacks and he had an interception.
Olympia head coach Nick Mullen credited Capital for a fantastic game. “They played well and that was just one of the best high school games I’ve been a part of and really a Spaghetti Bowl for the ages,” remarked Mullen. “Football is a game of winning your moments and a game of momentum and a game of hope and belief and it could have gone either way. Capital played well and they played tough and credit them. We had some penalties and drive killers and we will need to work on that but we are a resilient team and a young team and we look to get better as we move forward.”
The Spaghetti Bowl began in 1976, and Capital now leads the series 22-21. Capital’s last win against Olympia was 2014. Olympia won the last four meetings in 2015, 2020, 2022, and 2024. The game started as a local Olympia fundraiser pre-game spaghetti dinner hosted by the Rotary Club of Olympia. Capital took back the trophy after a thrilling last-minute touchdown gave the victory to Olympia in 2024.
