The Olympia Bears high school boys football team defeated Yelm High School 20-13 in 4A SPSL South (South Puget Sound League) WIAA play on Friday, October 24, 2025, at Ingersol Stadium. Most South Sound high school football teams will compete this weekend for a last opportunity to improve records that would allow teams to qualify for district and state tournaments.
The win for Olympia (4-4, 3-2 SPSL) was a close battle that saw them score on the final possession on a quarterback sneak “keep” by Tucker Downing to claim the victory for the Bears. Olympia led early only to see Yelm (3-5, 2-3 SPSL) take the lead in the fourth quarter. The win puts the Bears in a tie for second place in the SPSL South with Bethel (5-3, 3-2 SPSL).
Olympia head coach Nick Mullen was happy with the grit and collaboration his team showed after giving up the lead and then scoring with less than two minutes to seal the victory. “Our program culture is all about belief in each other, working harder than everybody, and winning and staying ready for your moment and I’m just proud of how the players showed that all game long,” Mullen said. “We just believed in each other. The guys were ready for that moment. That is why teams practice two-minute offense. We stayed ready for that time to win our moment.”
Yelm first-year coach Rex Norris used strong play from senior Sam Dejiacomo, Hunter Owens and Owen Sletten to put the Tornadoes ahead in the fourth quarter. Yelm will play Curtis (5-3, 3-2 SPSL North in a SPSL “crossover” game Thursday, looking to rebound after the loss to Olympia.
Olympia hosts South Kitsap (5-3, 3-2 SPSL North) in another “crossover” game Friday at Ingersol. “South Kitsap is a tough team,” Mulled stated. “They have gotten better each season with coach Banks. It’s going to be another great high school football game and we are ready for the moment.”
In other “crossover” South Sound games for 3A PSL (Puget Sound League), Capital hosts Gig Harbor Saturday at Ingersol, Timberline travels to Lincoln Friday and Thursday River Ridge travels to Silas and North Thurston takes on Central Kitsap.
