PHOTOS BY ROCKY ROSS

On the field, several Warrior players surround the opponent from Showalter.

Chief Leschi field hosts first game

By Rick Walter

The football field at Chief Leschi High School, a nice patch of grass that was not in use until coach Sauni Savini asked for – and received – permission to appropriate it for football practice earlier this year, really needed a few things. It needed some white lines to mark it, it needed some goalposts, and it needed – most of all – a game!

Well, the lines were put down the week of Oct. 27, and the middle school football team inaugurated the field with the first game ever played at Chief Leschi. The goalposts are not up yet, but orange cones did the job of marking the end zone.

“It’s a first. It’s pretty exciting,” said Tiffany Williams, who works at the school and is married to assistant coach Mike Williams. She was busy with her camera, photographing quite a scene.

Nearly 500 fans were in attendance for the game, which guest Showalter won, 12-7.

Coach Brian Corpuz, assistant Mike Williams, and the 29 players on the team put up a good fight.

“Everyone,” was the answer coach Brian Corpuz gave, when asked if he wanted to mention any standout players.

Puyallup Tribal members on the team include: Tanner Dillon, Wade Purdy, Joe Rideout, Alvin George, Estevan Rodgriques, Stephen Harris, Camille Cordan and Nikita Shale-Billie.

In addition to parents, teachers, brothers and sisters, the varsity football team cut its practice short to support the younger players.

“We’ve got some good young athletes out there,” Sauni Savini said.

Story Tools