The second week of the 2026 high school football season in Washington featured big individual performances on offense, defense and special teams.
Here are 10 standouts up for VarsityWA’s Football Athlete of the Week voting after Week 2:
Terrell Bush, Lake Roosevelt: Tallied 253 all-purpose yards, including two rushing touchdowns. Had two defensive touchdowns, including a 50-yard interception return, and returned a punt 80 yards for a score in a 74-8 win over Republic.
Jackson Flood, Royal: In rematch of Class 1A title game, he was the best player on the field, rushing for a game-high 119 yards and two touchdowns, recording 12 tackles on defense and recovering an onside kick in the Knights’ 28-17 win over Cashmere.
Alex Flores Moreno, Sageview: Lobos’ passing attack has been cooking in 2026. The sophomore passed for 390 yards and six touchdowns (seven scores total) in a 54-7 win over Shadle Park.
Cole Fowler, Eatonville: Senior passed for 372 yards and five touchdowns, completing 17-of-24 passes in the Cruisers’ 41-7 win over Black Hills. He has 543 yards in five quarters of play in 2026.
Jacob Kearns, Northwest Christian of Lacey: Erupted in an 8-man game for a career-high 310 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the team’s 68-20 victory over Muckleshoot Tribal.
Elliot Lenssen, Ferndale: Speedster set a school record with 368 rushing yards on 26 carries, scoring five touchdowns in the Golden Eagles’ 49-26 win at Edmonds-Woodway.
Tristan Rhatigan, Newport of Bellevue: Passed for 162 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 139 yards and two scores and recorded 12 tackles and three interceptions on defense in a 24-13 win over Interlake.
Maddox Rodgers, Rochester: Feasted in the Power-T offense to the tune of a career-high 343 yards on 32 carries, scoring three touchdowns in the Warriors’ 36-28 win over Bremerton.
Chaz Strickland, White River: Reigning 3A NPSL offensive MVP completed 21-of-27 passes for 390 yards and six touchdowns (four to Parker Fry) in a 40-7 win over Auburn Mountainview.
Ethan Thayer, Onalaska: Against 2B Central rival Napavine, rushed for a career-high 356 yards and six touchdowns on 34 carries in a 56-28 win. Has opened 2026 with back-to-back 300-yard games.
Editor’s note: Click on the poll or follow this link to vote. Voting will remain open until noon Friday and is unlimited. To nominate an athlete in future weeks, please send us an email or direct message by 5 p.m. Sunday for consideration.
