Renton Rallies Past Lake Stevens To Stay Perfect In Peewee Division Clash

In a battle of unbeaten powerhouses, the Renton Rangers emerged as the top dog in the final week of the North Sound Junior Football League’s Peewee Division, overpowering the Lake Stevens Vikings 27–6 in a highly physical and emotionally charged contest. Both teams entered Saturday’s matchup with 5–0 records and the top spot in the division on the line — but it was Renton who pulled away after a tightly contested first half.

The early moments of the game lived up to the hype, with both defenses trading stops and forcing negative plays. Renton tried to get its offense going behind Dondre Dowlen and Otulau Kamoto, while Lake Stevens leaned heavily on their standout back Jayceon Willis, who carried the ball 15 times for 84 yards on the day.

After a series of short gains and stops, Renton’s Malakai Armstead broke through with a determined goal-line plunge in the first quarter to put the Rangers up 6–0. Dowlen added the extra point conversion to give Renton a 7–0 edge. But Lake Stevens responded quickly — and emphatically.

On the next series, Willis broke off a 70-yard touchdown run, electrifying the Viking sideline and fans in the stands. The Vikings missed the conversion, but it was clear they came to compete.

From there, however, the Renton defense began to take control. Led by Armstead, who would later recover two fumbles, the Rangers started to clamp down on Willis and the rest of the Lake Stevens offense, holding them to minimal yardage for the remainder of the game.

Midway through the second quarter, Devan Burrell-Lofton Jr. sprinted into the end zone on a 22-yard touchdown run, extending Renton’s lead to 13–6. It was a turning point in the game, as penalties and miscues started to pile up for Lake Stevens. A promising drive by the Vikings stalled after a big tackle for loss by Renton’s #15 and a botched play in the backfield.

The third quarter opened with more trouble for Lake Stevens. A fumble by Beckham Molstre was recovered by Armstead, giving Renton prime field position. After steady runs by Dowlen and Kamoto, Renton moved into scoring range, and Lonzell King powered his way into the end zone from one yard out. Armstead again added the extra point, putting Renton firmly in control, 20–6.

Lake Stevens continued to fight, with Camden Arnold and Willis making key tackles on defense, but offensive momentum was hard to come by. Renton’s front line dominated the trenches, and the Vikings struggled to avoid negative plays, losing yards on multiple drives.

A final fumble by Lake Stevens in the fourth quarter was once again recovered by Armstead, who was everywhere for the Rangers. That turnover set up one last scoring drive for Renton. After a burst by Dowlen and strong runs by Kamoto, Armstead capped the performance with his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run. Dowlen’s extra point made it 27–6, sealing the game and Renton’s undefeated regular season.

Despite the loss, Jayceon Willis continued to shine for Lake Stevens, accounting for nearly all of the Vikings’ offense with 84 rushing yards and their lone touchdown. He also led the defense with four tackles. Camden Arnold and Beckham Molstre contributed with key stops, while Molstre added a fumble recovery.

For Renton, it was a total team effort. Dondre Dowlen was the engine of the offense, carrying the ball 15 times for 50 yards while also adding a successful extra point and a fumble recovery. Burrell-Lofton Jr.’s explosive 22-yard touchdown gave Renton a boost, and Armstead’s two touchdowns, two fumble recoveries, and two tackles made him the clear MVP of the game.

With the victory, Renton finishes the regular season at 6–0, clinching first place in the Peewee Division and entering the playoffs with momentum and confidence. Lake Stevens, also 5–1 now, still looks like a dangerous postseason contender with a balanced roster and a dominant running back in Willis.

Both teams will enter the playoffs representing the best of the North Sound Junior Football League’s Peewee Division, and if Saturday’s game was any indication, a rematch between these two could be one of the highlights of the postseason.

Player Stats

Renton Rangers (Offense):

• Dondre Dowlen: 15 rushes, 50 yards

• Devan Burrell‑Lofton Jr.: 2 rushes, 22 yards, 1 TD

• Otulau Kamoto: 4 rushes, 27 yards

• Malakai Armstead: 4 rushes, 3 yards, 2 TDs

• Lonzell King: 4 rushes, 1 TD

Renton Rangers (Defense):

• Malakai Armstead: 2 fumble recoveries

Lake Stevens Vikings (Offense):

• Jayceon Willis: 15 rushes, 84 yards, 1 TD

Lake Stevens Vikings (Defense):

• Jayceon Willis: 4 tackles

• Beckham Molstre: 1 fumble recovery