Sumner High’s football squad busted out the gate with a 20-7 win over Auburn Mountainview Aug. 31.

Bonney Lake High’s own Sept. 1 opening game had the Spartans beat in terms of raw points, but the Panthers ultimately lost to Lincoln 34-27.

Both east Pierce home teams showed an aptitude for spreading a consistent scoring performance across quarters; whereas the Lions and Abes limited their scoring to one and two quarters, respectively.

The Spartans scored across three quarters. Lokahi Kamau achieved a 4-yard run in the first, followed by a failed kick. DeJon Lynch ran 65 yards to the end zone in quarter two, with an attempted two-point run failing afterward. Brandon Tuilaepa made a 4-yard run in the third, followed by a successful pass play from Chase Torgison to Ryan Taylor.

The Panthers scored across four quarters. Zach Zaragoza made a 63-yard pass play from Chris Brown, followed by a successful E.J. Harris run for 8 points in the first quarter. Chris Brown passed again in the second quarter to Kaleb Zanhow, who took it 30 yards to the end zone; a subsequent kick failed. Ethan McElderry ran the ball 14 yards, followed by another failed kick. The Panthers’ Cameron Goenner achieved a kick in the fourth quarter following a successful 36-yard pass play from Chris Brown to Robert Combs.

The Panthers’ strong passing game may prove an advantage in the teams’ crosstown rivalry game, scheduled for Friday. But the Spartans demonstrated ability to move the line close to the opponent’s end zone will be nothing to sneeze at.

The game begins 7 p.m. at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. The Sumner Food Bank will be on site to collect donations of non-perishable food.