Two teams headed in vastly opposite directions squared off Friday night under the lights at White River High.

In the end, it was the visiting squad from Sumner High that rolled to an easy 41-7 victory.

That was perhaps predictable, as the Spartans finished the South Puget Sound League 2A campaign deadlocked for first place with a 5-2 record. The host Hornets wrapped up the SPSL 2A schedule with an 0-7 mark and will play a final Week 10 contest before putting the season to rest.

The Spartans finished in a first-place tie with Clover Park and Eatonville. Based on a predetermined tiebreaking formula, the Clover Park squad will head into the playoffs as the division’s No. 1 seed, the Cruisers will go as No. 2 and Sumner will take the No. 3 spot.

Friday night, it was Sumner’s potent ground game that made all the difference. Running backs Cody Haavik and Tyler Salisbury scored three touchdowns each.

The Spartans wasted little time, jumping on the scoreboard early in the first quarter when Haavik broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run. Just five minutes later, Sumner was in the end zone again, this time on a 38-yard jaunt by Salisbury.

White River sliced into the lead by adding a touchdown of its own near the end of the active first period, with Nate Lenhart doing the honors. He scored on a 33-yard run and, after Tyler Worthen added the extra-point kick, the Sumner lead was 14-7.

That was the last time the Hornets would challenge, as the Spartans showed their dominance with three TDs that resulted in a 34-7 halftime advantage. It was the Haavik-Salisbury duo doing the damage. Haavik increased the Sumner margin with an 18-yard run, Salisbury tacked on a 14-yard TD dash and Haavik closed out an impressive Spartan half with a 1-yard blast.

With the outcome decided, the teams settled into a second half that was highlighted only by Salisbury’s third TD of the night, an 8-yard run early in the third quarter.

The total offense numbers told the story, as the Spartans more than doubled the Hornets’ total.

Sumner’s ground-pounding offense tore through the White River defense, netting 394 rushing yards on 48 carries, averaging more than eight yards per attempt. The Spartans attempted just five passes, completing three for another 36 yards, bringing the total to 430.

White River netted 146 yards on 31 running plays and added 43 yards through the air for a total of 189.