Federal Way Eagles football ready to bounce back in 2024 | Season preview

For the first time in a decade, the Federal Way Eagles football program isn’t the favorite in the city. That belongs to Decatur High School, but for the Eagles, flying under the radar is okay.

The Eagles had a lot of talent returning who were first year starters a year prior. A year of experience under their belt is a positive thing for the Eagles.

“Last year was a lot of our whole team’s first time starting, so everyone was getting used to it. This year everyone is a lot more comfortable and in the right place. I think this year is going to be a great year,” junior Zamarie Tellez said.

The Eagles are coming off a 3-7 season, their worst since 2015 (2-9). Marcus Yzaguirre, the head coach, said if it weren’t for a tough preseason schedule, the Eagles record could have been much better.

“Last year we could have won more games if I put easier games on the schedule. We played the state champs – Lake Stevens, Eastlake, who were state semifinalists, and West Valley, who finished 4-6… If I put three gimme games down last year, we win six games and it is a different story. But I don’t coach that way, I want to play the best,” Coach Iz said.

Federal Way has moved down to 3A in the NPSL along with Decatur, and joins Todd Beamer and Thomas Jefferson high schools. It is the first time since 2018 with all Federal Way Public Schools in the same classification. Back in 2018, Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer took the jump to 4A. This time around, the opposite happened.

Playing the rival schools puts a little bit more on the line when those games come on the schedule.

“I can’t even lie, I have really been waiting for this… There has been a lot of talking out of their neck,” linebacker Kyse Faletogo said.

Decatur beat Federal Way last year for the first time since the turn of the century, and that memory hasn’t left the minds of these Eagles. The two-point loss stung and hit a nerve.

“We are most definitely looking forward to that week two, especially since last year they beat us. All of them are looking down at us,” Faletogo said.

“As we are getting closer and closer to week one, I am ready for it. I’d like to see where we are at as a team,” Faletogo said on the idea of playing as the underdogs, an area that Federal Way football programs have rarely been.

Federal Way had been a linebacker factory in its past, with players like Alphonzo Tuputala (University of Washington) and Andrzej Hughes-Murray (Oregon State). This year, Coach Yzaguirre thinks he has the quality the Eagles are used to at linebacker.

Senior Kyse Faletogo is the captain of the defense and the lead linebacker, and he is taking on a leadership role to right the ship this season: “I just want to be that guy that my team can lean on when they need it,” Faletogo said.

After Decatur in week two, the Eagles’ next biggest challenge is on the road at Enumclaw on Sept. 27. If there is one thing that Yzaguirre’s group is familiar with,iIt is going on the road to hostile environments. Pete’s Pool in Enumclaw is one of them.

At the skill positions, the Eagles always have depth. This year, junior Zamarie Tellez and Austin May are looking to put last year in the rearview mirror and take a leap forward this season.

“Last year is a fluke and that wasn’t who we are as a team… It was the exact same team we had last season, but we know we are way better than last season. So it is just about proving that point,” May said.

Both May and Tellez are attracting college interest to play in at the next level. May is a sprinter in the spring and Tellez is one of the best young cornerbacks in the state. The two of them resemble a lot of the Seahawks practices with Devon Witherspoon and take-your-pick of receiver. There is a lot of iron sharpening iron.

“He makes me a lot better and I make him a lot better. I love to work with him,” Tellez said.

“I’m not going to have a single game where a DB is going to give me as high of competition as he gives me in practice. It helps a lot,” May added.

The Eagles open their season at Auburn Mountainview on Sept. 6 with kick off scheduled for 7 p.m.