LAKE STEVENS — If the mercy rule in Washington high school football applied to the first half, Lake Stevens would’ve had the clock running with just under 10 minutes left in the second quarter on Friday night.

The 8-1 Vikings, ranked second in the state among Class 4A teams, were already up 44-0 by that point on 3-7 Lake Washington, and well on their way to a 58-13 victory to kick off their postseason run in a Week 10 rout. The starters exited after a 51-0 first half, making junior quarterback Nolan Nettles’ 10-for-10, 265-yard, four-touchdown game in just his second start for the Vikings that much more impressive. Also standing out was senior running back Jay Ferrell, who continued a strong campaign with eight touches for 196 yards and four total touchdowns. Senior receiver Seth Price led the air attack with four catches for 128 yards and two scores, followed by junior receiver Max Cook taking two catches for 52 yards and a TD.

Nettles, of course, was in the game for usual starting QB and Iowa State commit Blake Moser, who missed Friday’s contest due to back tightness. Lake Stevens head coach Tom Tri told The Herald Moser “could have probably played,” but that the team wanted to be “cautious” with the dual-threat quarterback.

At any rate, Nettles impressed with a wide array of throws off differing platforms, as the 6-foot-4 signal caller with a big arm brings a more traditional look to the Vikings offense. It was business as usual for Tri and company.

“We’re throwing the ball as much as we had with (Moser), and really haven’t changed our game plan just because (Moser’s) out,” Tri said.

After a perfect half, Nettles passed the game over to freshman signal-caller Kaiden Ness-Allers, who threw just two passes. Lake Stevens had settled on running the clock out, with senior Colton Fink taking 11 carries for 58 yards and a fourth-quarter score.

Nettles’ latest performance wasn’t his first solid showing. Moser hasn’t played since exiting the Vikings’ 55-7 win over Arlington on Oct. 23 early, but has been taking first-team practice reps in hoping to make a return. Moser sported a beanie instead of a helmet on Friday, supporting Nettles as he continued what’s turned into a 3-0 stretch, if you include the Arlington game, with 11 touchdowns.

Nettles led the Vikings to a 68-14 win over Kamiak on Oct. 30 as well, with none of his appearances on the field being expected, with Moser taking those key practice reps to recover. Nettles has had to be “dialed in,” by his account, in prepping each week, knowing a setback for Moser will mean it’s on him to lead the offense.

“I ask coach Tri lots of questions on the (game) script that we got for the week, and like just being a leader and knowing my plays,” Nettles said of what’s made him prepared for this unexpected workload each week.

Indeed, the Vikings’ script was more than successful as Lake Stevens scored five first-quarter touchdowns on just 11 plays to put the game out of reach early.

Nettles found Price for a 29-yard score three plays in, before the Vikings fooled the Kangs on a fake jet motion as Nettles hit Price again on a deep post route for a 77-yard score. A 69-yard score from Ferrell on a nifty move to juke out a pursuing linebacker made it 21-0, before Ferrell scored from six yards out and the Vikings defense forced a safety. One play later, Nettles hit a wide-open Cook on the left sideline for a 31-yard score.

37-0.

Nettles looked like a seasoned starter.

“It definitely boosts my confidence,” Nettles said of the showing. “It really showed me that I can hang with a well-coached team and I can hold my own.”

From there, Ferrell finished the half with a 50-yard scamper to the end zone after breaking multiple arm tackles before juking a man out of play on a 28-yard TD reception the next drive.

51-0.

On defense, Lake Stevens, coming off a state runner-up season in 2025, didn’t allow so much as a first down in the first half by completely stifling the visiting Kangs’ option-heavy attack for just six yards on 20 carries.

Senior defensive lineman Ty Tautolo, days removed from committing to Iowa State like Moser did this past summer, led a Lake Stevens front that’s intent on imposing its will early in games. A year after giving up six rushing touchdowns to Sumner in the Class 4A title game, the Vikings are making it a point of pride to win the battle in the trenches in this playoff run.

“Last night we were actually talking about how we lost to Sumner and how much that affected us, and how much we wanted to get our get-back, which we will,” Tautolo said. “I’d say we’re actually a completely different defense.”

While a below-.500 Kangs squad wasn’t quite on the level of a No. 3 Sumner, the Vikings showed discipline in setting edges with 11 of Lake Washington’s 20 first-half carries going either backwards or for zero yards.

As for his recruitment, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Tautolo fielded plenty of Power-4-Conference interest, but noted a solid connection with Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers as a key factor in choosing the Cyclones. Tautolo already plans on rooming with Moser when the pair of Vikings make it out to Ames next year.

The senior couldn’t help but smile when asked about the idea.

“Definitely, we’re gonna figure a way, for sure,” Tautolo said with a laugh.

For now, though, the Vikings are locked in on finding that playoff “get-back” as they await another playoff duel at home.

The stats used in this article are not official.