Mount Tahoma High School holds the No. 7 spot in the Class 3A state football rankings at 4-3, earning a top-10 nod despite a young roster and a brutal early schedule.
The Tacoma News Tribune's Week 8 rankings, compiled by Jon Manley and published Oct. 20, placed the T-Birds in the middle of a loaded 3A field led by unbeaten O'Dea (7-0). Lakes (6-1) also appeared in the 3A poll at No. 9.
Mount Tahoma opened the season with losses to Waipahu (Hawaii), Kennedy Catholic and Sumner.
The T-Birds have won since, including a 23-21 rivalry victory over Lincoln on Oct. 9.
Head coach Keith Terry called the Lincoln game "a great, foundational win for us" in an Oct. 10 News Tribune recap.
The T-Birds reached the 3A state championship game last season, falling to O'Dea 21-14.
They lost 31 seniors from that roster, including TNT All-Area co-player of the year Elijah Durr, now at the University of Washington, according to the News Tribune's preseason practice tour.
Quarterback Shawn Sione and linebacker Teaven Jones have stepped into leading roles this fall.
Jones, a reigning TNT All-Area selection, recorded 94 tackles and 20.5 sacks last season.
In the 2A rankings, Franklin Pierce dropped out of the top 10 after a loss to Eatonville. The News Tribune noted the Cardinals still have a path back.
Mount Tahoma's next game is against Gig Harbor on Oct. 23. A win would move the T-Birds closer to another 3A Puget Sound League Narrows Division title.
