Tumwater showed why it was given the No. 1 seed in the 2A state football tournament.
Payton Hoyt scored three touchdowns, Carlos Matheney added two and the Thunderbirds pummeled No. 16 East Valley (Spokane), 56-7, in the opening round of the state tourney Friday at home.
Hoyt had two rushing scores in the first quarter to put the T-Birds up early, then took a punt return 80 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Matheney got his scores on two 5-yard rushing touchdowns, finishing with seven carries for 67 yards.
Tumwater also found touchdown from Alex Overbay, who tossed a 35-yard touchdown to tight end Austin Terry in the second quarter. Ashton Paine ripped off a 41-yard rushing TD and Jadin Allen capped off the scoring with a 10-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter.
Tumwater (8-2) faces No. 9 Enumclaw in the quarterfinals on either Nov. 19 or 20, at a time and location to be determined. Tumwater defeated Enumclaw, 56-6, in the season opener Sept. 3. The Hornets (9-2) were 38-28 winners over Hockinson in their first-round state matchup Friday.
