TACOMA, Washington – The Puget Sound football program looks to a veteran defense and a beefed-up offensive line to power the Loggers through the 2022 season.
 
Fifth-year senior Silas Washington led the NWC in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 2021, totaling 1,235 yards on the ground and 16 scores. He set the school record for rushing yards in a game when he ran for 318 yards against Willamette in Baker Stadium in last year's season finale.
 
Tacoma native and fifth-year senior Jaylen Antoine is poised to take the lion's share of snaps under center. Fellow son of Tacoma, Trevino Lewis Jr., will play a dynamic role on offense. The exceptionally athletic Lewis often lined up in one-on-one coverage as a defensive back in 2021. This year, Logger fans can expect to see Lewis lined up in the slot and in the back field.
 
Iziah Jerenz will be a popular target in the passing game. Last year, Jerenz had a stretch of four consecutive games with at least 50 receiving yards, including a 113-yard, 13-catch effort against George Fox. Meanwhile, wide receiver Zion Rinker, who stands at 6-5, has the makings to be a big threat down the field.
 
This year's offensive line is arguably Puget Sound's biggest during Jeff Thomas' now 13-year tenure as head coach. Griffin Hartshorn, Sean Miller, and George Fournier will provide veteran leadership on the front line. Caleb Puapuaga (348 lbs.) is poised to return in a big way after an injury-riddled 2021 season. Puget Sound also added transfer Kevin Kahriman (370 lbs.) and freshman Josiah Jordan (285 lbs.).
 
Puget Sound's defense is full of upperclassmen, including fifth-year starters Ezekiel Sayavong, Alex Meadowcroft, and Lucas Varela. Sayavong leads Puget Sound sacks the past two years, and Meadowcroft demonstrated a nose for the ball when he had two take-aways in a game against nationally-ranked Linfield last fall. Despite missing a couple of games, Varela was the Loggers' second-leading tackler in 2021.
 
Senior Quinn Williamson joins Sayavong on the defensive line, and senior Isaiah Williams joins Meadowcroft and Varela with the defensive backs. Williamson played in nine games last year, and Williams played in all 10.
 
The Loggers' return their team leader in tackles, sophomore Amarian Culpepper. The Tacoma native totaled 56 tackles as a freshman last year.
 
The 2022 season begins with a non-conference game at Lewis & Clark (Sept. 3), kicking off the newly founded Northwest Scholars Series (click HERE for more information). The home-opener is Sept. 10 against Lewis-Clark Valley. Following a trip to Cal Lutheran (Sept. 17), the Loggers have a bye week before beginning the NWC slate at Linfield (Oct. 1).
 
Puget Sound's homecoming game is Oct. 8 against Pacific. The rivalry game against Pacific Lutheran is Nov. 5 in Baker Stadium.