From swapped student sections, to continuously close scores, to eventual overtime, the 2025 Spaghetti Bowl was unlike any other, and a surely unforgettable night.
Excitement and adrenaline rang through the huge crowds at Ingersoll Stadium during the highly anticipated district rivalry game on September 5th, between the Olympia Bears and Capital Cougars. The high hopes of the players were also apparent. Senior Will Busch, a Left Guard and Defensive Tackle for the Bears, expressed his eagerness and “just hoped for good competition”.
As the football was kicked off and the clock started, a white cloud arose from and overtook the Olympia High School student section, in line with the Trench’s “white out” attire. Not only are the two football teams rivals, but their students are as well. Due to the two teams sharing a stadium, the Bears were on the visiting side, slightly tarnishing the prideful home game feeling. OHS principal Matt Grant confirmed that before the eight years without a Spaghetti Bowl, it was tradition to switch sides, although no one remembers it anymore.
The Spaghetti Bowl had a scary start for the Bears after a relatively quick touchdown by the Capital High School Quarterback, Nolan Potts. However, the Bears picked themselves up just as quickly and returned two touchdowns by the end of the first quarter. Additionally, this would be the only quarter in which both teams would add points to the scoreboard.
The second quarter consisted of a Cougs field goal and touchdown, in which the extra point field goal was blocked by the Bears’ defense. This brought the halftime score to 16-14, Cougs. Senior Middle Line Back Hunter Liberty explained the Bears locker room dynamic, saying some of his teammates “were frustrated,” and others “were ready to get back on the field”. Unease in the Olympia Trench was apparent, but students held out hope.
The Bears came out strong after halftime and dominated the third quarter. The Bears scored two touchdowns and only capitalized on one extra point opportunity, putting them up 27-16 by the start of the fourth quarter. Although at this point, Liberty “vividly remember[s] saying this to a teammate… ‘but it’s not over’. We saw a bunch of people getting lazy and lackadaisical and I told him I was getting worried”. Which proved to be exactly what happened.
Finally, it came to the fourth quarter, which wouldn’t even end up being the end of the game. Capital was able to score a field goal and later a touchdown and complete a nail-biting two-point conversion to tie the game 27-27. After failing to score on the Bears’ next possession, they were able to stay in the game due to an amazing interception by Austin Stull with twelve seconds left that otherwise likely would have resulted in a touchdown for the Cougs.
The Spaghetti Bowl was really brought down to the wire when each team had an equal opportunity to score in overtime. The Bears started with the ball at the twenty-yard line and had four downs to try, but unfortunately were unable to sneak a touchdown in the endzone. On the Capital Cougs’ third down, Nolan Potts scored a rushing touchdown, making them the 2025 Spaghetti Bowl Champions for the first time since its return.
Capital High School Senior Tanner Fricke attended the game and loves the rivalry aspect. “ It brings out a lot more energy than any other game; the crowds are bigger and louder, and each drive means something, making it more intense and fun to watch.” Fricke loves supporting his team, but when it comes to the Spaghetti Bowl, he turns it up a notch and gets even more encouraging.
This made for a joyous night for Capital, but a tough loss for Olympia. The defeat was felt by every Bears fan. Luckily, this is just the start of the season, and Busch noted there is a lot the team can improve upon and a long way for them to go. He hopes they “end the season with a winning record and most importantly have fun”.
