Spartans fall to 0-2 after blowout loss to Tumwater

By Luke Caputo • September 13, 2025 1:30 am

The Bainbridge Spartans football team is looking to improve heading into Olympic League play following blowout losses to two of the top 2A teams in the state to start the season.

The Spartans (0-2) fell to the Tumwater Thunderbirds (1-1) 45-6 at home Sept. 12

Bainbridge previously fell to the defending state champion Anacortes Seahawks 55-7 on the road Sept. 5. Tumwater also lost its first game of the season, falling to the Puyallup Vikings 25-19 on the same day.

“We’ve played against the two best teams in our division in the state,” Bainbridge coach Dan Schoonmaker said. “When we have a loss, there’s an opportunity to get better.”

Both sides kicked off their first offensive possessions of the night with three-and-outs.

Bainbridge quarterback Nate Putman attempted a deep throw to spark some life into the Spartan offense with less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter, but could not find his target. Tumwater led 6-0 at the end of the first.

The Tumwater defense forced a fumble on the first play of the following Spartan drive and scored another touchdown, giving them a 20-0 lead three minutes before halftime after letting up a touchdown via a screen pass.

Nonetheless, the Spartan offense began to find some life after two Putman screen passes to Spartans running back Zack Ausmeier and wide receiver Heath Voegtlin, generating over 80 yards in three plays. Putman rushed the ball in for a touchdown on a QB sneak, giving the Spartans their first score of the game and shrinking the deficit to 14 at 20-6.

“[Coach was telling us at halftime] to just do our assignments and do them like 300 miles [per hour] with our hair on fire,” Putman said.

Tumwater opened the second half with an opening drive touchdown after Bainbridge attempted an onside kick to start the half, giving the Thunderbirds a 26-6 lead. The Spartans let up another touchdown with 1:53 remaining in the third after a long Tumwater drive.

The fourth quarter spelled more of the same for Bainbridge, with the defense giving up a long touchdown run to the Tumwater running back with 9:30 remaining in the quarter, increasing the lead to 39-6. Tumwater added another touchdown via a long screen pass before time expired.

[Facing tough opponents] has made the team way better, and I think we’re better off for it,” Putman said.