Lake Stevens QB Blake Moser is lightning fast.The dual-threat junior and one of the state’s best players runs the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds.He gashed Sumner for 129 yards and four rushing touchdowns in Saturday night’s 4A championship game at Husky Stadium.It’s why the Vikings trusted their signal-caller to pick up less than a yard on 4th and 1 in overtime with the game on the line.Why wouldn’t he?Answer: Sumner’s Elias Tulifua saved the season instead.Moser stood in the shotgun, the football three yards from paydirt. Tulifua, meanwhile, lined up to the signal-caller’s left, unblocked and ready to pounce. He knew exactly what was coming.“I had to make a play,” Tulifua said. “There’s (expletive) on the line right here.”When Moser dropped back, Sumner’s secondary gave him nowhere to throw. He rolled to his right as Tulifua exploded around the left tackle, in hot pursuit of the Vikings speedster.Before Moser could cut upfield, Tulifua was there. He tripped the QB with a shoestring tackle and Spartans LB Austin Glivar did the rest — but it was ‘Tuli’ that saved the game. Lake Stevens turned the ball over on downs and Sumner only needed a field goal for back-to-back state championships in Seattle.“(Coach Ross) called a blitz,” Tulifua told The News Tribune. “In that moment, dawgs are made to be dawgs. This is where legends are made right here.“I made a play, put some pressure on the QB, but that was all my boy Austin Glivar right there. I just applied some pressure.”One play that shouldn’t be overlooked from tonight’s 4A championship — Sumner safety Elias Tulifua chases down Lake Stevens QB Blake Moser for a turnover on downs on 4th and 1 in OT:Lance McGee runs for 6 TD, Spartans win 41-35 @tntprepspic.twitter.com/C01VnnlvXW— Tyler Wicke (@WickeTyler) December 7, 2025Spartans RB Lance McGee’s six touchdowns will live on in state championship lore — but the play by an unexpected hero shouldn’t be overlooked.Head coach Keith Ross certainly won’t forget.“We won the state championship because of (Tuli’s) tackle,” Ross said. “Last week, it was Mason Ota making the play.“We have stickers in our program that we give that say C.T.G. — Change The Game. They both made change-the-game-type plays. One helped us (beat) Puyallup, one helped us win the state championship.”Tulifua’s stop returned the football to McGee and the Sumner offense, which marched 25 yards for the game-sealing score in overtime of the 4A championship, 41-35, at Husky Stadium.It’s a story of resilience: The Spartans fell to these Vikings in Week 1 and lost to Puyallup by 36 points in Week 5, only to knock off both in the playoffs. It’s what makes this title even more satisfying than the last, a belief echoed by just about every Spartan.“We just went on that revenge tour,” Spartans DL Shaun Griffith said. “I’m so happy right now.“Tuli did his job at an elite level and he executed how he was supposed to. I’m so glad he was there.”