Olympia High School's football team takes the field Sept. 4, under a new head coach building around physicality and discipline.

First-year head coach Cary Nagel has installed what The Olympian described as "a physical brand of football" for the Bears, who went 5-5 last season and made the Class 4A district playoffs.

Nagel lives near the school and sees that toughness as the starting point for a turnaround.

"I think with (physicality) comes more discipline, and then the wins will come after that," Nagel said.

The Bears open at Ingersoll Stadium in the annual Spaghetti Bowl against crosstown rival Capital.

The Nisqually Valley News ranked it the No. 1 game to watch in Thurston County, noting players from both schools have already been trading jabs on social media.

Capital leads the all-time series 22-21 in a rivalry dating to 1976.

Last year's Spaghetti Bowl was a gut punch for Olympia. The Bears led 27-16 in the fourth quarter before Capital rallied to force overtime. Capital's Nolan Potts scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the game in the extra period to win it 33-27.

In the 2024 opener, Olympia's Cameron Downing ran in the winning score in the final moments for a 21-14 Bears victory. A starting quarterback has scored the winning touchdown with his legs in each of the past two meetings.

Senior quarterback Tucker Downing is learning his fourth offense in four years but has earned Nagel's trust. The coach praised Downing's reliability and smarts, calling him the team's leader. Junior defensive tackle/end Michael Mobuogwu anchors a defense that returns seven starters under coordinator Dennis Graham.

Downing made his own priorities clear: "Beat Capital Week 1, that's for sure. Win that game. Last year, we came short, but this year, it won't happen."

League play in the 4A SPSL South begins Sept. 25 at Yelm.