Don’t expect the Curtis Vikings to give Skyline bulletin board material this week.
Curtis coach Clay Angle was complimentary of the second-ranked Spartans, who will visit the Vikings at 7 p.m. Saturday night for a Class 4A state quarterfinal contest. “Scheme-wise, what they do is not new to us,” Angle said. “But they execute it at a level better than any team we’ve played.”
Narrows League champion South Kitsap found that out last week. The Spartans (9-2) held a six-touchdown lead at halftime before winning, 63-14. Fifth-ranked Curtis took (11-0) notice of the defending state champions’ quick-strike offense and is eager for the challenge.
“We’ve been talking all year that we want to get the respect of the state,” Angle said. “This is our chance.”
Unfortunately for Curtis, the Spartans have regained focus after falling to No. 1 Bothell, 25-20, three weeks ago. Since then, Skyline rolled over defensive-minded Kentridge, 42-0, and South Kitsap. Spartans coach Mat Taylor says the new attitude has permeated the entire program.
“The demeanor around here has changed 100 percent since Bothell,” Taylor said. “Ever since that game, the coaching staff, the kids, everything has changed. It’s a new season for us.”
Curtis can put a stop to Skyline’s season, but the Vikings might have to grind out long drives with their plus-size offensive line and bullish running backs Richard Southern and Jason Walker. That would keep Spartans quarterback Jake Heaps, a BYU-commit regarded as one of the best prep players in the country at his position, and his cadre of receivers off the field.
And if Curtis can force Skyline to punt, that could give Rahmel Dockery a chance to break loose for a game-changing return.
Dockery, who was offered a scholarship by Washington State on Tuesday, returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings the lead for good in their 21-16 win over Central Kitsap last week.
“He is an explosive player,” Taylor said. “We have to know where he is on the field.”
Auburn set for Skyview
Auburn coach Gordon Elliott isn’t about to play the comparison game. Yes, the third-ranked Trojans (11-0) and their Class 4A state quarterfinal foe Skyview (9-2) have a common opponent in Marysville-Pilchuck. And, yes, Auburn beat the Tomahawks 25-22 last week, while the Storm fell 47-41 in the third week of the season.
“That game was way back in September,” Elliott said. “It’s not easy to compare teams in the playoffs to how they were playing when the season first started. The main thing for us is that they played Marysville-Pilchuck tough.”
Skyview has knocked off two SPSL teams in the postseason, eliminating Federal Way, 56-14, and stunning No. 7 Bethel, 40-21. Quarterback Austin Dodge has thrown for a combined 640 yards against the Eagles and Braves.
Auburn is no stranger is playing this deep into November – the Trojans have reached the state quarterfinals in three of the last four seasons – but the team will have to play its first postseason game outside of Snohomish, King or Pierce county for the first time since 1992.
“For our league, the big road trip is going over to Federal Way,” Elliott quipped. “This is the playoffs, we’ve going to have some long-distance road trips if we keep playing.”
He’s right. If the Trojans win, they’ll head to Eastern Washington for the semifinals.
Lakes bound for Spokane
The second-ranked Lakes football team will board buses today to make the 300-mile trek to Spokane for the Class 3A state quarterfinal against No. 5 Mount Spokane at 1 p.m. Saturday. Lancers coach Dave Miller doesn’t expect any hitches along the way.
“It’s a business trip,” he said. “Our focus is on playing the football game. We’ll try to keep it as normal as possible, get to the stadium at our normal time and do what we usually do.”
So far this season, that practice has left Lakes a big winner. The second-ranked Lancers (11-0) have allowed only 14 points in their last seven games, while they’ve scored at least 45 points in each of those contests.
It’s safe to say that Mount Spokane (10-1) will be the best team Lakes has faced. The Wildcats emerged from the rugged 4A/3A Greater Spokane League as conference champions. Quarterback Travis Ward orchestrates Mount Spokane’s spread offense, but running back/receiver Colten Williams is the star. Through eight regular-season games, Williams, who was selected to The News Tribune’s preseason all-state team, totaled 1,239 yards of offense and 15 touchdowns.
“Williams is a good athlete,” Miller said. “They line him up in the slot and he gets a lot of carries from there. It’s like the fly sweep.”
Cougars wary of Montesano
After reviewing tape of the Montesano football team, Cascade Christian coach Randy Davis had reached a conclusion.
“They are solid all the way around,” he said.
“I’ll be darned if I can find a weak spot.”
Davis’ third-ranked Cougars (11-0) will try to find a hole when they meet the No. 1 Bulldogs (11-0) in a Class 1A quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Saturday at Tumwater. Cascade Christian beat Montesano, 35-14, in the semifinals last season. Since then, the Bulldogs have given up just 21 points.
“They have pretty much the same team as last year, a lot of starters back,” Davis said. “We’ve got a bunch of new guys. It’s going to be a good one.”
Doug Pacey: 253-597-9271
blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
