State football first round: Top high school games to watch, predictions
CLASS 4A
NO. 8 SUMNER SPARTANS (8-2) VS. NO. 3 UNION TITANS (9-1)
7 p.m. Friday, McKenzie Stadium, Vancouver
About the Spartans: Haven’t we been here before? Yes, the Spartans’ road in last season’s playoffs ended on this field against eventual 4A winner Camas. But this battle-tested group is ready for one more run. For Sumner to pull off upset, it will needs its defensive line, led by DT Logan Mayer, and explosive DE Dane Elwell, to be disruptive.
About the Titans: This is a team on a serious roll. Union won the 4A GSHL title by ending Camas’ 58-game regular-season winning streak, and has the offense to score on anybody. QB Lincoln Victor (107 of 198, 1,704 yards, 22 TDs; 439 rushing yards) is dynamic, and will be looking for WR Darien Chase (41 receptions, 990 yards, 12 TDs) often.
TNT pick: Union, 30-23.
MONROE BEARCATS (9-1) AT NO. 6 PUYALLUP VIKINGS (9-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
About the Bearcats: There are big offensive lines – and there is this mammoth group up front for Monroe, led by Eastern Washington commit Josh Jerome. RB Isaiah Lewis (188 carries, 1,733 yards, 23 TDs; 2,000 total yards) is a game changer, and it will be up to QB Jaedyn Prewitt (164 of 255, 2,307 yards, 26 TDs) to operate the Bearcats’ spread offense under coach Michael Bumpus, the former WSU receiver.
About the Vikings: Coach Gary Jeffers knows his team cannot just line up across from Monroe and win in the trenches. So, the Vikings will try and exploit matchups in space, particularly with QB Jacob Holcomb (149 of 245, 2,034 yards, 26 TDs) looking for WRs Darius Morrison (59 receptions, 859 yards, 15 TDs) and Landon Neff (45 receptions, 611 yards, seven TDs).
TNT pick: Puyallup, 35-30.
NO. 5 GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES (9-1) AT NO. 10 LAKE STEVENS VIKINGS (9-1)
7 p.m. Saturday, Lakes Stevens High School
About the Eagles: This is a big starting point for the Eagles, who have all the pieces to make a deep run. UW committed QB Dylan Morris (170-247, 2,651 yards, 27 TDs) has been as good as any quarterback in the South Sound, and the offense welcomes back RB Micah Smith (69 carries, 395 yards, seven TDs) back from a three-game absence because of an ankle injury.
About the Vikings: The five-time defending 4A Wesco champions are shuffling things around late in the year. They lost standout QB Conor Bardue (broken hand) before the district playoffs, and now need backup Tre Long (18 of 25, 245 yards, 4 TDs last week against Kentlake) to get up to speed quickly. Rematch of 2015 state quarterfinals.
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin, 36-33.
CLASS 3A
GARFIELD BULLDOGS (4-5) at NO. 6 LINCOLN ABES (9-1)
1 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma
About the Bulldogs: This is as dangerous a sub-.500 team you will ever see in the postseason. And it all comes down to one reason: Speed. QB Javon Tade has a group of speedy receivers to throw to, led by Oregon commit Tre’Shaun Harrison (191 total yards, three TDs last week against Everett) and Jovan McConico, who was a TNT All-Area selection for Kent-Meridian last year. And LB/DE Sa’vell Smalls is a sophomore transfer from Kennedy Catholic who has offers from Alabama, Oregon, UW, UCLA, USC to name a few. This is the Bulldogs’ first state trip since 1979.
About the Abes: Coach Masaki Matsumoto says Garfield is the fastest team Lincoln has faced in his three seasons. But he likes how his secondary matches up with the Bulldogs, led by senior CBs Kavon Holden and Eric Gray, who have combined for five interceptions. Abes are dealing with some key injuries, but big offensive line should open big holes for RB Tristian Kwon (113 carries, 1,015 yards, 15 TDs)
TNT pick: Lincoln, 40-30.
NO. 7 KAMIAKIN BRAVES (9-1) at NO. 5 TIMBERLINE BLAZERS (10-0)
5 p.m. Saturday, South Sound Stadium, Lacey
About the Braves: How far can the defending 3A champions go? They have a lot of seniors from the squad that toppled O’Dea for the state title. QB Payton Flynn (161-316, 2,158 yards, 23 TDs) flashes a big arm, and will throw downfield to WR Champ Grayson (56 receptions, 900 yards, nine TD), an Eastern Washington commit. Front seven forced Lakes into eight sacks last week.
About the Blazers: After crushing Peninsula (51-14) to win the 3A SSC title, and Stadium (56-20) in the district round, the Blazers have never played better entering the state playoffs. RB Michael Barnes (175 carries, 1,103 yards, 10 TDs) leads a balanced attack, but it is Timberline’s ability to match Kamakin’s physicality up front that should be the difference.
TNT pick: Timberline, 27-24.
tmilles@thenewstribune.com
Twitter: @ManyHatsMilles
4A STATE TOURNAMENT
State First Round
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Central Valley HS
Gm 2: Camas (9-1) vs. Central Valley (8-1), 5 p.m.
At Skyline HS
Gm 1: Bothell (8-2) vs. Skyline (7-3), 7 p.m.
Location TBA
Gm 3: West Valley (Yakima) (7-2) vs. Richland (10-0), 7 p.m.
At Lions Field, Moses Lake
Gm 4: Gonzaga Prep (8-2) vs. Moses Lake (7-2), 7 p.m.
At Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
Gm 7: Monroe (9-1) vs. Puyallup (9-1), 7 p.m.
At McKenzie Stadium, Vancouver
Gm 8: Sumner (8-2) vs. Union (9-1), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Lake Stevens HS
Gm 6: Graham Kapowsin (9-1) vs. Lake Stevens (9-1), 7 p.m.
At Pop Keeney Stadium, Bothell
Gm 5: Kentwood (8-2) vs. Woodinville (9-0), 7 p.m.
3A STATE TOURNAMENT
State First Round
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Seattle Memorial Stadium
Gm 3: Mercer Island (7-3) vs. O'Dea (8-1), 5 p.m.
At Civic Stadium, Bellingham
Gm 4: Bethel (9-1) vs. Ferndale (9-0), 7 p.m.
At Seattle Memorial Stadium
Gm 5: Edmonds-Woodway (9-1) vs. Eastside Catholic (9-0), 7:45 p.m.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Bellevue HS
Gm 2: Oak Harbor (9-1) vs. Bellevue (9-1), 1 p.m.
At Lincoln HS
Gm 6: Garfield (4-5) vs. Lincoln (9-1), 1 p.m.
At South Sound Stadium, Lacey
Gm 1: Kamiakin (9-1) vs. Timberline (10-0), 5 p.m.
At Joe Albi Stadium, Spokane
Gm 7: Rainier Beach (7-2) vs. Mount Spokane (8-2), 5 p.m.
At McKenzie Stadium, Vancouver
Gm 8: Peninsula (7-3) vs. Mountain View (7-2), 7 p.m.
2A STATE TOURNAMENT
State First Round
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
Gm 1: Liberty (8-1) vs. Fife (9-1), 7 p.m.
At Battle Ground School District Stadium
Gm 2: Pullman (6-3) vs. Hockinson (9-1), 2 p.m.
At Zaepfel Stadium, Yakima
Gm 4: Black Hills (6-4) vs. Selah (8-0), 5 p.m.
At North Kitsap HS
Gm 5: W.F. West (8-2) vs. North Kitsap (9-0), 7 p.m.
At Goddard Stadium, Everett
Gm 6: River Ridge (7-3) vs. Archbishop Murphy (9-1), 7 p.m.
At Tumwater District Stadium
Gm 7: Lynden (5-5) vs. Tumwater (8-2), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At West Valley HS, Spokane
Gm 3: Franklin Pierce (6-4) vs. West Valley (Spokane) (11-0), 1 p.m.
At Harry E. Lang Stadium, Lakewood
Gm 8: Othello (5-4) vs. Steilacoom (9-2), 2 p.m.
1A STATE TOURNAMENT
State First Round
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Zillah HS
Gm 2: Newport (8-1) vs. Zillah (9-1), 4 p.m.
At Okanogan HS
Gm 4: Naches Valley (6-3) vs. Okanogan (8-0), 6 p.m.
At Royal HS
Gm 3: Freeman (7-3) vs. Royal (10-0), 7 p.m.
At Woodland HS
Gm 5: Mount Baker (6-3) vs. La Center (7-2), 7 p.m.
At Montesano HS
Gm 7: Charles Wright (8-2) vs. Montesano (9-0), 7 p.m.
At Civic Stadium, Bellingham
Gm 8: Hoquiam (N/A) vs. Meridian (10-0), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Colville HS
Gm 1: Connell (8-2) vs. Colville (8-1), 2 p.m.
At Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
Gm 6: Nooksack Valley (6-4) vs. Cascade Christian (9-1), 7 p.m.
2B STATE TOURNAMENT
State First Round
Friday, Nov. 10
Location TBA
Gm 2: Adna (9-1) vs. Kalama (10-0), 7 p.m.
At Centralia HS
Gm 3: Rainier (7-2) vs. Napavine (9-1), 7 p.m.
Location TBA
Gm 5: Lake Roosevelt (7-3) vs. Davenport (8-2), 7 p.m.
Location TBA
Gm 6: Asotin (7-3) vs. Tri-Cities Prep (9-1), TBA
At Manson HS
Gm 7: DeSales (7-3) vs. Manson (8-1), 6 p.m.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Willapa Valley HS
Gm 1: Friday Harbor (5-4) vs. Pe Ell/Willapa Valley (8-2), noon
At Sedro-Woolley HS
Gm 4: Toledo (6-4) vs. Concrete (8-2), 2 p.m.
At Liberty (Spangle) S
Gm 8: Lyle/Wishram (7-3) vs. Liberty (Spangle) (10-0), 3 p.m.
CLASS 1B FOOTBALL
QUAD-DISTRICT FINALS
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Naselle HS
Neah Bay (5-5) vs. Naselle (7-2), 7 p.m. (winner D1/2/3, No. 1; loser out)
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At North Kitsap HS
Tacoma Baptist (7-3) vs. Quilcene (8-0), 6 p.m. (winner D4, No. 1; loser out)
At Lummi HS
Rainier Christian (4-3) vs. Lummi Nation (7-3), noon (winner D1/2/3, No. 2; loser out)
This story was originally published November 9, 2017 at 11:46 AM with the headline "State football first round: Top high school games to watch, predictions."