South Sound high school football state semifinals preview
With Lincoln’s 56-21 victory over Marysville-Pilchuck in the Class 3A state tournament quarterfinals last weekend, the Abes are headed to the state tournament semifinals for the first time and are the first of the Tacoma Public Schools to reach the semifinal round since Wilson in 1998 — a team led by former NFL player Marcus Trufant and current Wilson head coach Amad Robinson.
Two other South Sound teams also are still alive. Tumwater and Steilacoom are looking for wins in the Class 2A state semifinals, potentially setting up an all-South Sound state championship game the following week. Here’s what to watch for in this week’s matchups featuring South Sound teams, and here’s what we learned from last week’s quarterfinal games.
The higher seed hosts games.
CLASS 3A
No. 3 Lincoln vs. No. 2 Eastside Catholic
1 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 30) at Sammamish High School
About the matchup: This is the heavyweight fight we’ve been waiting for. Eastside Catholic, the preseason No. 1 ranked team, was a team many expected to run the table this season and is loaded with talent all over the field. Those hopes were dashed with a stunning 28-6 loss to O’Dea in week six, but this is still a team with more college-ready talent than any in the state.
The Crusaders feature four of the top 10 recruits in the state in the 2020 class, per 247sports.com, led by receiver and Ohio State commit Gee Scott Jr. (1,278 yards, 15 TD), running back and Washington commit Sam Adams II (614 yards, six TD), 4-star tight end D.J. Rogers (452 yards, 6 TD) and cornerback and Stanford commit Ayden Hector (three interceptions).
Oh yeah, and the top-rated junior recruit in the country, defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau (10 sacks, 58 tackles). Quarterback Kobe Muasau (2,536 yards, 29 TD) leads the offense.
Perhaps the best thing that could’ve happened for Lincoln heading into this game was that Eastside Catholic loss to O’Dea earlier in the season, killing the notion that the Crusaders were somehow invincible.
And Lincoln has the talent to hang with Eastside Catholic, led by 4-star junior recruit Julien Simon (974 yards receiving, 12 TD; 178 yards rushing, 7 TD). Quarterback Caden Filer (3,238 yards, 38 TD) has had his best season yet, and 3A PCL MVP Abner Sio-Fetaui (1,290 yards, 17 TD) has turned into a workhorse running back and the tone-setter for the Abes this season.
A defensive backfield with Simon, Jaylen Clark and Boise State commit Donovan Clark will be up for the challenge of slowing down a dynamic Eastside Catholic offense.
TNT pick: Eastside Catholic, 42-40
CLASS 2A
No. 3 Lynden vs. No. 2 Steilacoom
1 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 30) at Mount Tahoma High School
About the matchup: Steilacoom knew something needed to change after these two schools met in the week three, with Lynden winning, 56-47. Despite a ferocious second-half comeback from the Sentinels’ offense, Lynden had a field day running the ball, with Steven DiLorenzo rushing for a school-record 320 yards.
Steilacoom’s defense has looked improved since then against strong running teams like Eatonville, River Ridge, Orting and Prosser, but this will be a better test of just how far the Steilacoom run defense has come, with coach Colby Davies challenging his group to be more physical at the point of attack. A win on Saturday would propel Steilacoom to its first state championship game after reaching the semifinals for the first time this week.
Lynden, a state tournament regular, is led by DiLorenzo (1,512 yards, 14 TD), receiver Brock Heppner (427 receiving yards, 10 TD; 651 rushing yards, 12 TD). Heppner (239 passing yards, 2 TD) also switches off at quarterback with junior Baylor Ayres (871 yards, 13 TD; 654 rushing yards, 7 TD). The defense is led by linebacker Bodie Human (106 tackles).
Steilacoom, meanwhile, shouldn’t have an issue putting up points, led by 5-star junior recruit Emeka Egbuka (1,349 receiving yards, 20 TD). Quarterback Chance McDonald has been playing his best football in the second half of the season (3,143 yards, 42 TD).
TNT pick: Steilacoom, 42-35
No. 4 Hockinson vs. No. 1 Tumwater
4 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 30) at Tumwater District Stadium
About the matchup: Last year’s Class 2A state champion took a hit before the season even started, with UW commit Sawyer Racanelli missing the entire 2019 season with a torn ACL. But Hockinson (11-1) looks as strong as ever, knocking off Lakewood in last week’s state quarterfinal game, 29-28.
Hockinson, which beat Tumwater in the 2017 Class 2A state championship game, is led by quarterback Levi Crum (2,502 yards, 34 TD; 799 rushing yards, 13 TD).
But it’s hard to imagine anyone slowing down Tumwater right now, after the T-Birds blanked Archbishop Murphy in last week’s quarterfinal game, 48-0. In its two state tournament games, Tumwater has outscored its opponents 104-7. Running back Dylan Paine leads the Wing-T rushing attack, with quarterback Cody Whalen efficient passing the ball when opposing defenses stack the box. And Tumwater’s defense has been lights out this season, holding opponents to just 8.3 points per game.
TNT pick: Tumwater, 49-21
