Week 6: High school football predictions, games to watch in South Sound
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s high school football game of the week poll.
The voters have chosen Curtis vs. Graham-Kapowsin on Saturday afternoon at Art Crate Field as the TNT’s Game of the Week. We’ll be there covering the 4A SPSL matchup, so keep an eye on our coverage on Saturday.
Read about the top five games in the South Sound in Week 6 below, plus our prediction for the state game of the week.
4A SPSL
Olympia Bears (1-4) vs. Puyallup Vikings (4-1)
7 p.m. Thursday, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
Every week during the nine-week regular season seems pivotal in the 10-team 4A SPSL as the postseason picture takes shape. Olympia and Puyallup meet Thursday to kick off this week’s 4A SPSL action. The Bears picked up their first win of the season over South Kitsap two weeks ago, but are still looking to find some rhythm following tough one-possession losses to Curtis and Bethel, and two-possession losses to Emerald Ridge and Graham-Kapowsin early on. Puyallup enters the week in a four-way tie for first, regrouping from a 30-point loss to Sumner two weeks ago with a 40-0 rout of crosstown rival Rogers last Friday. The Vikings opened the season with consecutive wins over Emerald Ridge, Graham-Kapowsin and South Kitsap. Puyallup has won the past four games in this series. The Vikings’ only loss to Olympia since the Bears joined the 4A SPSL was in 2016.
TNT pick: Puyallup, 35-24
Bethel Bison (4-1) vs. Emerald Ridge Jaguars (4-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
Bethel has had one of the league’s best defensive units this season, holding opponents to just 12.4 points per game. Keep an eye on 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore outside linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale. He’s been relentless off the edge for the Bison and could see his recruitment take off soon. Bethel will have its hands full against the league’s most dynamic offense this season. Emerald Ridge quarterback Jake Schakel (1,273 passing yards, 16 TDs) is completing 73 percent of his passes, spreading the ball to five receivers with over 100 yards through five games, led by Gio Kafentzis (591 yards, 6 TDs) and Tony Harste (271 yards, 5 TDs).
TNT pick: Emerald Ridge, 42-21
Curtis Vikings (3-2) vs. Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (3-2)
1 p.m. Saturday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway
Graham-Kapowsin lost a close one to Sumner last week, 34-31. Eagles coach Jeff Logan likes the improvement he’s seeing from his young team. Junior receiver Jabez Woods (246 yards, 3 TDs) is one of the league’s top receivers. Curtis is having a good season and is coming off a 34-14 win over Bellarmine Prep last week. Quarterback Rocco Koch rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown and completed 14-of-20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Graham-Kapowsin has won 10 in a row against Curtis. The Vikings’ last win against the Eagles came in 2010.
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin, 35-31
3A PCL
Silas Rams (2-3) vs. Spanaway Lake Sentinels (4-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway
Spanaway Lake has rattled off four consecutive wins over 4A KingCo power Mount Si and 3A PCL opponents Mount Tahoma, Bonney Lake and Stadium since a season-opening loss to Gig Harbor, putting the Sentinels in position to compete for a league title again this fall. After early losses to Mount Si and 2A SPSL favorite Enumclaw, Silas regrouped with wins over Stadium and Juanita before running into Lakes last week. Spanaway Lake is looking to push its winning streak in the series to three games. Silas last won this matchup in 2018.
TNT pick: Spanaway Lake, 30-21
2A SPSL
Enumclaw Hornets (5-0) vs. Franklin Pierce Cardinals (3-2)
7 p.m. Thursday, Franklin Pierce Stadium, Tacoma
Enumclaw is closing in on a 2A SPSL title after beating Fife, 27-21, in Week 4 and clobbering reigning league champion Steilacoom last week, 56-13. The Hornets remain a run-first team, led by a nasty offensive line and tough running back Emmit Otero, but quarterback Gunnar Trachte has shown ability in the passing game, too, targeting big receivers Austin Paulson and Karson Holt. Franklin Pierce should give Enumclaw a good fight, led by versatile running back Treyvon Silva, one of the league’s most dynamic players.
TNT pick: Enumclaw, 40-24
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Eastside Catholic Crusaders (5-0) vs. Garfield Bulldogs (5-0)
7:45 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Seattle
Another 3A Metro League showdown is on the schedule this week. Both Eastside Catholic and Garfield enter the week without a loss and with signature victories. Eastside Catholic picked up a 26-14 win over 4A NPSL favorite Kennedy Catholic back in Week 1, then added routs of Ballard, Bishop Blanchet and Roosevelt before besting 3A state power O’Dea, 24-17, last week. Garfield opened the season with a 26-16 win over last year’s 4A state runner-up Lake Stevens, and has routed four league opponents since in Roosevelt, Seattle Prep, Bishop Blanchet and Ballard. Expect a tough matchup this week in a game that could play a role in deciding the 3A Metro League title. Neither program has allowed an opponent to score 20 points this season. Eastside Catholic has allowed nine points per game through five weeks, including a pair of shutouts. Garfield is allowing only 7.6 points per game, and has limited each of its last four opponents to one score. Eastside Catholic is looking to extend its current winning streak over Garfield to five games. The Bulldogs last won this meeting in 2017.
TNT pick: Eastside Catholic, 17-14
This story was originally published October 4, 2022 at 1:00 PM.
