Week 3: High school football games to watch in the South Sound, predictions
Read about the top five high school football games in the South Sound in Week 3 below, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
4A NPSL
Kentwood Conquerors (1-1) vs. Kennedy Catholic Lancers (1-1)
1 p.m. Saturday, Highline Memorial Stadium, Burien
Kennedy Catholic still hasn’t lost a league contest since 2018 and opens the 4A NPSL schedule looking to secure a fifth consecutive undefeated league crown. The Lancers, last year’s 4A state runner-up, lost their season opener, 36-33, to one of Colorado’s top 5A programs in Regis Jesuit on the road but responded with a 45-38 win over Highline last week. Third-year QB Devon Forehand (30-of-55 passing, 611 yards, seven TDs) leads a Lancers offense that has posted 978 total yards the first two weeks. WR Joey Thomas III (seven catches, 205 yards, two TDs) has been Forehand’s top receiving target early, while RB Indiana Jones (218 total yards, two rushing TDs, two receiving TDs, INT return TD) has recorded scores on both offense and defense for the Lancers. Kentwood — the most recent 4A NPSL team to beat the Lancers in Week 8 of 2018 — will get the first chance to disrupt the Lancers’ impressive stretch of league wins this season Saturday after upending perennial 3A state playoffs program Peninsula, 21-18, last week. RB Antoine Lee secured the victory for Kentwood with a 99-yard punt return TD in the final minute. The Conquerors lost their season-opener against another 3A state regular in Lakes, 37-24.
TNT pick: Kennedy Catholic, 35-21
3A PCL
Mount Tahoma T-Birds (0-2) vs. Spanaway Lake Sentinels (1-1)
7 p.m. Thursday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway
Mount Tahoma should feel tested after dropping close nonleague games to North Kitsap and Eastlake. The two losses came by a combined 10 points. RB Brison Bailey has been a workhorse early, racking up 234 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries, including a three-touchdown performance last week against Eastlake. QB Tre Walker came in early against Eastlake after starter Mikkah Cordero went out with an injury and played well, completing 10-of-13 passes for 174 yards and rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Transfer WR DJ Ervin (108 yards on seven receptions) leads the team in receiving. After a thrilling Week 1 win over Gig Harbor, Spanaway Lake struggled against 4A Mount Si in Week 2, losing 41-7. Still, RB D’aryhian Clemons can take a game over in a hurry. He showcased his explosiveness with an 88-yard receiving TD in last week’s loss.
TNT pick: Mount Tahoma, 27-20
3A SSC
Gig Harbor Tides (1-1) vs. Peninsula Seahawks (0-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Roy Anderson Field, Purdy
Peninsula will look to make it eight wins in a row in the Fish Bowl on Friday night. Peninsula dropped both its nonleague games to Enumclaw and Kentwood, losing the contests by a combined 10 points. The Seahawks probably feel they could be 2-0 if some things fell their way — especially last week when Peninsula lost to Kentwood on a late 99-yard punt return TD. Gig Harbor lost narrowly to Spanaway Lake in Week 1 before bouncing back with an impressive 34-12 thumping of Bonney Lake last week. Rylan Geldermann was all over the place for the Tides, rushing for a TD, recovering a fumble and recording 10 tackles. WR Ben Stevens hauled in eight catches for 141 yards and a TD in the win.
TNT pick: Peninsula, 21-17
2A SPSL
Enumclaw Hornets (2-0) vs. Steilacoom Sentinels (2-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Steilacoom High School, Steilacoom
It looks like Orting might have something to say in the 2A SPSL title race this season, but this matchup between Enumclaw and Steilacoom could have league title implications. Steilacoom is off to a 2-0 start in league play and is averaging 37.5 points per game. QB Drew Macdonald (36-of-53 passing, 443 yards, six TDs) looks in full control of the offense in his junior season, spreading the ball to Vince Foster (200 yards, three TDs) and Josiah Morley (138 yards, two TDs). He’s doing all that damage without WR Jaydus Green, who is slated to return in the next couple weeks. Enumclaw also comes into the game undefeated after a nonleague win over Peninsula in Week 1 and a comfortable win over Franklin Pierce to open 2A SPSL play last week. Enumclaw’s defense has been lights out, limiting opponents to 9.5 points per game.
TNT pick: Enumclaw, 30-24
Nonleague
Eatonville Cruisers (1-1) vs. Cascade Christian Cougars (2-0)
7 p.m. Saturday, Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
Two of the South Sound’s top 1A programs meet in an early nonleague contest after both advanced to the state bracket last fall. Defending 1A Nisqually League champion Cascade Christian enters the contest following a pair of double-digit wins over Cedar Park Christian (34-18) and Elma (40-20) the first two weeks. RB Jack Tangen (24 carries, 141 yards, four TDs) and WR Jackson Almond (nine catches, 138 yards, two TDs) pace a Cougars offense averaging 391.5 yards per game in rushing and receiving, while LB Byson Vasquez (17 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks) has been an impact player early on defense. The Cruisers rallied from a 49-16 loss to 2A opponent Olympic in their season-opener with a 44-21 victory over another 2A program in Centralia last week. Eatonville has seven players that have recorded a rushing or receiving TD through two games, pacing an offense averaging 272.5 yards per contest. Eatonville has a two-game winning streak in the series against the Cougars, including winning last September’s matchup, 35-7.
TNT pick: Cascade Christian, 30-24
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Sumner Spartans (1-1) vs. Emerald Ridge Jaguars (2-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
Defending 4A SPSL champion Sumner will look to get back on track in another 4A SPSL showdown Friday following a 38-33 loss to up-and-coming Curtis last week at home. Sumner’s offense has been stellar early, averaging 424 yards per game, led by reigning league MVP Matthew Spurbeck (34 carries, 243 yards, four TDs) and QB Tristen Rebar (27-of-35 passing, 399 yards, six total TDs). But, can the Spartans’ defense, which shut out Bellarmine Prep 40-0 in Week 1 regroup against another high-scoring 4A SPSL contender? Emerald Ridge enters the contest following convincing victories over Puyallup (36-23) and Olympia (34-0), and is averaging 390.5 yards of offense. Jaguars fourth-year QB Jake Schakel (29-of-43 passing, 529 yards, eight TDs), an Eastern Washington commit, has plenty of playmakers to throw to, including Idaho commit Tony Harste (six catches, 209 yards, two TDs) and Gio Kafentzis (eight catches, 128 yards, two TDs). Emerald Ridge won this meeting between 4A SPSL powers last season, 28-18, paced by three passing TDs from Schakel. The Jaguars eventually reached the 4A state semifinals, while the Spartans went on to win their first league title since 2016 and advanced to the state quarterfinals.
TNT pick: Emerald Ridge, 30-28
