Week 4: 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 4 below, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
4A SPSL
Emerald Ridge Jaguars (3-0) vs. Curtis Vikings (3-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Viking Stadium, University Place
Two of the South Sound’s top offenses meet in a 4A SPSL clash that could prove pivotal in the final league standings at the end of October. The Jaguars have a four-game winning streak in the series and will look to push their season record to 4-0 for the first time since 2007, while the Vikings are seeking their first 4-0 start since 2010. Emerald Ridge has early league wins over Puyallup (36-23), Olympia (34-0) and Sumner (42-28), and Curtis victories over Olympia (45-13), Sumner (38-33) and Bethel (35-20). Jaguars QB Jake Shakel (51-of-75 passing, 925 yards, 12 TDs) and Vikings QB Rocco Koch (38-of-46 passing, 645 yards, 10 TDs; 65 carries, 458 yards, six TDs), who were 4A SPSL co-offensive players of the year in 2022, are both running their respective offenses for the fourth season.
TNT pick: Emerald Ridge, 35-34
4A SPSL
Puyallup Vikings (1-2) vs. Sumner Spartans (1-2)
7 p.m. Thursday, Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
Both Puyallup and Sumner enter this season’s valley rivalry game looking to even their records in Week 4. The Vikings opened their schedule against a pair of state contenders in Emerald Ridge (36-23 loss in Week 1) and Graham-Kapowsin (42-13 loss in Week 2) but rallied for their first win of 2023 last week on the road in Port Orchard, shutting out South Kitsap, 17-0. Mason Grant and Ty Balzarini both rushed for TDs in the win, while freshman Tayven Collins paced the Vikings’ defense with 11 tackles, four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Defending 4A SPSL champion Sumner shut out Bellarmine Prep (40-0) back in Week 1 but enters this week’s contest following back-to-back losses to league title contenders Curtis (38-33) and Emerald Ridge (42-28). RB Matthew Spurbeck (48 carries, 384 yards, five TDs), last season’s 4A SPSL MVP, and QB Tristen Rebar (37-of-54, 532 yards, nine total TDs) pace a Spartans offense averaging 30-plus points per game. Sumner has won the past two games in the series against the Vikings.
TNT pick: Sumner, 30-21
3A PCL
Lincoln Abes (1-2) vs. Mount Tahoma T-Birds (1-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma
For the second straight week, Lincoln kept it close with a tough opponent, this time on the road at Camas. The Abes lost 21-7 after the game was called after a neck injury to Lincoln RB/LB Kelly Sio-Fetaui. Lincoln’s defense has gotten off to a strong start this season; the offense is still trying to find its footing. Mount Tahoma, which played an aggressive nonleague schedule, got in the win column last week with a 26-14 victory over Spanaway Lake in the team’s league opener. RB Brison Bailey has been electric this season — he rushed for 177 yards and two TDs on 27 carries last week. He’ll face a stiff test against LB Dre Sio-Fetaui and a physical Lincoln defense.
TNT pick: Lincoln, 17-14
3A PCL
Spanaway Lake Sentinels (1-2) vs. Bonney Lake Panthers (2-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Bonney Lake High School, Bonney Lake
Bonney Lake coach Jason Silbaugh, who served as the defensive coordinator at Lakes from 2003-11, always wants to beat Lakes coach Dave Miller. He got him last week in a 29-26 win, which gives the Panthers positive momentum heading into another critical matchup. RB Marcus Lloyd rushed for 107 yards and two TDs on 13 carries in the win. Spanaway Lake comes into the game with less momentum, after dropping consecutive contests to Mount Si and Mount Tahoma. Still, RB D’aryhian Clemons has big play ability and elite speed that few players in the state can match.
TNT pick: Bonney Lake, 20-19
2A SPSL
Enumclaw Hornets (3-0) vs. Orting Cardinals (3-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Orting Cardinal Stadium, Orting
Orting has emerged as a 2A SPSL title contender with impressive wins over Fife, Washington and White River. The Cardinals are averaging 38.7 points per game this season. Freshman RB Shiron Seniours has big-play ability; he rushed for 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries last week against White River. Enumclaw looked the part of a 2A state title contender in last week’s 42-0 road win over Steilacoom. The Hornets win up front, they’re balanced with the run and pass and the defense flies around. RB Louis Chevalier had a big week, rushing for 85 yards and a TD and adding a 39-yard interception return on defense.
TNT pick: Enumclaw, 35-21
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
West Linn (Ore.) Lions (3-0) vs. Lake Stevens Vikings (3-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Lake Stevens High School, Lake Stevens
Two of the top programs in the Pacific Northwest meet in a matchup of defending state champions. West Linn won its final 11 games of the season in 2022 — including a 45-6 rout of Lake Stevens — on the way to Oregon’s Class 6A title. The Lions have extended their active winning streak to 14 games this fall, with convincing victories over Nelson (37-0), Sheldon (41-3) and Jesuit (43-14), and haven’t lost a contest in more than a calendar year. Lake Stevens won Washington’s Class 4A championship last December and carries an active 13-game winning streak into Friday’s game following wins over Garfield (48-21), Bellevue (34-31) and Federal Way (63-13) to open the 2023 schedule. The Vikings’ most recent defeat? That loss to West Linn last September.
TNT pick: West Linn, 35-21
