Week 5: 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 5 below, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
4A SPSL
Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (4-0) vs. Sumner Spartans (2-2)
7 p.m. Thursday, Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
Graham-Kapowsin and Sumner met twice last season, and both contests were decided by one possession. The Spartans ended a five-game Eagles winning streak in the series with a 34-31 win in league play last September and went on to win the 4A SPSL title for the first time since 2016. But the Eagles won the second meeting, 28-21, in November to advance to the 4A state semifinals. This week’s matchup is again key in the 4A SPSL race, with the Eagles looking to remain undefeated and the Spartans looking to add a statement win following earlier losses to two other league title contenders in Curtis and Emerald Ridge. Graham-Kapowsin’s new high-flying offense is averaging 406.8 yards per game, led by QB Daveon Superales (108-of-142 passing, 1,146 yards, 16 TDs) and several talented pass catchers. Sumner’s offense is averaging 437 yards per game, and has collected 10 rushing TDs and nine passing, though the Spartans will be without RB/LB Matthew Spurbeck (knee), the reigning 4A SPSL MVP, the rest of the way.
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin, 35-24
3A PCL
Bonney Lake Panthers (3-1) vs. Lincoln Abes (1-3)
7 p.m. Thursday, Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma
Lincoln has lost three straight and dropped its first game to Mount Tahoma in over a decade last week. Lincoln’s three losses to Tualatin (Ore.), Camas and Mount Tahoma came by a combined 21 points. The Abes had a late fourth quarter lead against Mount Tahoma last week before a T-Birds onside kick led to a game-winning Mount Tahoma drive. RB Jadeon Scranton rushed for 79 yards last week, while speedy Maurice Gosby Jr. had two touchdowns on the ground. LB Dre Sio-Fetaui leads a defense that’s among the league’s best; his brother Kelly has been cleared to play after an injury at Camas in Week 3. Bonney Lake has been on a roll, winning games over Lakes and Spanaway Lake after a nonleague loss to Gig Harbor in Week 2. Dual-threat QB Brayden Palmer passed for 91 yards and a TD and rushed for 118 yards and three TDs last week. RB/DB Marcus Lloyd has been an impact player on both sides of the ball.
TNT pick: Lincoln, 21-17
3A SSC
Gig Harbor Tides (3-1) vs. Timberline Blazers (3-1)
7 p.m. Friday, South Sound Stadium, Lacey
Gig Harbor is one of the hottest teams in the South Sound, ripping off three straight wins, including a come-from-behind win over crosstown rival Peninsula in the Fish Bowl in Week 3. Benji Park, who came in at QB in the Fish Bowl after an injury to Gig Harbor’s starter, looked good last week in a blowout win over Capital, completing 17-of-23 passes for 200 yards and three TDs. WR Drake Matthies racked up 119 receiving yards and Ryland Geldermann rushed for 94 yards and a pair of TDs. After a seven-point loss to Eastmont, Timberline won two straight over River Ridge and Central Kitsap. DL Ty Evans was also over the place last week, racking up 14 tackles, including seven for loss and two sacks. RB Ronaldo Gonzalez-Salazar rushed for 192 yards and a TD. Timberline lost starting QB Jacob Nadeau for the season with a collarbone injury; Synjae Colston has taken his place.
TNT pick: Gig Harbor, 21-14
2A SPSL
Franklin Pierce Cardinals (3-1) vs. Orting Cardinals (3-1)
7 p.m. Thursday, Orting Cardinal Stadium, Orting
Enumclaw remains undefeated through four weeks of the 2023 season and seems on the way to a repeat 2A SPSL title, but this matchup between Franklin Pierce and Orting is one of several contests in the weeks ahead that will be key in deciding the league’s postseason teams. Franklin Pierce has victories over White River (14-7), nonleague opponent Foster (64-0) and Steilacoom (48-24), with just the one loss to the Hornets (28-6) back in Week 2. Orting won its first three 2A SPSL contests by multiple TDs — against two returning state playoffs teams in Fife (28-14) and Washington (46-6), as well as White River (42-14) — before a 37-7 loss to Enumclaw last week. Franklin Pierce is averaging 276 rushing yards per game and has rushed for 17 TDs the first four weeks, while Orting is averaging 249.5 yards per game on the ground and has rushed for 14 TDs.
TNT pick: Franklin Pierce, 28-21
2A EvCo
Tumwater T-Birds (4-0) vs. W.F. West Bearcats (2-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Bearcat Stadium, Chehalis
Tumwater hasn’t been tested since a Week 2 road matchup with North Kitsap, which it won by 20 points. The T-Birds put up 54 and 55 points in wins over Kelso and Centralia, respectively. W.F. West beat Tumwater last year, 28-7, and won the 2A EvCo title. That was the program’s first win over Tumwater since 2009 — Tumwater had won 12 in a row prior in the series. Tumwater’s Wing-T has produced 15 rushing touchdowns this year, but the T-Birds have been balanced with QB Ethan Kastner, who has thrown for 10 touchdowns on an efficient 23-of-35 passing.
TNT pick: Tumwater, 35-21
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Eastside Catholic Crusaders (3-1) vs. O’Dea Fighting Irish (4-0)
7 p.m. Friday, West Seattle Stadium, Seattle
Two of the state’s top programs meet in a contest that could decide the 3A Metro League champion. The Crusaders, last season’s 3A state runner-up, have shut out Ballard, Bishop Blanchet and Lincoln of Seattle by a combined score of 142-0 the past three weeks following a season-opening 20-0 loss to Orange Lutheran (Calif.) on the road Sept. 1. QB Jake Tiryakioglu (43-of-56 passing, 723 yards, nine TDs) runs an offense that has piled up 10 rushing TDs and nine passing the past three weeks. O’Dea has routed each of its first four opponents in Union (40-0), Bishop Blanchet (51-21), Rainier Beach (42-0) and Seattle Prep (63-24). Four-star RB Jason Brown (44 carries, 796 yards, 11 TDs), who is considered the No. 3 recruit in the state in this senior class by 247Sports, is averaging 18.1 yards per carry and 199 yards per game through four weeks and has rushed for 100-plus yards and multiple TDs in every contest so far. The Crusaders have five players on their roster ranked among the top 35 recruits in the state in the 2024 class by 247Sports, while the Fighting Irish have four. Eastside Catholic has won each of the past three meetings with O’Dea, including last season’s 35-28 double-overtime victory in the 3A state semifinals.
TNT pick: O’Dea, 28-24
