Week 6: 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 6 below, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
4A SPSL
Emerald Ridge Jaguars (4-1) vs. Bethel Bison (3-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway
Emerald Ridge bounced back with a blowout win over South Kitsap after a Week 4 loss to Curtis. QB Jake Schakel was effortlessly efficient, completing 8-of-10 passes for 219 yards and six TDs. WR Tony Harste racked up 135 and three TDs in the win. Bethel improved to 3-2 with a 32-30 win over Olympia, which keeps the Bison in the playoff picture. RB Roy Lockley III rushed for 188 yards and a TD in the win and LB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale was all over the place making plays, collecting 15 tackles, a sack and a 78-yard fumble recovery TD.
TNT pick: Emerald Ridge, 35-21
4A SPSL
Puyallup Vikings (2-3) vs. Olympia Bears (1-4)
7 p.m. Friday, Ingersoll Stadium, Olympia
The 4A SPSL gets six postseason spots, and this matchup between the Vikings and Bears is one of several in the weeks ahead that will be key in deciding which programs reach Week 10. The Vikings have won two of their past three, picking up a shutout win over South Kitsap (17-0) and a rivalry victory over Rogers (49-21). Puyallup’s three losses are two returning state semifinals teams Emerald Ridge (36-23) and Graham-Kapowsin (42-13) the first two weeks, and defending league champion Sumner (35-30) in Week 4. RB/WR Kyson Douglas averages 134.4 all-purpose yards per game for Puyallup, and has a team-leading eight TDs following a four-TD performance against the Rams last week. Olympia rallied from losses to Curtis (45-13), Emerald Ridge (34-0) and Graham-Kapowsin (27-13) the first three weeks with a double-digit victory over South Kitsap (41-21) in Week 4. The Bears lost a close contest to Bethel (32-30) on the road last week — QB Cale Allen scored four total TDs (one passing, two rushing, one fumble recovery) to lead Olympia — and will look to get back in the win column against the visiting Vikings. The Vikings have won the past five games in the series. The Bears’ last win over Puyallup was in 2016, in their first season in the 4A SPSL.
TNT pick: Puyallup, 30-27
3A PCL
Lincoln Abes (2-3) vs. Stadium Tigers (4-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Stadium Bowl, Tacoma
Two-time defending 3A PCL champion Lincoln and Stadium meet this week at Stadium Bowl in this season’s playing of Tacoma’s oldest rivalry. The Abes have won the past four games in the series, with Stadium’s last victory in 2016, in the first season of the 3A PCL. Both program’s enter this season’s matchup following wins last week. Lincoln got back in the win column in Week 5 with a convincing 42-28 victory over visiting Bonney Lake. The Abes’ offense reached the end zone on each of their first five possessions, and collected 400-plus total yards, led by freshman QB Sione Kaho, who completed 18-of-22 passes for 269 yards and three TDs in the win, and WR Jemani Teplasy, who had six catches for 121 yards and two scores. The Abes opened the season with a tough nonleague schedule against 3A NPSL title contender Auburn Riverside (14-6 win), Oregon 6A program Tualatin (17-14 loss) and perennial 4A state power Camas (21-7 loss), then dropped a close contest in their 3A PCL opener at Mount Tahoma (24-20) in Week 4. Stadium opened the 2023 schedule with three consecutive wins over Cedarcrest (26-21), Heritage (28-0) and Silas (24-0) before the program’s first loss of the season to perennial state contender Lakes (27-14) in Week 4. The Tigers rallied for a win last week on the road at Spanaway Lake (6-3). RB Alex Lindgren (team-leading 92.4 all-purpose yards per game, four total TDs) scored the game-winner against the Sentinels.
TNT pick: Lincoln, 30-21
3A PCL
Mount Tahoma T-Birds (2-3) vs. Bonney Lake Panthers (3-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Bonney Lake High School, Bonney Lake
Both teams are looking to bounce back after losses in Week 5. Mount Tahoma dropped a nonleague contest to Battle Ground, while Bonney Lake lost to Lincoln in league play. Mount Tahoma remains in the driver’s seat to win the 3A PCL after its win over Lincoln in Week 4, but several hurdles remain, including this week’s contest against a solid Panthers squad. RB Brison Bailey is averaging over 100 yards rushing per game. Bonney Lake is averaging 28 points per game and has collected solid wins over Tahoma and Lakes. Keep an eye on versatile two-way standout Marcus Lloyd; he rushed for two TDs and caught nine passes for 129 yards in the loss to Lincoln.
TNT pick: Mount Tahoma, 28-21
NONLEAGUE
Lakes Lancers (4-1) vs. Battle Ground Tigers (5-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground
Lakes lost starting QB Legend Galeai (collarbone) for the season in a Week 2 loss to Bonney Lake. Exavier Mcchristian has taken over at QB. In a win against Silas last week, he threw for 232 yards and three TDs, targeting brother Elijah Mcchristian (145 yards, TD) in the passing game. Battle Ground comes into the game undefeated and looked impressive in a 24-7 win over Mount Tahoma last week. The Tigers are balanced on offense, racking up 1,087 rushing yards and 819 receiving yards through five games. QB Ethan Adams (770 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INT) is completing 78 percent of his passes.
TNT pick: Battle Ground, 21-14
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (5-0) vs. Curtis Vikings (5-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Viking Stadium, University Place
The only two remaining undefeated 4A SPSL programs meet this week in a game that could eventually decide which team tops the standings in the state’s toughest 4A league this fall. Graham-Kapowsin picked up a key overtime victory over defending 4A SPSL champion Sumner (38-31) last week, following earlier double-digit victories over Rogers (49-10), Puyallup (42-13), Olympia (27-13) and Bellarmine Prep (35-0). QB Daveon Superales (1,559 total yards, 19 total TDs) runs a high-flying offense that features several Division I recruits. The Vikings have rolled to five wins, collecting signature victories over returning state programs Sumner (38-33) and Emerald Ridge (50-34), as well as victories over Olympia (45-13), Bethel (35-20) and Bellarmine Prep (42-17) last week. QB Rocco Koch (1,961 total yards, 28 total TDs) is averaging nearly 400 yards and five-plus TDs per game for a Curtis offense that also features talented pass catchers. The winner of Friday’s contest will be alone atop the 4A SPSL standings, and have a path to the title with three regular season games to play. The Eagles have won the past 11 games in the series, with the Vikings’ last victory in 2010. That year was also Curtis’ most recent league title win, when the Vikings topped the 4A SPSL South on the way to a 4A state semifinals appearance. Graham-Kapowsin last won a 4A SPSL title in 2021, went on to win the 4A state championship and finished the season with a perfect record.
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin, 40-38
This story was originally published October 3, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
