Week 13: High school football state semifinal games to watch in South Sound, predictions
Read about each of the four high school football state semifinals games featuring South Sound programs.
4A STATE SEMIFINALS
No. 4 Eastlake Wolves (11-1) vs. No. 1 Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (12-0)
1 p.m. Saturday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway
Both of these programs have made multiple trips to the final four in recent years. Eastlake is back in the semifinals for the second time in the past three seasons, while Graham-Kapowsin is making a third consecutive appearance. The Wolves are looking for their first title game trip, while the Eagles have made one — when they won an undefeated 4A state crown in 2021. The 4A KingCo champion Wolves enter the week on a six-game winning streak, including state wins over 4A SPSL power Sumner (21-18) in the first round and Skyview (17-14) in the quarterfinals last weekend. QB Landon Renfroe (2,120 passing yards, 20 TDs) runs Eastlake’s offense, while RB RJ Abedi (973 rushing yards, 10 TDs) leads the way in rushing and WR Grady Woodward (756 receiving yards, five TDs; 577 rushing yards, seven TDs) impacts the game on the ground and through the air. Undefeated 4A SPSL winner Graham-Kapowsin posted a 56-35 win over Richland in the opening round of the state playoffs but had to rally in the second half against Gonzaga Prep in last weekend’s quarterfinals to advance with a 20-14 victory. Eagles QB Daveon Superales (3,339 passing yards, 43 TDs; 621 rushing yards, seven TDs) is nearing 4,000 total yards for the season, while Graham-Kapowsin’s offense also features a pair of 1,000-plus yard receivers in Montana State commit Jabez Woods (1,161 receiving yards, 10 TDs) and Oregon State commit Malachi Durant (1,019 yards, 18 TDs).
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin, 28-24
3A STATE SEMIFINALS
No. 4 Eastside Catholic Crusaders (9-2) vs. No. 1 Yelm Tornados (12-0)
6 p.m. Saturday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway
Slow starts haven’t yet caught up to the Tornados, who pulled away in the second half for the second straight week, this time against Mount Tahoma in the quarterfinals last week. Yelm is dominant up front and has a defensive front seven that will strike fear into any offense, highlighted by DT Landen Barger, LB Brayden Platt and others. QB Damian Aalona was efficient last week, completing 12-of-18 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns against Mount Tahoma. He’ll have his hands full against Eastside Catholic’s talented secondary, led by WSU commit Tyson Weaver, a two-way standout. Eastside Catholic will have revenge on its mind after last year’s heartbreak in the state championship game. The Kyler Ronquillo game-winning highlight has probably been shown a few times by Dominic Daste’s staff this week. Expect a physical, low-scoring affair. A turnover or two could be the difference.
TNT pick: Eastside Catholic 17, Yelm 14
2A STATE SEMIFINALS
No. 3 Enumclaw Hornets (12-0) vs. No. 2 Anacortes Seahawks (10-0)
3 p.m. Saturday, Anacortes High School, Anacortes
One of these teams will make the first state championship appearance in program history next weekend. Anacortes is already in the semifinals for the first time after a 42-0 shutout of Orting last week, while Enumclaw made the program’s first ever trip to the final four last season — the Hornets then lost to eventual 2A champion Lynden — and returns to the round this week following a 41-30 win over Highline in the quarterfinals. Neither program allows many touchdowns — Anacortes gives up 5.7 points per game and Enumclaw 7.3 — and both teams have offenses that can score in bunches. QB Rex Larson (2,037 passing yards, 21 TDs) runs a Seahawks offense that features RB Brock Beaner (973 rushing yards, 17 TDs) and WR Brady Beaner (1,034 yards combined rushing and receiving, 11 TDs). QB Gunnar Trachte (1,653 passing yards, 30 total TDs) leads Enumclaw’s offense, while the Hornets’ relentless rushing attack averages 7.1 yards per carry, 207.8 yards per game and has scored 46 touchdowns. RB Tristan Donovan (979 rushing yards, 14 TDs) leads the way on the ground, while WR/DB Wyatt Neu (104.5 all-purpose yards per game, 15 total TDs) has touchdowns in all three phases this season.
TNT pick: Enumclaw, 24-21
2A STATE SEMIFINALS
No. 4 North Kitsap Vikings (11-1) vs. No. 1 Tumwater T-Birds (12-0)
5 p.m. Saturday, Tumwater District Stadium, Tumwater
These teams met this season in a Week 2 nonleague matchup, in which Tumwater cruised to a 34-14 win. North Kitsap was without 2A Olympic MVP Logan Sloman in that matchup. With Sloman (699 receiving yards, 12 TD) back on the field, we expect more of a game this time around. Sloman is averaging nearly 20 yards per catch for the Vikings, who beat fifth-seeded Lynden last week, 34-28. Still, North Kitsap will have to figure out how to slow down Tumwater’s Wing-T, a code no team has been able to crack yet this season. Peyton Davis was last week’s beneficiary in last week’s blowout win over Clarkston; he rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries.
TNT pick: Tumwater 35, North Kitsap 24
This story was originally published November 21, 2023 at 11:01 AM.
