Top performers, upsets in the high school football state semifinals
The high school football state semifinals in Washington delivered big individual performances, convincing wins and one upset.
Here’s a bracket-by-bracket glance at some of the highlights from the round, and a look ahead to the championship games.
CLASS 4A
SEMIFINALS SCORES
No. 2 Lake Stevens 48, No. 6 Kamiakin 7
No. 1 Graham-Kapowsin 27, No. 4 Eastlake 24
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here. Each of the two higher-seeded 4A programs advanced to the championship game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Based on available stats.
RB Jayshon Limar, Lake Stevens, jr.
7 carries, 89 yards, 2 TDs; 4 catches, 48 yards, 2 TDs
QB Kolton Matson, Lake Stevens, jr.
19-of-21 passing, 314 yards, 4 TDs
QB Daveon Superales, Graham-Kapowsin, sr.
16-of-20 passing, 134 yards, TD; 14 carries, 85 yards
WR Jabez Woods, Graham-Kapowsin, sr.
Passing TD; 7 carries, 34 yards, TD; 6 catches, 41 yards
WR Grady Woodward, Eastlake, sr.
14 carries, 63 yards, TD; 5 catches, 42 yards, TD; INT
DID YOU KNOW?
▪ Defending 4A state champion Lake Stevens has put up the highest point total in the 4A bracket through three rounds, outscoring opponents, 133-28. The Vikings have double-digit wins in each contest, shutting out No. 15 Woodinville (41-0) in the first round, and routing No. 10 Kennedy Catholic (44-21) and No. 6 Kamiakin (48-7) in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Lake Stevens is also the highest-scoring program in 4A this season overall, averaging 46.6 points per game.
▪ Ready for a rematch? Saturday’s state championship game between Lake Stevens and Graham-Kapowsin will be the sixth meeting of the two powerhouse programs in the state playoffs in the past eight brackets. The Vikings have won three of the five state meetings to this point, in the 2015 quarterfinals (49-14), 2018 quarterfinals (45-29) and last season’s semifinals (42-28). The Eagles have won twice, including the 2017 first round (38-31) and the 2021 championship game (44-7).
WHAT’S NEXT?
The 4A state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 2.
No. 2 Lake Stevens (12-1) vs. No. 1 Graham-Kapowsin (13-0)
7 p.m. Saturday, Husky Stadium, Seattle
CLASS 3A
SEMIFINALS SCORES
No. 6 Bellevue 21, No. 2 O’Dea 17
No. 1 Yelm 7, No. 4 Eastside Catholic 0
UPSET ALERT
The only seeding upset in any classification in the semifinals was No. 6 Bellevue’s narrow win over No. 2 O’Dea on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. Carson Rubin rushed for two touchdowns — including the game-winner midway through the fourth quarter — and Max Jones added another rushing score in the meeting of 3A state powers, lifting the Wolverines to a 21-17 win and their second title game appearance in the past three seasons. Bellevue has won 11 state championships in program history (the 2012 and 2013 titles were vacated), most recently in 2021, with a 17-13 victory over Kennewick. O’Dea ends the season at 11-1, and a win short of a title game appearance for the second consecutive year. Four-star senior RB Jason Brown Jr. completes a historic career with 6,400-plus rushing yards and 92 TDs.
TOP PERFORMERS
Based on available stats.
RB Jason Brown Jr., O’Dea, sr.
20 carries, 90 yards, TD
RB Carson Rubin, Bellevue, sr.
25 carries, 170 yards, 2 TDs
RB/LB Bradyen Platt, Yelm, sr.
27 carries, 219 yards, TD; 10 tackles, 2 TFL, sack
LB Isaiah Patterson, Yelm, sr.
8 tackles, TFL, 2 sacks
DL Kenji Scanlan, Yelm, sr.
9 tackles, TFL, 3 sacks
DID YOU KNOW?
▪ Following No. 6 Bellevue’s seeding upset of No. 2 O’Dea in the semifinals, the 3A bracket is the only state bracket that will have a championship game that doesn’t feature the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.
▪ Defending 3A champion Yelm extended the state’s longest active winning streak to 27 games with Saturday night’s 7-0 shutout of Eastside Catholic at Art Crate Field in Spanaway. Four-star RB/LB Brayden Platt, an Oregon commit and the state’s top recruit in the 2024 class per 247Sports rankings, rushed for what turned out to be the game-winning, 54-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-3 play in the third quarter.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The 3A state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 1.
No. 6 Bellevue (10-2) vs. No. 1 Yelm (13-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Husky Stadium, Seattle
CLASS 2A
SEMIFINALS SCORES
No. 2 Anacortes 34, No. 3 Enumclaw 20
No. 1 Tumwater 19, No. 4 North Kitsap 17
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here. Each of the two higher-seeded 2A programs advanced to the championship game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Based on available stats.
RB Kooper Clark, Tumwater, sr.
31 carries, 244 yards, 3 TDs
QB Cole Edwards, North Kitsap, sr.
9-of-15 passing, 162 yards, 2 TDs
WR Rylin Lang, Anacortes, jr.
7 catches, 117 yards, 3 TDs
QB Rex Larson, Anacortes, sr.
20-of-25 passing, 376 yards, 5 TDs
QB Gunnar Trachte, Enumclaw, sr.
16-of-24 passing, 204 yards, 2 TDs
DID YOU KNOW?
▪ Anacortes is set to play in a state championship game for the first time in program history following a win over Enumclaw in the semifinals — in what was also the Seahawks’ first ever appearance in the final four. Tumwater will be making the program’s 12th title game appearance. The T-Birds have won six championships (1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2010 and 2019) in 11 appearances in the final heading into this weekend.
▪ The 2A bracket is the only state bracket that is guaranteed a new winner this season, after North Kitsap upended two-time defending champion Lynden in the quarterfinals last week. The reigning state champions in each of the other five classifications — Lake Stevens in 4A, Yelm in 3A, Royal in 1A, Napavine in 2B and Liberty Bell in 1B — will all get the chance to defend their titles at Husky Stadium this weekend following victories in the semifinals.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The 2A state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 2.
No. 2 Anacortes (12-0) vs. No. 1 Tumwater (13-0)
3 p.m. Saturday, Husky Stadium, Seattle
CLASS 1A
SEMIFINALS SCORES
No. 2 Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls 24, No. 6 Nooksack Valley 23 (OT)
No. 1 Royal 42, No. 12 Seton Catholic 0
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here. Each of the two higher-seeded 1A programs advanced to the championship game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Based on available stats.
QB/LB Lance Allred, Royal, jr.
8-of-12 passing, 138 yards, TD; 11 carries, 75, 3 TDs; 8 tackles, TFL
RB Ethan Ellis, Royal, jr.
13 carries, 177 yards, 2 TDs
RB Colton Lentz, Nooksack Valley, jr.
Rushing TD
QB Calvin Mikkelsen, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, sr.
2 passing TDs
RB Hiro Patterson, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, sr.
Rushing TD, receiving TD
DID YOU KNOW?
▪ Three-time defending 1A state champion Royal still hasn’t allowed a point in the state playoffs this season, posting 12 scoreless quarters in three consecutive shutouts of No. 16 Eatonville (50-0) in the first round, No. 9 Omak (49-0) in the quarterfinals and now No. 12 Seton Catholic (42-0) in the semifinals. The Knights’ 48 points allowed this season — 4 per game — are also the fewest in the state this season.
▪ Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls is set to make the first title game appearance in program history following an overtime win over Nooksack Valley — in what was also the Eagles’ first ever appearance in the semifinals. This will be the 15th title game appearance for Royal. The Knights have won 11 championships (1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022) in 14 title game appearances entering the weekend.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The 1A state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 1.
No. 2 Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls (12-0) vs. No. 1 Royal (12-0)
3 p.m. Friday, Husky Stadium, Seattle
CLASS 2B
SEMIFINALS SCORES
No. 2 Okanogan 21, No. 3 Northwest Christian of Colbert 0
No. 1 Napavine 36, No. 4 Onalaska 26
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here. Each of the two higher-seeded 2B programs advanced to the championship game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Based on available stats.
QB Ashton Demarest, Napavine, sr.
15-of-23 passing, 307 yards, 3 TDs; 12 carries, 75 yards, TD
WR Conner Holmes, Napavine, sr.
7 catches, 201 yards, 2 TDs
RB David Huffstetler, Okanogan, jr.
33 carries, 150 yards, TD
QB Kayden Mozingo, Onalaska, sr.
2-of-4 passing, 40 yards; 33 carries, 190 yards, 3 TDs
RB Rodrigo Rodriguez, Onalaska, jr.
22 carries, 103 yards, TD
DID YOU KNOW?
▪ Okanogan has now posted back-to-back shutouts in two state games played this season, routing No. 7 Goldendale (38-0) in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Northwest Christian of Colbert (21-0) in the semifinals. The Bulldogs have allowed the fewest points in the 2B classification this season at 53, averaging 4.4 points allowed per contest.
▪ Saturday morning’s meeting between No. 2 Okanogan and No. 1 Napavine will be a title game rematch. The two programs also played for the 2B championship last December, with Napavine posting a 41-27 victory. This will be the fifth time Okanogan and Napavine have met in the state playoffs — and fourth time in the title game. The Bulldogs have three state titles in program history (1999, 2014 and 2015), and the past two championship wins have been against Napavine. The Tigers have won four state championships (1976, 2008, 2016 and 2022), including the one win over Okanogan in last year’s final.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The 2B state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 2.
No. 2 Okanogan (12-0) vs. No. 1 Napavine (11-1)
11 a.m. Saturday, Husky Stadium, Seattle
CLASS 1B
SEMIFINALS SCORES
No. 2 Wilbur-Creston-Keller 66, No. 3 Mossyrock 22
No. 1 Liberty Bell 64, No. 5 Neah Bay 34
UPSET ALERT
No upsets here. Each of the two higher-seeded 1B programs advanced to the championship game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Based on available stats.
RB Kalub Dreger, Wilbur-Creston-Keller, sr.
14 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 97 yards, 2 TDs
QB Kallen Maioho, Wilbur-Creston-Keller, jr.
8-of-9 passing, 233 yards, 4 TDs
RB Preston Michel, Wilbur-Creston-Keller, jr.
22 carries, 132 yards, 3 TDs; 4 catches, 77 yards, TD
QB Lucien Paz, Liberty Bell, jr.
15-of-21 passing, 374 yards, 5 TDs; 12 carries, 131 yards, 2 TDs
RB/WR Remington Paz, Liberty Bell, soph.
5 carries, 75 yards, TD; 8 catches, 207 yards, 3 TDs
DID YOU KNOW?
▪ Wilbur-Creston-Keller is in the title game for the first time in program history following a 66-22 win over Mossyrock in the semifinals, while defending 1B state champion Liberty Bell returns to the final for the second time in school history after a 64-34 semifinals win over Neah Bay in a rematch of the 2022 championship game.
▪ There have been 928 combined points scored through 10 games in the 8-man bracket. Will that total surpass 1,000 at Husky Stadium? The two teams with the highest scoring averages in 1B will be playing in the title game. Wilbur-Creston-Keller averages a classification-leading 63.7 points per game, while defending champion Liberty Bell averages 62.4.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The 1B state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 1.
No. 2 Wilbur-Creston-Keller (12-0) vs. No. 1 Liberty Bell (9-0)
11 a.m. Friday, Husky Stadium, Seattle
This story was originally published November 27, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
