Week 2: High school football games to watch in the South Sound, predictions
Read team previews and score predictions for five games across the South Sound in Week 2, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
Miss any of our preseason coverage? We visited several programs across the South Sound during our preseason practice tour, providing insights, player interviews, photos and more.
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Yelm Tornados vs. Lincoln Abes
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Lincoln Bowl
Lincoln cruised to a 41-0 win over a rebuilding Timberline team in Week 1. Yelm faced more drama, trailing Mount Tahoma 21-7 at home at half before scoring 35 unanswered in the second half in an eventual 42-34 win. Nathan Ford rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown last week for Yelm, which got back to running the football behind its hulking offensive line in the second half last week. Lincoln QB Sione Kaho threw for a touchdown and rushed for three more against Timberline last week. This week’s game likely comes down to how well prepared Lincoln is to slow down Yelm’s run game. We think senior linebacker Dre Sio-Fetaui will be up to the challenge of hunting Yelm’s backs and if Lincoln can force the Tornados to try to beat the Abes through the air, we like Lincoln’s chances at home.
TNT pick: Lincoln 24, Yelm 17
Curtis Vikings vs. Peninsula Seahawks
6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at Roy Anderson Field
Despite the graduation of TNT All-Area QB Rocco Koch, the Vikings are in good hands with wide receivers Xavier Ahrens (5-148-2) and Parker Mady (4-96-2), who piled up 385 combined all-purpose yards and 35 points on Mount Si in an impressive Week 1 win. They’ll travel across the Narrows this weekend for a meeting with an always-formidable Seahawks defense. Perhaps the more intriguing matchup: Peninsula’s “stable of running backs” led by Wyatt Abrigo pitted against a Curtis defense that returned senior DB Jayden Rice Claiborne (Nevada commit) and nine total varsity starters.
TNT pick: Curtis 35, Peninsula 21
Federal Way Eagles vs. Decatur Gators
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Federal Way Memorial Field
Two days after losing star RB Nehemiah Washington to a broken arm at practice, Decatur rallied without their workhorse and shocked new NPSL rival Enumclaw in Friday’s season opener at Federal Way Memorial Field, 14-7. A rare Week 1 showdown between league favorites, it’s a result that gives Decatur control of their destiny in a very-early league title race. The big question: Can the Golden Gators keep it rolling without their standout tailback? We think they can. A tough slate continues with a Federal Way program that could grab first place with a win after a convincing, 41-18 win over Auburn Mountainview last weekend.
TNT pick: Decatur 21, Federal Way 14
Eastlake Wolves vs. Mount Tahoma T-Birds
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Mount Tahoma Athletic Stadium
This pair of state contenders scheduled aggressive non-league schedules in the early going, and now, they collide Friday night in Tacoma. Mount Tahoma nearly surprised 4A-Yelm in last week’s opener, controlling a 21-7 halftime lead before the Tornados stormed back in a shootout, 42-34. What’s blatantly clear despite the loss: WR/CB Elijah Durr (5-158-2) is living up to national hype. Eastlake fell to perennial 3A powerhouse Eastside Catholic in their opener, 40-14. Pay no attention to the 0-1 record plastered by their names. We don’t expect either program to remain winless for long.
TNT pick: Mount Tahoma 28, Eastlake 27
Life Christian Eagles vs. Napavine Tigers
7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 at Stadium Bowl
Life Christian gets an intriguing Week 2 matchup against last year’s Class 2B state runner-up, Napavine, which is coming off a 47-7 rout of Hudson’s Bay last week. Napavine went 11-2 last season and is a perennial state tournament contender. The Tigers won 2B state titles in 2022, 2016 and 2008 recently and have had runner-up finishes in 2023, 2021, 2018, 2015 and 2014. They’ll have their hands full trying to slow down Life Christian’s dual-threat QB Jabez Boyd (216 yards passing, 129 yards rushing, four TDs in win over Lynnwood last week). We think Napavine will be able to put some points on the board but will have trouble keeping pace with Life Christian.
TNT pick: Life Christian 42, Napavine 28
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Bellevue Wolverines vs. Lake Stevens Vikings
7 p.m. Friday at Lake Stevens High School
This one should be fun: the defending 3A state champion hits the road to face the defending 4A state champion in Week 2. Bellevue is coming off a comfortable 35-7 win over Bethel in Week 1, while Lake Stevens fell on the road to Sumner in overtime, 31-28. No team in the state is more loaded with talent, especially up front: 6-foot-6 Oregon commit Demetri Manning and USC commit Willi Wascher pave the way for Bellevue’s backs in the Wing-T. Lake Stevens, the two-time defending 4A state champion, returns QB Kolton Matson, last year’s state Gatorade player of the year. Running back Jayshon Limar is tough to bring down. Both teams should be able to put up points, but Lake Stevens is still breaking in some new pieces and like Bellevue’s star power to win out early in the season.
TNT pick: Bellevue 35, Lake Stevens 28
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH
Bethel vs. Emerald Ridge
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at Sparks Stadium
White River vs. Fife
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at Fife High School
Bellarmine Prep vs. Auburn
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Auburn Memorial Stadium
Auburn Riverside vs. Sumner
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Sunset Stadium
Silas vs. Stadium
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Stadium Bowl
This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 12:03 PM.
