Week 8: 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 8, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
Life Christian Eagles (6-0) at Enumclaw Hornets (6-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Pete’s Pool
Life Christian has blown out nearly every team on its schedule this season, with the exception of a seven-point win over Napavine in Week 2. The Eagles, led by junior dual-threat quarterback Jabez Boyd, are a legitimate state championship contender in Class 1A this season. Boyd (1,421 yards, 20 TDs; 305 rushing yards, 4 TDs) has spread the ball around effectively; five LCA receivers have over 100 receiving yards, paced by senior Champ Seumalo (513 yards, eight TDs), who was previously with the Enumclaw program. Enumclaw will likely have the edge up front and Life Christian will need to match the Hornets’ physicality to have a shot at Pete’s Pool on Friday. Since a Week 1 loss to Decatur, the Hornets have won six straight, all in blowout fashion. Running back Louis Chevalier (559 yards, 12 TDs) has been on a tear in recent weeks.
TNT pick: Enumclaw 42, Life Christian 28
Emerald Ridge Jaguars (5-2) at Sumner Spartans (6-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Sunset Stadium
The 4A SPSL is the gift that keeps on giving. This week, we’re treated to Emerald Ridge’s visit to Sunset Stadium in Sumner for a clash between rivals with four-game win streaks. Who gets to five? The Spartans haven’t dropped from the top spot in our South Sound power rankings all season, and we expect one of the state’s elite defenses to preserve their No. 1 status. Sumner refused more than 14 points to any of South Kitsap, Puyallup, Rogers, and Curtis through its four-game streak and allowed just 10 points per game in that span. First-year Jaguars HC Torey Donovan has Emerald Ridge on a similar rise, allowing 55 combined points (13.8 PPG) in four wins over the same programs Sumner handled. We think Spartans QB Nate Donavan and a skilled group of pass-catchers post enough points to get it done.
TNT pick: Sumner 31, Emerald Ridge 17
Curtis Vikings (4-3) at Puyallup Vikings (3-4)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Sparks Stadium
Curtis’ defense has kept it in every game this season, but the Vikings have had issues putting points on the board, shut out in a 7-0 loss to Emerald Ridge two weeks ago and scoring 12 points in a 14-12 loss to Sumner last week. Puyallup, meanwhile, has had the opposite issue. The purple-and-gold Vikings have been able to put points on the board but have given up an average of 35 points in the team’s four losses. Running back/receiver Kyson Douglas has been on fire as of late (317 rushing yards, nine TDs; 274 receiving yards, three TDs) and may be the key against a high-level Curtis defense. It feels like a game where a couple key turnovers could be the difference.
TNT pick: Puyallup 21, Curtis 20
Tumwater T-Birds (7-0) at W.F. West Bearcats (7-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at W.F. West High School
These stats sound unbelievable, but we promise they’re true: Tumwater’s Wing-T offense produced eight 100-yard rushers through seven games this season, and 22 total T-Birds have handled at least one carry. RB Peyton Davis is featured most, with 54 touches for 656 yards and nine touchdowns. The T-Birds won their only true test this season at 4A-Eastlake, 38-27, but this weekend’s trip south is certainly marked on Tumwater’s calendar, too, a rivalry between unbeatens at W.F. West High School. The Bearcats allow 7.7 points per game and opened the season in impressive fashion at North Kitsap, 40-7, on Sept. 6. The problem? No team has solved Tumwater’s dynamic run game to date, from Puyallup to Union to Nooksack Valley. HC Willy Garrow’s T-Birds have a legitimate shot to return to the 2A title game, and we think Tumwater enters the postseason unblemished.
TNT pick: Tumwater 44, W.F. West 21
Bellarmine Prep Lions (5-2) at Gig Harbor Tides (3-4)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Roy Anderson Field
Just after Bellarmine Prep’s perfect 5-0 start, the Lions suffered consecutive losses to local rivals – Mount Tahoma (27-20) and at Lincoln (41-10). Can the Lions reverse course across the Narrows? In the final week of the regular season, and with these two programs tied in the league standings at 2-2, this one’s likely for sole third place in what’s been a refreshingly competitive division. Bellarmine Prep failed to establish any run game at Lincoln Bowl (25 carries, 40 yards) last weekend, forcing dual-threat QB Birk Johnston and the offense into a desperate, pass-heavy script in the second half. That should change despite an intriguing matchup on the lines opposite Gig Harbor HC Darrin Reeves’ run-the-ball, stop-the-run philosophy. Look for the Tides to feed workhorse RB Ryland Geldermann and try the occasional splash with Division-I WR recruit DJ Darling. A few big gains could make the difference.
TNT pick: Gig Harbor 24, Bellarmine Prep 21
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Gonzaga Prep Bullpups (7-0) vs. Mead Panthers (7-0)
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Union Stadium
Expect the run time of this game to be under two hours — both these programs want to run the football almost exclusively. Gonzaga Prep’s triple option is humming along as usual with quarterback Sam Kincaid and lead running back Noah Holman. Receiver Isaiah Docken has been dangerous when called on. Mead is more smash mouth football than deception, running behind a massive, road-grading offensive line. Senior running back Keegan Mallon takes the bulk of the carries for the Panthers. We expect a close one but like Mead’s size up front.
TNT pick: Mead 35, Gonzaga Prep 28
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH
Olympia Bears (5-1) at Yelm Tornados (6-1)
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Yelm High School
Stadium Tigers (5-2) at Auburn Riverside Ravens (2-5)
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Auburn Memorial Stadium
Lincoln Abes (5-2) at Central Kitsap Cougars (3-4)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Central Kitsap High School
Lakes Lancers (7-0) at Capital Cougars (4-3)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Ingersoll Stadium
This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 12:13 PM.
