Week 11: Previews, predictions for high school state football playoffs in the South Sound
Read team previews and score predictions for five games across the South Sound in Week 11. Plus: our picks for every state playoff game involving South Sound teams.
No. 2 Sumner Spartans (9-1) vs. No. 15 Kamiakin Braves (8-3)
1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at Sunset Chev Stadium
Spartans HC Keith Ross never ducks the area’s best opponents. Or the Northwest’s best. He’ll take his squad across state lines if it means a powerhouse awaits, and that mentality has paid off once again in the Valley. No. 2 Sumner faced five teams in this year’s 4A state bracket -- and beat all of them. RB Steele Isaacs is heating up at the perfect time with six rush TDs in his last two games, and there’s plenty of skill on the perimeter (plus reliable pass-catching TE Carter Cocke) for Spartans QB Nate Donavan. The looming question: how will Kamiakin QB Trent Woodhouse and the high-flying Braves (34 PPG) respond to this Spartans defense? Sumner didn’t lose to an in-state opponent this season, falling only to Oregon’s West Linn on Sept. 20, and have not allowed more than 14 points in a game since. We say the win streak continues.
TNT pick: Sumner 35, Kamiakin 17
No. 5 Gonzaga Prep Bullpups (10-0) vs. No. 12 Emerald Ridge Jaguars (7-3)
1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at Gonzaga Preparatory School
Did Emerald Ridge quietly put together one of the more impressive campaigns out west? The Jaguars handled Puyallup by double-digits (Sept. 27) and silenced Curtis in a 7-0 shutout on Oct. 11, both fellow state competitors. Now they’re back in the 4A bracket with a Round of 32 win over Skyline, 37-22. The story was first-year head coach Torey Donovan’s stellar defense, which allowed no more than 22 points to any opponent other than No. 2 Sumner (38). That’s Emerald Ridge’s only loss in their last seven games. TE/LB Logan Lipscomb is a two-way difference-maker, both the team’s leader in receiving (47-715-6) and interceptions (three) with two pick-sixes. It’s far from an easy draw for the Jaguars in the opening round. Undefeated Gonzaga Prep was Spokane’s best team behind their triple-option offense and lead RB Noah Holman. We think the Bullpups remain unbeaten in a one-possession game.
TNT pick: Gonzaga Prep 27, Emerald Ridge 20
No. 8 Arlington Eagles (9-1) vs. No. 9 Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (7-3)
2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at John C. Larson Stadium
It’s a matchup of two high-level quarterbacks up north. Arlington senior Leyton Martin — also one of the state’s best basketball players — runs the show for the Eagles. He has 2,200 passing yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Arlington running back Caleb Reed (1,150 yards, 24 TDs) makes this a balanced offense. Graham-Kapowsin freshman AJ Tuivaiave (2,443 yards, 27 TDs) has been equally dangerous this season. Sophomore Kase Betz (814 yards, 11 TDs) has emerged as G-K’s No. 1 receiver. This game likely comes down to how effectively Graham-Kapowsin can stop the run. We feel like this game could go either way, so we’ll give the nod to the home team.
TNT pick: Arlington 31, Graham-Kapowsin 28
No. 9 Enumclaw Hornets (9-1) vs. No. 8 Kennewick Lions (8-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at Neil F. Lampson Stadium
Who knows where this Enumclaw group would’ve been seeded had the Hornets won their season opener with Decatur, a game that became the way-too-early 3A NPSL championship. They’ve been unstoppable since, winners of nine straight since that Week 1 defeat. Enumclaw boatraced every opponent by 17 points or more in that span, and eight of those nine wins were decided by at least 27. The offense is still buzzing. Hornets QB Gavin Trachte threw four touchdown passes and RB Louis Chevalier totaled four scores from scrimmage in Enumclaw’s latest rout of Southridge, 77-0, now averaging nearly 50 points per game (54 PPG since Week 2). Kennewick used a power-run game with size on the offensive line to roll over Peninsula last weekend, 29-9, and punch a state ticket. The Lions took care of the football without a turnover, and another clean game would do wonders against an Enumclaw squad we expect to put up points. We’ll take the Hornets on the road.
TNT pick: Enumclaw 21, Kennewick 14
No. 7 Decatur Gators (10-0) vs. No. 10 Mount Tahoma T-Birds (6-4)
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at Federal Way Memorial Field
Decatur is playing in the state tournament for the first time in program history after beating Bishop Blanchet last week, 39-29. Star running back Nehemiah Washington has worked back the past few weeks after missing most of the season with an injury. They’ll face a red-hot Mount Tahoma squad, which collected a win over previously undefeated Lakes in Week 9 and then beat Mount Spokane last week in blowout fashion. Running back tandem Felix Diaz and Jonny Comoza have been racking up yards, while WR Elijah Durr is a home run threat. We think the T-Birds are peaking at the right time.
TNT pick: Mount Tahoma 28, Decatur 27
SOUTH SOUND SCORE PREDICTIONS
CLASS 4A
No. 1 Camas 31, No. 16 Curtis 21
No. 2 Sumner 35, No. 15 Kamiakin 17
No. 5 Gonzaga Prep 27, No. 12 Emerald Ridge 20
No. 9 Graham-Kapowsin 31, No. 8 Arlington 28
CLASS 3A
No. 4 Lakes 28, No. 13 Seattle Prep 21
No. 6 Lincoln 28, No. 11 Central Valley 14
No. 5 Roosevelt 31, No. 12 Federal Way 23
No. 9 Enumclaw 21, No. 8 Kennewick 14
No. 10 Mount Tahoma 28, No. 7 Decatur 27
CLASS 2A
No. 1 Tumwater 44, No. 16 Cedarcrest 14
No. 3 Franklin Pierce 42, No. 14 East Valley 21
No. 4 Lynden 28, No. 13 Fife 17
No. 6 W.F. West 35, No. 11 Olympic 21
CLASS 1A
No. 7 Life Christian 35, No. 10 King’s 28
No. 9 Cascade Christian 28, No. 8 Lynden Christian 27
