Week 12: Previews, predictions for high school state football quarterfinals in South Sound
Read team previews and score predictions for Washington state tournament quarterfinal games involving South Sound teams.
CLASS 4A
No. 7 Skyview Storm (8-3) vs. No. 2 Sumner Spartans (10-1)
7 p.m. Saturday, Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
It seems to be a trend: Sumner plays in tight games early and pulls away in the second half. Such was the case in the opening round against No. 15 Kamiakin, in which the Spartans led by a touchdown at half before ultimately winning, 38-21. Running back Steele Isaacs was the workhorse back, rushing for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries. Skyview beat Bothell in a lower-scoring game, 17-13. The Storm feature one of the state’s top receivers in Boise State commit Gavin Packer, but we think Sumner’s secondary will be up to the task of slowing him down.
TNT pick: Sumner 28, Skyview 14
No. 5 Gonzaga Prep Bullpups (11-0) vs. No. 4 Kennedy Catholic Lancers (11-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Highline Memorial Stadium, Burien
Kennedy Catholic put together one of the state’s most impressive performances in the opening round, hammering a solid Richland team, 49-7. RB Indiana Jones (158 yards, three touchdowns on 28 carries) continues to be a matchup issue, but the most impactful player in this matchup may be Division I recruit, edge rusher Derek Colman-Brusa. He had seven tackles, including two sacks and four tackles for loss in last week’s win. He’ll likely make life difficult for Gonzaga Prep running back Noah Holman and the Bullpups’ triple option offense.
TNT pick: Kennedy Catholic 35, Gonzaga Prep 21
CLASS 3A
No. 6 Lincoln Abes (9-2) vs. No. 3 Eastside Catholic Crusaders (9-1)
2 p.m. Saturday, Memorial Stadium (Seattle)
It’s a rematch! Lincoln QB Sione Kaho and the Abes make the trek to Downtown Seattle with a chance to knock off the Eastside Catholic program that bounced them from the bracket last year. The Crusaders blanked Lincoln in the 2023 rendition, 40-0, but we aren’t expecting another shutout. Abes RB Maurice Gosby Jr. ran wild for 233 yards and four touchdowns in last weekend’s 34-28 win over Central Valley and RB Jadeon Scranton returned from injury, an exciting duo behind Kaho’s arm. It just may be their toughest test to date. Eastside Catholic boasts their own rushing duo with 3A Metro Offensive Player of the Year Jeremiah Burroughs and second-team RB Nick Jones, paired with senior QB Isaac Corey. The Crusaders scored at least 27 points in all nine wins this season (loss to O’Dea). A matchup we’re excited for: Lincoln LB and Division-I recruit Dre Sio-Fetaui’s impact on Eastside Catholic’s rushing attack. We think the Crusaders have enough firepower to advance.
TNT pick: Eastside Catholic 34, Lincoln 24
No. 10 Mount Tahoma T-Birds (7-4) vs. No. 2 O’Dea Fighting Irish (10-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium (Seattle)
After a state-tournament drought that lasted 39 years, Mount Tahoma snapped the streak in 2023 and will play in consecutive 3A quarterfinals with last weekend’s 23-21 win over undefeated Decatur. QB Mikkah Cordero improvised with his legs and Mount Tahoma’s early run game lifted the T-Birds in what was a road upset on paper. They’ll need near-perfection to do it again at No. 2 O’Dea. The Fighting Irish have one of 3A’s best resumes and are a serious title threat, boasting wins over 4A-Graham-Kapowsin, Roosevelt, Seattle Prep, and a 20-0 shutout win over Eastside Catholic. O’Dea RB and all-Metro RB Uriah Stringfield runs with power and vision, and the undefeated Irish average nearly 45 points per game. We’ll take O’Dea in a closer call than most.
TNT pick: O’Dea 35, Mount Tahoma 21
CLASS 2A
No. 6 W.F. West Bearcats (10-1) vs. No. 3 Franklin Pierce Cardinals (11-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Franklin Pierce High School, Parkland
Franklin Pierce is in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2007 after beating East Valley (Yakima) in the first round last week, 40-21. Running backs Bryson Allen (125 yards, TD) and Junior Teregeyo (128 yards, two TDs) both had big days in the win, leading the way for 429 yards on the ground for the Franklin Pierce offense. QB Jeremiah Orcutt threw just two passes, one of which went for a touchdown. QB Gage Brumfield (Eastern Washington commit) and the Bearcats’ offense can put points on the board, but a 52-0 loss showed vulnerability against a run-first scheme, and things won’t get any easier this week against Franklin Pierce’s Power T offense.
TNT pick: Franklin Pierce 42, W.F. West 28
No. 9 Sehome Mariners (8-3) vs. No. 1 Tumwater T-Birds (11-0)
3 p.m. Saturday, Tumwater District Stadium
Regardless of classification, it’s rare to see dominance like this – in Tumwater’s last six games (6-0), the T-Birds outscored opponents 332-8 with three wins over playoff teams and two wins over state contenders. LB/RB Cash Short is dominating both sides of the football (3 TD, 8 TKL last week), just one of several viable backs in Tumwater’s famous Wing-T offense. Sehome eked past Othello in the 2A Round of 16, 22-21, and feature standout WR/DB Andre Watson on the perimeter (83-1,433-21). We think this T-Birds squad has the talent to go all the way.
TNT pick: Tumwater 42, Sehome 14
CLASS 1A
No. 7 Life Christian Academy Eagles (9-1) vs. No. 2 Seton Catholic Cougars (10-0)
7 p.m. Saturday, Doc Harris Stadium, Camas
Life Christian got all it could handle from tenth-seeded King’s last week, needing to mount a comeback to come away with the 46-41 win. The win puts Life Christian in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2007, when the Eagles advanced to the 2B semifinals. Outside of a loss to 3A state tournament participant Enumclaw, dual-threat QB Jabez Boyd and Life Christian have had no issues putting points on the board, but the defense will need to play better to have a chance against a potent Seton Catholic offense.
TNT pick: Seton Catholic 49, Life Christian 42
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 11:34 AM.
