Week 3: 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 3, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
EMERALD RIDGE JAGUARS VS. GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 at Art Crate Field
Emerald Ridge was rolling against Bethel before starting QB Brayden Paulino exited the game with an injury, opening the door for a Bethel comeback. If Paulino plays, we think Emerald Ridge can make this a game, but Jaguars’ coach Torey Donovan isn’t commenting publicly on Paulino’s availability. Either way, it’s going to be a challenge for the Jaguars to slow down G-K’s high-powered offense; QB AJ Tuivaiave and receivers Kase Betz and Jayce Halasz are a matchup issue for any team. If Paulino plays, we like Emerald Ridge’s chances to hang around. If he doesn’t, it’s probably a comfortable win for Jeff Logan’s Eagles.
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin 35, Emerald Ridge 18
EASTLAKE WOLVES VS. TUMWATER T-BIRDS
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at Tumwater District Stadium
Tumwater’s dominant 2024 season featured an impressive Week 3 win at 4A-Eastlake, 38-27, and the programs are set for a rematch at Tumwater District Stadium on Friday night. This time, T-Birds head coach William Garrow battles an old friend on the opposing sideline: New Eastlake HC Greg Herd played for Garrow at Steilacoom High School and went on to work for his former coach at North Thurston. Tumwater’s Wing-T offense keeps them in every game, including a 25-19 loss to Puyallup, a 4A contender, in their Week 1 opener on Sept. 5. It’ll be up to the T-Birds to stop Eastlake RB Myles Johnson, who ran wild for 221 yards and three scores (five total touchdowns) against Gig Harbor last weekend. We’ll take Tumwater in a closer call than last fall.
TNT pick: Tumwater 28, Eastlake 24
CURTIS VIKINGS VS. LAKES LANCERS
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at Harry Lang Stadium
This was a defensive battle last year, with Lakes coming out on top. Curtis has been solid with wins over Mount Si and Peninsula to start the season with a run-the-ball and defense recipe working so far. This should be the best defense Curtis has seen so far, highlighted by LB Ta’u Mareko and DL Tupu Saleauma. This could come down to which young QB makes more plays — Curtis sophomore Sam Patterson or Lakes freshman Jadis Lefono. Lakes was able to beat Curtis in University Place last fall. We’ll take the Lancers in a close one at home.
TNT pick: Lakes 20, Curtis 17
WEST LINN (ORE.) LIONS VS. SUMNER SPARTANS
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at Sunset Chev Stadium
It’s a battle between defending state champions when West Linn (Ore.) treks across state borders, some 166 miles north, to Sunset Chev Stadium on Friday night. Sumner captured the 4A title at Husky Stadium last December, finishing undefeated against in-state opponents with one road loss to these West Linn Lions, 34-27. We’re expecting another competitive showdown in Sumner’s rematch with Oregon’s reigning 6A champion. The Spartans reloaded their roster, featuring power-back Lance McGee and open-field nightmare Israel Nabors in HC Keith Ross’ run-heavy scheme; West Linn starts new QB Sloan Baker, who threw four touchdowns (318 yards) in Week 1. We think Sumner can turn the tide this year in a game where defense could matter most.
TNT pick: Sumner 24, West Linn 21
LINCOLN ABES VS. CAMAS PAPERMAKERS
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at Doc Harris Stadium
The Mount Tahoma T-Birds visited Camas last weekend and made the South Sound’s biggest statement of the early season — a 49-22 rout of the defending 4A runners-up on their home turf. Can Lincoln do the same? At their service, they’ll have strong-armed, four-star QB Sione Kaho and bruising RB Jadeon Scranton, who ran for three touchdowns in a big Week 2 win over Yelm. Expect a heavy dose of Papermakers RB Thor Brody, already with 251 yards and a touchdown this season despite a more modest line vs. Mount Tahoma (15-89-0). If Lincoln’s offense fires on all cylinders, it’s a tough Abes squad to beat. Expect a close one at Doc Harris.
TNT pick: Camas 35, Lincoln 34
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
MOUNT SPOKANE WILDCATS VS. GONZAGA PREP BULLPUPS
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at Gonzaga Prep
Gonzaga Prep knocked on the door of playing in the 4A state championship game a season ago, losing to Camas in the semifinal round. The Bullpups return a lot of talent from last year’s team, including athletic 6-foot-5 RB/WR Isaiah Docken and RB Jonah Keller, who took five touches for close to 200 yards in last week’s win. Mount Spokane is breaking in new QB Cade Strocsher this season, a 6-foot-4 junior with a big arm, but this is still a run-first team. The Wildcats will rotate several running backs through the offense. Watch out for wing back Rock Franklin, who Mount Spokane will line up in a variety of spots. Gonzaga Prep has 4A state title aspirations; we have a hard time picking against the Bullpups.
TNT pick: Gonzaga Prep 31, Mount Spokane 21
This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM.
