Week 4: 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 4, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
Puyallup Vikings vs. Emerald Ridge Jaguars
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 at Sparks Stadium
Puyallup has backed up every bit of the preseason hype it received, off to a 3-0 start with a 52-10 blowout win over Skyview last week. The sheer amount of skill position talent on this roster makes defensive gameplanning a pick-your-poison proposition for defensive coordinators, with receivers J’Isaiah Mitchell, Jayden Woodland and Lawson Looker all putting up numbers in DJ Mims’ offense. Emerald Ridge, meanwhile, has been better than expected with such a young roster, which is a credit to the culture in place with coach Torey Donovan, which dates back to previous coach Adam Schakel’s run (he has since rejoined the staff as an assistant). Sack machine Elijah Wallace made his return in last week’s narrow loss to Graham-Kapowsin, while WR Zab Zenkner is a legit threat in the passing game. If QB Brayden Paulino (knee) plays this week, Emerald Ridge should be able to keep things close. We just think Puyallup has too much talent and eventually pulls away.
TNT pick: Puyallup 35, Emerald Ridge 27
Enumclaw Hornets vs. Federal Way Eagles
6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at Federal Way Memorial Field
Could this be the de facto 3A NPSL championship game? Both teams already handled defending-champion Decatur, arguably their top challenger, putting Thursday night’s winner in control of their own destiny for the league title. Enumclaw has demolished three opponents by a combined score of 175-14 with a loaded offense led by 6-foot-3 senior QB Gavin Trachte, who’s thrown nine touchdowns and just one interception this fall. But make no mistake: Enumclaw’s going to run the ball. Eight Hornets have rushed for touchdowns, a group headlined by senior RB Cole Chiechi (26-209-5). Federal Way has the speed to keep up, racing past Decatur, 50-20, in Week 2 with Eastern Washington DB/WR commit Zamarie Tellez on the perimeter. We predict an exciting finish, but think Mark Gunderson’s “Claw Dawgz” do enough on defense to win at beautiful Federal Way Memorial Field.
TNT pick: Enumclaw 35, Federal Way 24
Lincoln Abes vs. Gig Harbor Tides
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 at Roy Anderson Field
Lincoln struggled to contain Franklin Pierce’s Power-T offense Week 1 — see Cardinals RB Bryson Allen’s five-TD box score for proof — but they’ll have a chance to make amends opposite Gig Harbor’s Wing-T scheme when 3A PSL play begins at Roy Anderson Field on Friday night. First-year Tides HC Jeff Scoma already has a Fish Bowl win over Peninsula and out-of-state win at Idaho’s Lake City in the back pocket with two-way QB/DB Sawyer Hayes and powerful runner Ian Shearer. Watch for Tides LB/S Henry Blake, who had seven tackles, three TFLs and two sacks in last week’s win. To make another statement, they’ll need to suppress the arm of four-star QB Sione Kaho and bulldozing RB Jadeon Scranton, who ran wild for three scores at Yelm in Week 2. Kaho’s rapport with Lincoln WR Elijah Carney is growing, both with Division-I offers from Oregon, and we think Lincoln wins a game decided in the fourth quarter.
TNT pick: Lincoln 27, Gig Harbor 21
Orting Cardinals vs. Franklin Pierce Cardinals
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 at Franklin Pierce High School
It’s Cardinals vs. Cardinals and Pistol Wing T vs. Power T when Orting visits South Tacoma on Friday night. Orting enters undefeated, but they’ll have their hands full with Franklin Pierce’s versatile and explosive offense powered by RB Bryson Allen, the state’s touchdown leader (10). Allen torched the Lincoln Abes for five scores in Week 1 before a one-point loss to 2A-power Lynden in Week 2, and another big night could be in the cards for a game that may decide the 2A SPSL title. Watch for Franklin Pierce’s two-way playmaker Jeremiah Orcutt, a dual-threat quarterback and ball-hawking safety. Orting counters with a two-headed rushing attack between Carson McCall and Israel Shrode, but we like Franklin Pierce’s firepower to prevail.
TNT pick: Franklin Pierce 32, Orting 21
Stadium Tigers vs. Auburn Trojans
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at Auburn Memorial Field
Auburn ran away with this one in last year’s meeting at Stadium Bowl, winning 42-22, when RJ Conlan rushed for 143 yards and younger brother Monte Conlan added 89 yards on the ground. Stadium can make things tighter this year by taking care of the football — four turnovers in last year’s game proved disastrous. We’ll see two of the league’s most explosive playmakers again in this one with Stadium RB/WR Darius Sum and Auburn WR Lucas Whitehall-Gilkes, both TNT All-Area selections last fall. Expect some fireworks. We’ll roll with the home team.
TNT pick: Auburn 35, Stadium 28
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Eastside Catholic Crusaders vs. O’Dea Fighting Irish
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 at West Seattle Stadium
Gear up for a matchup of two of the state’s top programs in the 3A Metro this week. It’ll more than likely wind up being a preview of a state tournament rematch later this fall. Since a Week 1 loss to Graham-Kapowsin, O’Dea has been rolling, collecting comfortable wins over Rainier Beach and Seattle Prep in consecutive weeks. Eastside Catholic is 2-0 with blowout wins over East (Utah) and Bishop Blanchet. Eastside Catholic usually has the pieces to slow down O’Dea’s run game. Expect a defensive contest between two programs that know each other well.
TNT pick: O’Dea 17, Eastside Catholic 14
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 11:25 AM.
