Week 6: 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 6, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
Bellarmine Prep Lions (4-1) vs. Mount Tahoma T-Birds (5-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at Mount Tahoma Stadium
After a Week 1 loss to Rogers, Bellarmine Prep has played better football, ripping off four straight wins over Auburn, Kelso, Silas and Central Kitsap. Senior QB Birk Johnston can beat teams with his arm — but as we witnessed last week with Lincoln QB Sione Kaho running away from pressure all game — this is an entirely different challenge this week against a dominant Mount Tahoma defensive front. Mount Tahoma beat Lincoln last weekend, 28-7. Bellarmine Prep will need to slow down two-way star UW commit Elijah Durr to have a chance at the upset. We just think the T-Birds have too much firepower.
TNT pick: Mount Tahoma 35, Bellarmine Prep 14
Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (5-0) vs. Bethel Bison (4-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at Art Crate Field
Bethel’s defense is hitting their stride, allowing three total points to Olympia and Spanaway Lake in Weeks 4 and 5, but we’re expecting more points on the scoreboard when Graham-Kapowsin QB AJ Tuivaiave rolls into Art Crate Field on Friday night. The Eagles’ sophomore signal-caller has resumed his dominance (1,343 YDS, 14 TD) following last fall’s freshman breakout, paired with three-star WR Kase Betz (27-433-6). Bethel boasts standout linebacker Ramzak Fruean, but we think Tuivaiave wins this game with his arm.
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin 31, Bethel 17
Peninsula Seahawks (3-2) vs. Lakes Lancers (4-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at Harry Lang Stadium
Lakes remains one of the area’s more well-rounded teams — what else is new? — allowing just 27 total points in five games, three of them against 4A opponents (Auburn Riverside, Bonney Lake, Curtis). Lancers RB Toetu Moliga (51-447-5) and WR Tristan Baker (21-381-4) are the offensive standouts, with LB Ta’u Mareko (30 TKL) lurking on defense and return specialist Ean Owens (2 Return TD) proving nightmarish for opposing special teams units. First-year Peninsula HC Clay Mauro has guided the Seahawks to a three-game win streak, entering Friday’s game at Harry Lang Stadium with momentum. Watch for slippery Peninsula RB Jacob Martin — Mauro calls him “Jake the Shake” — the engine for the Seahawks run game. We think the Lancers possess the firepower for another win in Lakewood.
TNT pick: Lakes 34, Peninsula 20
Federal Way Eagles (3-2) vs. White River Hornets (5-0)
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 at White River High School
To say White River has rolled through its five opponents this fall would be an understatement — the Hornets have won each game by 35+ points by a combined score of 256-26 — but Thursday’s matchup with Federal Way offers their toughest test yet. Rooted in a prestigious track program, the Eagles are one of the area’s fastest teams with perimeter skill talent headlined by Eastern Washington commit Zamarie Tellez. White River QB Chaz Strickland is the South Sound’s midseason leader in passing yards (1,439) and touchdowns (22), setting the stage for an offense-first matchup at White River High School. We’ll take the Eagles in a potential shootout.
TNT pick: Federal Way 35, White River 28
Emerald Ridge Jaguars (2-3) vs. Curtis Vikings (4-1)
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 at Curtis High School
Emerald Ridge got a much-needed bounceback win against Rogers last week after three straight losses. Can QB Brayden Paulino (531 yards, six TDs, two rushing TDs) keep things rolling against the Vikings this week? It’ll be a tall order against one of the league’s better defensive fronts, paced by Jereme Scott Jr. and San Diego State commit Robby Lavata’i. Some games are won in the trenches; this feels like one of them.
TNT pick: Curtis 28, Emerald Ridge 17
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Archbishop Murphy Wildcats (5-0) vs. Anacortes Seahawks (4-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at Anacortes High School
Anacortes found itself in an unfamiliar position last week: losing a regular season game. The Seahawks dropped a 24-21 road game to Squalicum. In fact, it was the team’s first loss since losing to — guess who — Archbishop Murphy last season. We usually like good teams coming off losses, but we’ve had Archbishop Murphy as the No. 1 ranked team in 2A all season, so we’ll stick with the undefeated Wildcats, led by 6-foot-4 Arizona commit Henry Gabalis and 6-foot-4 Wisconsin TE commit Jack Sievers.
TNT pick: Archbishop Murphy 28, Anacortes 21
