State quarterfinals: High school football predictions, games to watch
CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS
No. 3 Lake Stevens (11-0)
at No. 4 Graham-Kapowsin (11-0)
1 p.m. Saturday at Art Crate Field, Spanaway
About the Vikings: Fair or not, there’s a lot of expectations surrounding senior quarterback Jacob Eason (185-268, 2,941 yards, 37 TDs, 5 INTs), and the Georgia signee is considered a top-10 recruit in the 2016 class by multiple major recruiting sites. But he has help. WR Hunter Eckstrom (55 catches, 872 yards, 11 TDs) and TE Riley Krenz (50 catches, 863 yards, 12 TDs) are both excellent pass catchers, while Michael Nelson and Lars Eklund were both first-team all-Wesco offensive and defensive linemen.
About the Eagles: Opposite of Eason there’s G-K QB Dylan Morris (121-203, 1,956 yards, 17 TDs) … a freshman, who hasn’t looked like one. Expect a few giddy recruiters on hand to watch those QBs as well as OL Foster Sarell, the 6-foot-6 (and a half, he says) junior who is one of the nation’s top 2017 recruits. But G-Ks success likely lies with Kyle Matheny and Trae Hawthorne on the defensive line and Aaron Wright and Ezra Bolton locking up those Lake Stevens receivers. G-K is 3-0 in home state playoff games.
TNT pick: Graham-Kapowsin, 38-35.
CLASS 3A STATE QUARTERFINALS
Bonney Lake (7-4)
at No. 1 Eastside Catholic (10-0)
7 p.m. Friday at Seattle Memorial Stadium
About the Panthers: So what if Bonney Lake started the season 2-3 and only improved to 3-3 because of a game-winning two-point conversion in overtime against Enumclaw? Jason Silbaugh has his team playing downhill, mistake-free, physical football. Marcus Hamilton leads the team in rushing this season, but Ethen Koepke (59 carries, 386 yards, 7 TDs in two playoff wins) has been the hot hand. Bonney Lake’s tackling leader, Jason Day, has also filled in due to injuries as the team’s third-string quarterback and had a key fourth-interception and 2-point conversion (again) in last week’s upset of Lincoln.
About the Crusaders: Somebody forgot to notify the 3A Metro League that the 3A SPSL was supposed to be the toughest league in the state. Eastside Catholic beat Enumclaw in the regular season, and last week it ended Auburn Mountainview’s season, while Bishop Blanchet eliminated 3A SPSL champ Sumner. Now the defending state champ Crusaders are looking to do some more bullying and eliminate Bonney Lake behind the state’s No. 1 scoring defense led by University of Washington commit Brandon Wellington (team-best five interceptions, two fumble recoveries, 13 total TDs).
TNT pick: Eastside Catholic, 41-17.
CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS
Kennewick (6-5) at No. 8 Lakes (9-2)
1 p.m. Saturday at Harry E. Lang Stadium, Lakewood
About the Lions: Surprise — it is fourth-place Kennewick, not Mid-Columbia powerhouse Kamiakin — that is in the state quarterfinals. And the last time the Lions advanced past that was 1992 when they were eventually ousted by Puyallup. They will play power-running football behind a huge offensive line and RBs Ramon Gutierrez and Isaac Ruiz, but QB Dillon Plew (124 of 229, 1,430 yards, 15 TDs), a converted wide receiver and also a WSU baseball signee, can both throw from the pocket and make big read-option plays. Though not deep, a very determined bunch.
About the Lancers: They have found their groove by increasing the offensive tempo. And coach Dave Miller can do that when it is senior QB Jaiave Malagei (151 of 232, 2,587 yards, 27 TDs; 384 rushing yards, 10 TDs) running the show. It also helps that the team is playing more sophomores, and rotating more bodies to wear opponents out. RB Andrew Bostic (182 rushes, 1,285 yards, 14 TDs) is also a big backfield threat. Lakes is looking for its first state semifinal berth since 2010.
TNT pick: Lakes, 38-17.
CLASS 2A QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Tumwater (11-0) at No. 3 Squalicum (11-0)
7 p.m. Saturday, Civic Stadium, Bellingham
About the Thunderbirds: Been here plenty before. Tumwater is in the state quarterfinals for a fourth consecutive season — and 18th time overall under coach Sid Otton. And if you are going to have a chance to upend the top-ranked team in the state, you might need to be in the game at halftime. The Thunderbirds have tallied 47 first-half touchdowns; they have given up just eight. And they have never trailed. The Wing-T offense churns out yards (333.2 yards per game), led by RBs Jarid Barrett (135 rushes, 893 yards, 18 TDs) and Dominic Jones (79 yards, 781 yards, 11 TDs).
About the Storm: For a school that did not see the state playoffs in its first 17 years, last season was a nice run to the 2A quarterfinals. But Squalicum wants more, and it has a chance to avenge its 59-33 loss to the Thunderbirds. The passing attack is led by first-year QB Garrett Sorenson (121 of 203, 1,944 yards, 21 TDs). He will feed it plenty to WRs Ben Peterson (32 catches, 724 yards, 13 total TDs) in the slot, and WSU commit Josiah Westbrook (25 catches, 429 yards, seven TDs) on the outside. Peterson is also a dangerous special teams returner and Wildcat quarterback.
TNT pick: Tumwater, 45-35.
TJ Cotterill: tcotterill@thenewstribune.com; Todd Milles: tmilles@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 9:57 PM with the headline "State quarterfinals: High school football predictions, games to watch."