Week 10 Washington high school football preview: 3 storylines, game predictions, top statewide matchups

It is go-time across the state as the beginning of the postseason kicks off in excessive gear.

Here’s a fast recap of final week’s highlights, and a stay up for Week 10 storylines and video games to comply with:

THREE THINGS WORTH REVISITING FROM WEEK 9

Lake Stevens reclaims label as crew to beat in Class 4A

Tom Tri can be the primary to say it hasn’t been the best of seasons at Lake Stevens Excessive College.

His Vikings had endured key accidents. They went mdiway by way of the autumn earlier than selecting a beginning quarterback. And their offensive and defensive position play was up and down.

However on Friday, within the greatest sport of the season – internet hosting then-No. 1 Glacier Peak for the 4A Wesco title – the Vikings flipped momentum within the ultimate minute of the primary half, then dominated after intermission on their solution to a 57-17 win over the Grizzlies to win their ninth league title in a row.

In addition they prolonged their 4A Wesco successful streak to 58 video games.

“We have made big enchancment because the season has progressed,” Tri mentioned. “The offensive line is beginning to jell and work as one unit. Quarterback play has improved as we have gone with Kolton (Matson), and that is been good for rhythm and chemistry. … And defensively, we have achieved various things with fronts and coverages, and that has helped, for certain.”

Does Tri suppose his crew – which misplaced to Graham-Kapowsin within the state finals a yr in the past – is the one to beat shifting ahead?

“You have a look at Chiawana and they’re undefeated. After that, everybody else is a one-lose crew,” Tri mentioned. “It’s a large open area, for certain. And we’re beginning to peak on the proper time.”

Mountain View’s roller-coaster season on excessive

It has been fairly a four-day stretch for Adam Mathieson and his Mountain View Thunder.

Some 200 miles away for a regular-season finale at Richland, the Thunder wanted assist to get right into a 3A GSHl mini-tiebreaker – which did not look good after Evergreen of Vancouver was main Kelso.

“It regarded gloomy,” Mathieson mentioned.

However concerning the time the Thunder made a livid comeback to journey up Richland, 45-44 – the Hilanders did assist by edging Evergreen in extra time.

Mountain View arrived dwelling at 3 a.m. Saturday morning, held a Sunday walkthrough to organize for a Monday mini-tiebreaker – and the Thunder went on to defeat rairie (7-0) and Evergreen (10-0) to earn the league’s No. 2 district berth.

“Looks like this crew is constructed for this,” Mathieson mentioned. “Adversity-wise, what have not we come all the way down to?”

After a break day Tuesday, Mountain View is now ready for a round-of-32 sport towards Rainier Seashore on Saturday – a crew the Thunder defeated within the 3A quarterfinals (7-6) in 2018.

Lynden passes all challenges for an additional 2A NWC title

Make that 5 consecutive 2A Northwest Convention titles for the defending champion Lynden Lions.

In what was simply its greatest check of the common season in beforehand unbeaten Anacortes, Lynden clamped down on the high-flying Seahawks’ offense in a 23-13 win for the league championship.

Lynden coach Blake VanDalen attributed the crew’s success this yr to gamers shopping for in to the plan and system irrespective of who they line up towards.

The most recent design got here Friday – not throwing a single move within the second half within the comeback over Anacortes.

“Some folks may suppose it is boring to go a complete half with out throwing the ball,” VanDalen mentioned. “Personally, I believed it was a stunning factor.”

Lynden will get pleasure from per week off earlier than the state event begins. Anticipate the Lions to be – rightfully – the highest general seed within the bracket.

REWIND SBLIVE’S WEEK 9 COVERAGE

Thu: (2A) No. 9 Highline 50, (2A) Renton 20

PHOTO GALLERY

Fri: (4A) No. 2 Lake Stevens 57, (4A) No. 1 Glacier Peak 17

GAME STORY | PHOTO GALLERY

Fri: (3A) No. 8 Ferndale 34, (3A) No. 6 Monroe 28

GAME STORY

Fri: (3A) No. 5 Lincoln of Tacoma 38, (3A) No. 7 Spanaway Lake 19

GAME STORY | PHOTO GALLERY

Fri: (3A) Kelso 29, (3A) Evergreen of Vancouver 22

GAME STORY

Fri: (2A) No. 1 Lynden 23, (2A) No. 4 Anacortes 13

GAME STORY & HIGHLIGHTS

Fri: (2A) No. 2 North Kitsap 42, (2A) Olympic 0

GAME STORY

Sat: (4A) Curtis 48, (4A) Puyallup 14

GAME STORY & HIGHLIGHTS

TOP STORYLINES TO FOLLOW IN WEEK 10

To earn first state berth, Emerald Ridge should get by way of ‘Blue Prepare’

Since Emerald Ridge Excessive College opened in 2000, it has reached the district spherical of the Class 4A playoffs – however by no means the state event.

Throughout that span, Bothell has made the state area 16 occasions, successful all of it in 2014.

If the Jaguars can beat “Massive Blue” – one of the crucial constant performers on the state stage – on Saturday, they may earn their first WIAA playoff berth.

“They’re an incredible program, and their guys are going to play onerous,” Emerald Ridge coach Adam Schakel mentioned.

Emerald Ridge has been on the cusp just a few occasions, together with the previous couple seasons, shedding to Woodinville in 2019 (45-21) and Lake Stevens final fall (63-21) within the district spherical.

“It has been slightly little bit of the, ‘We made it right here, I ponder if we will grasp with these guys,’ perspective previously,” Schakel mentioned. “However that’s the distinction this yr, our youngsters really feel assured of their skills.”

As soon as 1-4, Ephrata rallies to seize treasured 2A CWAC berth

It isn’t usually a coach in his first season main a program has to make a stick-with-us plea to his gamers.

However after Ephrata began 1-4 after losses to Moses Lake, Othello, East Valley of Yakima and Cashmere, first-year coach Patrick Mitchell, who had been the varsity’s defensive coordinator, laid all of it on the market to his crew filled with 28 seniors.

“I advised them, ‘That is the onerous street, however stick with us,’” Mitchell mentioned. “They usually’ve by no means stop or gotten bitter with one another.”

Led by dual-threat quarterback Travis Hendrick, the crew’s greatest win throughout the late-season rally was a 20-17 extra time overcome perennial 2A CWAC powerhouse Prosser – a crew the Tigers had not defeated since 1987.

And final week, Ephrata closed it out with a 70-21 street win at Ellensburg. Coupled with East Valley’s loss to Othello, the Tigers grabbed the final league berth to the crossover playoffs.

“I knew the children and who we had, and I knew what the league had as nicely,” Mitchell mentioned. “I believed with a few modifications right here and there, I believed we might compete with anyone. And we did.”

State contenders Okanogan, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague meet early

In case you got here up with a brief checklist of Class 2B contenders earlier than the season, Okanogan and Lind-Ritzville/Sprague would possible have been on it.

And now the 2 faculties meet Friday in a district crossover sport – the one matchup across the state that includes two top-three packages.

Why? As a result of the 2B Northeast League resulted in a three-way tie – and the Broncos drew the brief straw within the preseason tiebreaker choice course of.

“We drew the low quantity,” first-year Broncos coach Brendan Bermea mentioned.

The No. 2 Bulldogs and third-ranked Lind-Ritzville/Sprague have postseason historical past. When Okanogan gained back-to-back 2B titles in 2014 and 2015, it defeated the Broncos within the state bracket in each seasons.

“We have talked about that, and we talked about Onalaska final yr (54-15 loss) after we principally obtained … our butts kicked,” Bermea mentioned.

“We’re excited to point out we’re not that crew anymore.”

TOP WEEK 10 GAMES ON TAP

(4A) Moses Lake (6-3) at (4A) No. 8 Gonzaga Prep (7-2)

6 p.m. Friday at Bullpup Stadium, Spokane

Skinny: Moses Lake was one play away from possible internet hosting a playoff sport, however now heads to Spokane to play Gonzaga Prep.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: NFHS

SBLive Washington’s choose: Gonzaga Prep, 35-25

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(4A) Bothell (4-5) at (4A) No. 6 Emerald Ridge (7-2)

2 p.m. Saturday at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup

Skinny: Script has flipped right here – it is the Jaguars internet hosting a district sport whereas the Cougars touring on the street.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: NFHS

SBLive Washington’s choose: Emerald Ridge, 42-22

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(3A) Lakes (6-2) at (3A) No. 9 Stanwood (8-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Bob Larson Stadium, Stanwood

Skinny: Folks will argue this matchup is healthier suited a pair weeks from now than the opening week of the postseason.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: TCSN

SBLive Washington’s choose: Stanwood, 31-21

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(3A) Garfield (6-3) at (3A) Spanaway Lake (6-2)

2 p.m. Saturday at Artwork Crate Area, Spanaway

Skinny: Garfield suffered three consecutive losses to shut out the common season – and now hit the street to tackle 2021 state-playoff Sentinels’ squad.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: None

SBLive Washington’s choose: Spanaway Lake, 24-21

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(2A) Steilacoom (4-4) at (2A) Washington (6-3)

7 p.m. Friday at Franklin Pierce Stadium, Parkland

Skinny: Groups simply performed one another just a few weeks in the past in a Week 7 2A SPSL matchup that Washington narrowly gained, 35-28.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: None

SBLive Washington’s choose: Washington, 28-20

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(2A) Ridgefield (5-3) at (2A) No. 7 Tumwater (8-1)

5 p.m. Saturday at Tumwater District Stadium

Skinny: A state quarterfinalist from a yr in the past travels to the 2A state runner-up down in Thurston County.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: NFHS

SBLive Washington’s choose: Tumwater, 44-28

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(1A) Colville (7-2) at (1A) Cashmere (7-2)

6 p.m. Friday at Cashmere Excessive College

Skinny: Possibly one of many extra evenly-matched video games within the first week of the postseason.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: NFHS

SBLive Washington’s choose: Colville, 28-27

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(1A) No. 6 Eatonville (6-1) at (1A) Fortress Rock (7-2) 

7 p.m. Friday at Fortress Rock Excessive College

Skinny: The state runner-up from a yr in the past is beginning the postseason with a prolonged street journey south this weekend.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: NFHS

SBLive Washington’s choose: Eatonville, 34-15

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(2B) No. 3 Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (7-1) at (2B) No. 2 Okanogan (9-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Okanogan Excessive College

Skinny: Powerful spot for the Broncos, however they’ve skill-position expertise (QB Chase Galbreath, RB Brody Boness) to maintain this attention-grabbing.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: None

SBLive Washington’s choose: Okanogan, 37-23

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(2B) Brewster (5-4) at (2B) No. 5 Chewelah (5-2)

6 p.m. Friday at Snyder Area, Chewelah

Skinny: Brewster was on a run of 4 straight wins earlier than a deflating loss to Okanogan final week and Chewelah has gained its final two.

Dwell streaming hyperlink: None

SBLive Washington’s choose: Chewelah, 26-12

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