Tonight’s 2A Evergreen Conference showdown against Tumwater features two Top 5-ranked teams, two high-scoring offenses and big question marks still to be answered.
“It will be a good test for us,” Patchin said.
Fifth-ranked North Thurston is averaging 48.3 points per game, which is tops in South Sound. Quarterback Ben Broeker has completed 56 percent of his passes for 434 yards and seven touchdowns, yet, like most of the varsity players, didn’t see any second-half action against Shelton and Aberdeen.
But the surprise offensively has been junior Brandon Belisario, who’s rushed for 393 yards (9.1 per carry) and scored five touchdowns.
In two of the Rams’ three victories, they’ve outscored their opponents – Shelton and Aberdeen – 119-6.
“They’ve worked very hard at getting better and learning every day,” Patchin said. “Game day, they come to play.”
Last year, the Rams were in this same boat: 3-0 after three games, but a 42-14 loss to eventual state champion Tumwater started a three-game slide during the meat of their season and spiraled to a fourth-place finish in the league standings.
Patchin said players have learned from that game and come into tonight’s contest better prepared.
“To play our top level, we have to be able to compete,” Patchin said.
Last Friday, third-ranked Tumwater thumped Chehalis, 42-7, but also lost senior quarterback Daniel Hinkle when he injured his throwing shoulder early in the first quarter.
X-rays were negative for fractures, but coach Sid Otton said the right-handed Hinkle has a “bad contusion” on his throwing shoulder.
Sophomore Jayden Croft, Otton’s grandson, will start at QB in place of Hinkle.
Croft played significant minutes during last week’s victory over the Bearcats after Hinkle left the game. Croft threw a 34-yard strike to Zach Wimberly for the team’s second touchdown of the game.
“He was very nervous when he went in, but he settled down,” Otton said. “He’s got a game under his belt now.”
The good news is Hinkle will have an extra week to heal following tonight’s game. Tumwater will not play Oct. 1 after its scheduled opponent – Centennial Secondary School of Coquitlam, B.C. – told Tumwater athletic director Tim Graham it will not be making the trip to play the Thunderbirds at Tumwater District Stadium.
Graham said the school informed him of its decision days following Centennial’s season-opening 62-19 loss to Lynden. Since then, Graham has been searching for a midseason opponent in Washington and Oregon, but has had no luck.
Tumwater originally had a two-year agreement with Hockinson, but the school pulled out of that agreement following Tumwater’s 55-13 victory over the Hawks last October.
The replacement for Hockinson was Centennial Secondary School, which agreed to play Tumwater as a one-year deal.
“Everybody’s made a commitment for the two-year cycle,” Graham said. “It’s hard on a program.”
Tumwater will have a bye next week, and the game will not count as a forfeit win, Graham said.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/southsoundsports
