Meg Wochnick

Meg Wochnick:
Prep Sports Blog

Meg Wochnick, a former NCAA Div. III All-American in track and field, specializes in high school sports coverage for The Olympian. She can be reached at: mwochnick@theolympian.com.

Three to see: Week 3

• Published September 13, 2012

Bothell (0-2) at Capital (2-0), 7 p.m., Friday, Ingersoll Stadium
Lots of Cougars will be on the field tonight -- given that both Bothell’s and Capital’s mascot is the Cougar. This game is the third installment of a four-game 4A nonleague schedule for the Capital Cougars, which debuted at No. 2 in the statewide media poll earlier this week. Capital kept Olympia off the scoreboard in its 19-0 victory in the annual Spaghetti Bowl where sophomore Conner Kennedy ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Don’t be fooled by Bothell’s winless record through two games; the team has arguably played the state’s top two programs -- 4A Skyline and 3A Bothell. The team features BYU-bound Darrin Laufasa, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound running back who was held to 38 yards in 10 carries in the 35-7 loss to top-ranked Bellevue.

Wilson (2-0) at Shelton (2-0), 7 p.m., Friday, Highclimber Stadium
Who would’ve thought these two teams would be undefeated when they met for their 3A Narrows League opener? The Highclimbers are 2-0 for the first time since 2004, are one of the biggest surprises through two games, outscoring Tumwater and North Mason a combined 96-45. Senior running back Ralph Kinne has labeled himself as one of the state’s premiere running backs after his performance through two games. He’s tallied a combined 539 rushing yards on 46 carries and has scored five touchdowns. The Rams have made big plays on defense in its two wins, led by linebackers James Sivonen, Connor Patterson and Jake Ferris.

Olympia (0-2) at Timberline (1-1), 7 p.m., Friday, South Sound Stadium
Both teams see this game as a must-win. Olympia is one of seven teams in the state -- and the only 4A team -- that has yet to score a point through two games. The program has never started 0-3 under coach Bill Beattie. The Bears have been outscored 53-0 in losses to nationally ranked Lake Oswego (Ore.) and Capital. Timberline sophomore quarterback Gabriel Gutierrez had a breakout performance in Week 2: 24 of 44 for 307 yards and three touchdowns, but he also had three interceptions against the T-Birds. The 48 points given up was the most since a 58-14 loss to Bellevue in the first round of the 2010 state playoffs.

WEEK 3 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thursday's game
North Thurston 50, Foss 14

Friday’s games
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Black Hills (1-1) at Bainbridge (0-2)
Centralia (0-2) at Aberdeen (0-2)
Inglemoor (0-2) at Tumwater (1-1)
Bothell (1-1) at Capital (2-0)
Wilson (2-0) at Shelton (2-0)
Olympia (0-2) at Timberline (1-1)
Yelm (2-0) at Stadium (1-1)
Elma (0-2) at Tenino (2-0)
Rochester (0-2) at Rainier (0-2)

Saturday's games
WF West (2-0) v. Lake City (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) (0-1-1), at Kibbie Dome, 5 p.m.
Oakville (0-0) at Mary M. Knight (1-0), 1 p.m.
Ridgefield (2-0) at River Ridge (1-1)

Similar stories:

  • Brown leads with speed

  • Van Sickle’s rushing mark a salve for stinging loss

  • Capital RB Kai Van Sickle is 83 yards away from breaking state's all-time single-season rushing record

  • Van Sickle poised for his place in history

  • Washington (7-4) at Washington State (2-9) (ET)

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