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Hockinson (6-3) at Tumwater (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Tumwater District Stadium
Last week: Hockinson -- beat Washougal, 41-12; Tumwater -- beat Black Hills, 35-7
Outlook: A common opponent the T-Birds and Hawks this season is River Ridge. The River Ridge Hawks beat the Hockinson Hawks, 28-14, on Sept. 21, and that was a start of a three-game losing skid for Hockinson. The Hawks, which grabbed the third and final playoff spot from the 2A GSHL, heavily relies on its passing attack, led by quarterback Jess Krahn (100-for-194, 1,635 yards, 14 TDs) with his top receiver being Austen Johnson (30 catches, 513 yards, 3 TDs). Andrew Brown has done just about everything for the T-Birds this season and since its Week 1 42-21 loss to Shelton, Tumwater has been on a roll. Brown leads the team in rushing (847 yards, 10 TDs) and receiving (260 yards). He also has five special teams touchdowns.
Meg’s pick: Tumwater, 38-13
Capital (7-2) at Ridgefield (6-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Ridgefield Stadium
Last week: Capital -- beat River Ridge, 55-18; Ridgefield -- lost to Aberdeen, 15-9
Outlook: The Cougars have found their offensive stride the past three games, putting up 56, 42 and 55 points, respectively, in three victories. Senior Kai Van Sickle has done the bulk of the damage, averaging 273 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. He now has 1,811 yards and 25 touchdowns in eight games. River Ridge also is a common opponent between the two teams; the Spudders lost to River Ridge in a shootout, 61-40 on Sept. 15. The Spudders ended the regular season scoring a season-low nine points in a 15-9 loss at Aberdeen. Running back Clayton Farr (117 carries, 728 yards, 18 TD) carries a lot of the load, as does quarterback Gunnar Long (82-for-145, 1,105 yards, 4 TDs).
Meg’s pick: Capital, 35-10
W.F. West (6-3) at Mark Morris (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Longview Memorial Stadium
Last week: W.F. West -- beat Centralia, 28-7; Mark Morris -- beat R.A. Long, 41-14
Outlook: Will history repeat itself for the Bearcats? In 2011, the same Bearcats were the No. 3 seed from the EvCo, upset No. 1-seeded Hockinson, and went all the way to the 2A state semifinals. Should the Bearcats win tonight , they will take the third seed into the playoffs. Mark Morris is riding an eight-game winning streak dating back to its season-opening loss to Kelso (17-7). Keigan Baker and Austin Johnson combined for 357 yards and four rushing touchdowns in last week’s 41-14 win over R.A. Long to end the regular season.
Meg’s pick: W.F. West, 24-20
Tenino (6-3) at Woodland (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Woodland Stadium
Last week: Tenino -- beat Rochester, 50-6; Woodland -- lost to La Center, 29-21
Outlook: Since that hot 5-0 start, Tenino lost three of its final four games, but is one win away from securing its first state berth since 2007 when the program also had seven wins. The Beavers’ only opponent from the Trico Division was division-leading La Center resulting in a 40-6 loss on Oct. 5. Senior quarterback Mac Shaw is approaching 2,000 passing yards with all-everything Devante Harris (77 catches, 1,181 yards, 15 TDs) being his main target.
Meg’s pick: Woodland, 36-21
Elma (4-5) at La Center (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday, La Center Stadium
Last week: Elma -- lost to Montesano, 47-7; La Center -- beat Woodland, 29-21
Outlook: Despite last week’s 40-point loss to Montesano, the Eagles already secured a district playoff berth for the first time since 2005. Their reward: the fifth-ranked Wildcats, with their traditional Wing-T offense. La Center dispatched Evergreen Division opponent Tenino, 40-6, on Oct. 5 (a team Elma lost to, 50-22), but an upset win would send Elma to the 1A state playoffs as a No. 4 seed.
Meg’s pick: La Center, 43-14
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Olympia (4-5) at Auburn (7-2), 7 p.m .Auburn Memorial Stadium
Shelton (7-2) at Nathan Hale (7-2), 7 p.m., Seattle's Memorial Stadium
Rainier Beach (5-4) at North Thurston (7-2), 7 p.m. South Sound Stadium
