Today's prep football state championship games

CLASS 2B

Napavine (11-2) vs. No. 3 Asotin (12-1), 4 p.m. today, Tacoma Dome

•The coaches: Josh Fay is in his second season at Napavine (17-6 record). Sal Lopez is in his seventh season at Asotin (56-20).

•The lowdown: Asotin was the 2B champion in 2006, and has won nine of its past 10 state playoff games. Its only defeat this season was to a larger school, Grangeville, Idaho, 28-21. The Napavine Tigers won the B-11 title in 1976, but have not played in a state championship game since — until today. This is the schools' first meeting in the postseason.

•Why Napavine will win: To successfully run the Willamette-style "fly" offense, a quarterback who can sell the fake is a must, and Napavine has that in QB Marty Cozart (41-of-88, 861 yards, 19 total TDs). RB Connor Craft (137 rushes, 1,066 yards, 14 TDs) and slot back Micah Brown (110 rushes, 1,088 yards, 14 TDs) carry the bulk of the workload, and have big linemen in LT Damon Garnas and RT Zane Christenson to run behind.

•Why Asotin will win: Fourteen Panthers seniors have experienced it all in Tacoma — a 28-10 win over La Salle to collect the 2B title in 2006, and a 7-0 overtime defeat last year in the semifinals to Toutle Lake. Lopez preaches an aggressive and physical style, and the defense has big-play potential (forced 31 turnovers). QB Creighton Alford (122-of-192, 2,105 yards, 34 TDs, five INTs) is surrounded by talent, including RB D.J. Darnall (109 rushes, 951 yards, 12 TDs) and WR Cole Caldwell (43 catches, 621 yards, 13 TDs).

•Bottom line: Tale of two brackets — Napavine has had three nail-biters; Asotin hasn't been in a close game.

•Pick: Asotin, 34-23

CLASS 4A

No. 10 Issaquah (11-2) vs. No. 1 Skyline (13-0), 7:30 p.m. today, Tacoma Dome

•The coaches: Chris Bennett is in his second season at Issaquah (17-6 record). Mat Taylor is in his first season at Skyline (13-0).

•The lowdown: Never have two programs from the same school district played for the 4A title, until now. The Skyline Spartans won the regular-season matchup, 38-0, in a game between teams then ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state. All three of Skyline's state championship squads (2000, 2005 and 2007) went undefeated.

•Why Issaquah will win: The Eagles can't go blow for blow against the more explosive Spartans, so Bennett will try to manage the game with RB Grant Gellatly (144 rushes, 950 yards, 14 TDs), and by picking his spots with QB Joey Bradley (90-of-164, 1,324 yards, 10 TDs, seven INTs). The first time around, one of Issaquah's downfalls was facing too many second-and-long situations. The five starters who missed or played sparingly in the earlier loss are back at full strength, including leading WR Ross Zuhl (21 catches, 403 yards, three TDs).

•Why Skyline will win: The Spartans' starting duo of pass-catchers — WRs Kasen Williams (52 catches, 879 yards, 13 TDs) and Gino Simone (52 catches, 857 yards, 13 TDs) — could easily rival the stars of Prosser in 2007, Cody Bruns and Kirby Moore, as the best tandem in state history. And even if Issaquah can slow them down, one fear is what the Spartans have behind them with WRs Jake Knecht (37 catches, 495 yards, five TDs) and William Chandler (23 catches, 358 yards, four TDs), who are starter-quality. How hard is it to be QB Jake Heaps (190-of-291, 2,740 yards, 35 TDs) these days?

•Bottom line: As difficult as it is to pinpoint Skyline's weaknesses, it's harder to expose them, but the Eagles will try.

•Pick: Skyline, 30-20