Week 8: High school football games to watch in the South Sound, predictions
Read team previews and score predictions for five games across the South Sound in Week 8, plus our pick for the state game of the week.
W.F. West Bearcats (6-1) vs. Tumwater T-Birds (6-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Tumwater District Stadium
Here come the T-Birds. After a close loss to Puyallup in Week 1, Willie Garrow’s squad has ripped off six straight wins, all of which have been decided by 20 or more points. W.F. West has had a similar season, losing to North Kitsap in Week 1 before winning six straight. Tumwater RB Peyton Davis racked up 177 yards and five rushing touchdowns in last week’s win over Aberdeen. Tumwater’s defense has played well this season too, generating timely turnovers all season. W.F. West is led by sophomore dual-threat QB Wyatt Hoffman, who will look for No. 1 WR Connor Coleman, who the Bearcats look to get involved in the screen game as well as with downfield strikes. The winning streak ends for one team and continues for another. Give us “T-Bird Winning Football” in this rivalry game.
TNT pick: Tumwater 28, W.F. West 21
Gig Harbor Tides (4-3) at Bellarmine Prep Lions (4-3)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Bellarmine Memorial Field
Gig Harbor trotted into the locker room at Roy Anderson Field with a 14-7 halftime lead over Mount Tahoma in Week 7, one of the state’s best 3A teams, before the T-Birds emerged late for a 27-14 win. Even if the massive upset wasn’t meant to be, it’s more proof first-year head coach Jeff Scoma and his Wing-T offense is working wonders for the Tides. They’ll travel across the Narrows for a matchup with Bellarmine Prep this weekend featuring dual-threat QB Sawyer Hayes and RB Wilson West, who notched 101 yards on the ground against a stout Mount Tahoma defense last weekend. Bellarmine Prep looks to snap a two-game skid with an uptick in passing from QB Birk Johnston. We’ll roll with the Tides in a game that decides third place in the 3A PSL Narrows.
TNT pick: Gig Harbor 24, Bellarmine Prep 17
Puyallup Vikings (7-0) vs. Curtis Vikings (5-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Curtis High School
Things couldn’t have gone more differently for these two teams last week: Puyallup smothered Rogers, 65-6, while Curtis was overwhelmed by Sumner in a 49-3 loss. Curtis still has one of the league’s better defensive line units, but things aren’t going to get easier this week against the TNT’s top-ranked 4A team. Puyallup QB Noah Smith threw for seven touchdowns last week, while the Vikings also racked up 206 yards on the ground. Can Curtis keep it close? The Vikings will need to be able to run the football effectively, but face a good Puyallup defensive line and a run-stuffing linebacker in Michael Pulalasi.
TNT pick: Puyallup 42, Curtis 21
Tahoma Bears (5-2) at Kentwood Conquerors (5-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at French Field
Kennedy Catholic continues a seven-year-long win streak over 4A NPSL rivals, but Tahoma has again proven itself as the next-best of the bunch. The Bears have won four in a row by a combined score of 169-37, guided by dual-threat sophomore QB Brady Bonnell. A win over Kentwood would put Tahoma in the driver’s seat for a runner-up finish in the 4A NPSL and district playoff berth, but don’t count out the Conquerors just yet. QB Brandon Tagle directed one of the area’s best comebacks this season in Week 7, bringing Kentwood back from an early 30-0 deficit for a thrilling 50-44 win over Auburn in overtime. Conquerors receivers Trevon Mayfield (soph.) and Romeo Cabansag (sr.) have each posted 300+ yards and 5 touchdowns this fall, but we’ll ride with Tahoma to handle Kentwood for a fourth-straight season.
TNT pick: Tahoma 35, Kentwood 24
Timberline Blazers (4-3) at Peninsula Seahawks (4-3)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Roy Anderson Field
Timberline has been one of the South Sound’s most pleasant surprises in 2025, opening their season with a road win at Woodinville and lingering in the playoff hunt ahead of their regular-season finale with Peninsula. Cooper Jones remains the all-around spark plug since his 221-yard performance at Woodinville in Week 1. What could decide this 3A PSL Nisqually clash: Can the Blazers stop elusive Peninsula RB Jacob Martin, who ran over River Ridge (25-194-3) for three touchdowns in Week 7? We think first-year head coach Clay Mauro and the Seahawks win a close one.
TNT pick: Peninsula 31, Timberline 27
STATE GAME OF THE WEEK
Richland Bombers (6-1) at Chiawana Riverhawks (7-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Edgar Brown Stadium
Richland has been perfect outside of a 14-point loss to Kennewick, while Chiawana beat that same Kennewick team last week, 24-10. Chiawana is part of a small group of legitimate Class 4A title contenders this season, led by another high-level defense. Watch out for the Cissne brothers: sophomore safety Cooper (42.5 tackles, nine tackles for loss) and senior LB Tayten (37.5 tackles, seven TFLs) have gotten into opposing backfields all season. Sophomore QB Emmett Osterdock (33-of-55 for 508 yards, four TDs) took over midway through the season at quarterback, while starter Gage Williams moved to tight end, but still has some heavy red zone packages at quarterback. Richland is improved on defense this season and as usual, has a high-flying pass offense, led again this year by junior QB Jackson Woodard (1,300 passing yards). WR Brody Bocek is Woodard’s top target and the school’s all-time career receiving touchdowns leader with 36. Richland has upset ability but will have its hands full against Chiawana’s elite defense.
TNT pick: Chiawana 28, Richland 14
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Week 8: High school football games to watch in the South Sound, predictions."
