Week 6: High school football games to watch and predictions
4A SPSL
OLYMPIA BEARS (5-0) AT NO. 3 SUMNER SPARTANS (5-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
About the Bears: Coach Bill Beattie knows this week’s opponent is fast, adding that “if this was a track meet, we’d probably be in trouble.” Olympia RB Scott Gunther (131 carries, 1,117 yards, 25 total TDs) has more than enough explosiveness to break off big gainers. But the key for the Bears is disciplined gap control on defense to bottle up Sumner’s backfield stars.
About the Spartans: This is the only matchup of undefeated teams from around the state. And what a good time for these longtime coaches, Sumner’s Keith Ross and Beattie, to face off for the first time. Sumner RB Connor Wedington (69 carries, 794 yards, 12 TDs) is putting up MVP-type numbers, averaging nearly 240 all-purpose yards per game. OLB Jake Popejoy is a rising star on defense.
Olympian pick: Sumner, 31-28
3A SSC
CENTRAL KITSAP COUGARS (2-3) AT CAPITAL COUGARS (2-3)
7 p.m. Friday, Ingersoll Stadium, Olympia
About the Central Kitsap Cougars: Losses in the last two weeks to Timberline and Gig Harbor have left Central Kitsap (1-2 3A SSC) in a four-way tie — which includes Capital — for the final district playoff berth about halfway through the league schedule. RB DeAndre Sincere (112 carries, 598 yards, 2 TDs) paces the ground game, and is one of the Cougars’ biggest threats on offense.
About the Capital Cougars: Pregame festivities, beginning 10 minutes before kickoff, will honor former coach Wayne Sortun — who led Capital to its only state titles (1996, 1998) — and several other alums approaching the 20th anniversary of the school’s first state championship. The current Cougars were dealt a frustrating 15-12 loss to league-favorite Peninsula last week, but WR Chris Penner (24 catches, 395 yards, 3 TDs) is a bright spot after back-to-back outings of 100-plus receiving yards.
Olympian pick: Capital, 28-13
2A SPSL — SOUND DIVISION
EATONVILLE CRUISERS (4-1) AT NO. 3 RIVER RIDGE HAWKS (5-0)
7 p.m. Friday, South Sound Stadium, Lacey
About the Cruisers: It’s not often that Eatonville comes into a game as the smaller team across the board. But the Cruisers are, so expect QB Tristan Graf (61 of 106, 1,013 yards, 17 TDs) to go right after a depleted Hawks secondary that will be missing CB Alex Coleman (ankle). This will be the first meeting between these programs.
About the Hawks: It is early October, and the Hawks are already in position to clinch a share of the divisional title with a victory, and sew up the No. 1 seed. RB Trey Dorfner (103 carries, 853 yards, 16 TDs) is closing in on back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. River Ridge needs its best pass rush of the season to help an inexperienced defensive backfield.
Olympian pick: River Ridge, 38-27
Todd Milles: tmilles@thenewstribune.com
Lauren Smith: lsmith@theolympian.com
Week 6 schedule
Games at 7 p.m. Friday unless otherwise noted. Games at host high school, unless otherwise noted.
4A SPSL
Olympia (5-0) at No. 3 Sumner (5-0)
3A SSC
No. 5 Peninsula (5-0) at North Thurston (1-4), 7 p.m. Thursday
Central Kitsap (2-3) at Capital (2-3), at Ingersoll Stadium
Shelton (2-3) at Gig Harbor (3-2), at Roy Anderson Field
Timberline (4-1) at Yelm (3-2)
2A SPSL — SOUND
Eatonville (4-1) at No. 3 River Ridge (5-0), at South Sound Stadium
2A EVCO
Aberdeen (2-3) at Black Hills (3-2), at Tumwater District Stadium
No. 2 Tumwater (4-1) at Centralia (2-3)
No. 9 W.F. West (5-0) at Rochester (0-5)
1A EVCO
Hoquiam (3-2) at Elma (1-4)
Tenino (3-2) at Forks (2-3)
2B CENTRAL/PACIFIC — MOUNTAIN
No. 7 Rainier (5-0) at Adna (3-2)
This story was originally published October 6, 2016 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Week 6: High school football games to watch and predictions."