Week 10: High school football games of the week, predictions

Three high school football games to watch this week in Thurston County and beyond.

3A DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

NO. 7 OAK HARBOR WILDCATS (7-2) VS. NO. 9 TIMBERLINE BLAZERS (7-2)

7 p.m. Friday, South Sound Stadium, Lacey

About the Wildcats: These two teams met in this round two years ago at the same location, and the Blazers escaped with a 41-38 win. Interestingly, last year, both of these teams had their seasons ended by Bellevue. The Wildcats will look for a positive shift in this this year’s meeting with the Blazers. Oak Harbor relies heavily on its rushing attack, with a combined 3,221 yards on the ground this season. RBs Dorian Hardin (116 carries, 992 yards, 13 TDs), Caden Leckelt (174 carries, 973 yards, 10 TDs) and Aaron Martinez (130 carries, 700 yards, nine TDs) lead the way.

About the Blazers: Despite narrowly missing out on a third consecutive 3A South Sound Conference title this season — an overtime loss to Peninsula gave the Seahawks the definitive tiebreaker — the Blazers are still in position to make a third straight trip to the state playoffs with a win over Oak Harbor. Dual-threat QB Hunter Campau (90 of 139, 1,191 yards; 180 carries, 1,149 yards; 30 total TDs) continues to star on offense, while Timberline’s defense is allowing just 14.6 points per game — and just 6.8 in the last four weeks, including two shutouts in four consecutive wins.

Olympian pick: Timberline, 31-21

YELM TORNADOS (6-3) VS. BISHOP BLANCHET BRAVES (5-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Bishop Blanchet High School, Seattle

About the Tornados: Yelm nearly secured its first 3A SSC title last week, in control of its own destiny during the final week of the regular season, but Timberline ended that chance with a 33-13 win in Yelm. Now, the Tornados are going after a different first — their first appearance in the state playoffs in more than three decades. Yelm last advanced in 1987, before ultimately losing to Tumwater in the quarterfinals. Veteran QB Kyle Robinson (109 of 198, 1,725 yards, 15 TDs) and company look to end that long drought this week on the road in Seattle.

About the Braves: The Braves are also looking to return to state prominence. Blanchet has advanced to the state playoffs just once in the past two decades — the Braves made a run to the 3A state semifinals before losing to Bellevue in 2015. Before that, their last appearance was 1996. Blanchet is battle tested, playing in the 3A Metro League’s top tier against teams like top-ranked Eastside Catholic and defending 3A state champion O’Dea. RB Tommy Gardner, who has piled up nearly 700 rushing yards this season, has been the workhorse for the Braves.

Olympian pick: Bishop Blanchet, 27-24

2A DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

NO. 8 WOODLAND BEAVERS (8-1) VS. NO. 6 TUMWATER T-BIRDS (8-1)

7 p.m. Saturday, Tumwater District Stadium

About the Beavers: Woodland is playing for its first state-playoff appearance since 2013, and is riding a four-game winning streak. The Beavers’ only loss this season is to Hockinson — the program that upended the T-Birds in last year’s 2A title game. Woodland lost, 42-27, to the Hawks in Week 5, but played the defending champions closer than any other team this season. QB Tyler Flanagan (94 of 176, 1,744 yards; 198 carries, 1,786 yards; 48 total TDs) is Woodland’s biggest scoring threat, and leads the Beavers in passing and rushing, averaging an impressive 392.9 total yards per game. He’s also second on the team in tackles (81).

About the T-Birds: Tumwater has advanced to the state playoffs each of the past eight seasons, dating back to the program’s fifth state championship win in 2010. The T-Birds have appeared in the state title game four times since, and typically storm into the state playoffs with an emphatic win over their Week 10 opponent. This year, that might be tougher. A loss to rival Black Hills in the annual Pioneer Bowl game meant the T-Birds were the No. 2 seed out of the 2A EvCo, and set up the meeting with the much-improved Beavers.

Olympian pick: Tumwater, 28-27