Three to see: Week 2
Staff writer Lauren Smith’s top three prep football games to watch this weekend:
Capital (0-1) at Olympia (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Ingersoll Stadium
If history is to repeat, then the Bears have an edge in the 39th Spaghetti Bowl. Olympia and Capital have traded victories every year since 2010, when Capital snapped a five-season Olympia winning streak from 2005-09. The Cougars won, 17-7, in 2014 and lead the all-time series, 21-17. Capital will try to rebound from its 42-9 loss to Tumwater in Week 1 but is still without Cody Jenkins at quarterback — he injured his right index finger before last week’s game. The Bears look to keep things rolling coming off of a lights-out win against Ferris, 42-0.
Black Hills (1-0) at Rochester (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Rochester High School
It’s only Week 2, but the Warriors are already thinking about the playoffs. Rochester, which has an independent agreement with the Class 2A Evergreen Conference, has to win all three of its 2A matchups — and 75 percent of its 1A matchups — to be considered for a play-in game to make the playoffs. The Warriors upset Centralia, 17-7, last week to knock off the first 2A team. They have to beat Black Hills and Aberdeen to continue the possible playoff campaign. If the Warriors satisfy all the criteria, they must win a play-in game against the No. 4 seed from 2A EvCo and a subsequent District 4 pigtail game to make the playoffs. Black Hills will try to continue its quest to erase last season’s playoff woes — the Wolves gave up a 21-point fourth-quarter lead against Hockinson at districts in 2014 — following last week’s upset win over 10th-ranked Montesano, 55-32.
River Ridge (1-0) at North Thurston (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday, South Sound Stadium
The Rams are a traditionally strong running team but took to the air last week in their 38-32 win over Timberline. Jake Harn passed for a school-record 300 yards and four touchdowns — including an 83-yarder to Brandon Morgan. River Ridge held Aberdeen’s offense to one touchdown last week in its 39-8 win. Robert Armstrong returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. The Hawks threatened on the ground and in the air as Kobe Key passed for three touchdowns and Gustavo Diaz ran for two. The Hawks beat the Rams last season, 28-16, for the first time since 1998.
This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Three to see: Week 2."