King’s vs. Hoquiam
When: Today, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Olympic Stadium
Records: Hoquiam 6-0 Evergreen League, 10-0 overall, No. 4 in AP poll; King’s 7-0 Cascade Conference, 10-0 overall, No. 1 in AP poll
Webcast: KSTV.com
Scouting report: Hoquiam
How they got here: vHoquiam — the fourth-ranked team in 1A — ran away from Toledo, leading 47-0 at halftime en route to a 59-0 win in a Southwest 1A District crossover game last Friday.
Player to watch: Nolan Hoiness, RB: Hoiness had four touchdowns in last week’s blowout win over Toldeo. He leads a potent Hoquiam offense that averages almost 52 points per game with 2,039 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Biggest win: Hoquiam 41, Montesano 14. Not only was this Week 3 win against a quality opponent — Montesano lost in the semifinals of last year’s 1A state tournament after defeating King’s in the quarterfinals — it was also the closest game of the year for the Grizzlies. The 41 points were the fewest Hoquiam scored all season, and the 14 points were the most the Grizzlies gave up.
Key to the game: Hoquiam may try to keep the ball on the ground and keep the ball out of the King’s offense’s hands. Knights’ quarterback Billy Green and the offense will need to capitalize on every opportunity it gets to put up points, while the defense will need at least a couple stops. Playing on the road when you’re the No. 1 team in 1A doesn’t help, but King’s needs to channel that confusion/frustration into continuing its season like it did last season with a 42-28 victory over Hoquiam in last year’s first-round state game that the Knights hosted.
Pick: King’s 42, Hoquiam 38
Arlington vs. Camas
When: Tonight, 6 p.m.
Where: Doc Harris Stadium, Camas
Records: Camas 5-0 Greater St. Helen’s League, 10-0 overall, No. 3 in AP poll; Arlington 2-2 Wesco 4A North, 5-5 overall.
Twitter: @360preps
Scouting report: Camas
How they got here: Camas racked up 338 yards of offense and the first 36 points of the game in a 43-12 victory over South Kitsap in the quad-district playoffs.
Player to watch: Zach Eagle, WR. Eagle caught nine passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in the Papermakers victory over South Kitsap last weekend and is one of the favorite targets of quarterback Reilly Hennessey. Eagle also added an interception for Camas in the victory.
Biggest win: Camas 42, Skyview 17. Camas rolled to a victory over the Storm on Sept. 28 despite the fact that Skyview played for the Class 4A championship a year ago. The Papermakers had little trouble with anyone on their schedule and also scored a shutout victory over Union in week 7.
Key to the game: Arlington’s defense has been stout the past two weeks and will have to be even better this evening in order to score another upset victory. Eagles coach Greg Dailer said that the Papermakers will balance the run and the pass quite well so Arlington has to be ready for anything at all time. The Eagles will need to be physical with the Papermakers and not fall behind early. Offensively, Arlington quarterback Skylor Elgarico will have to continue to balance his ability to take off and run with the pass to keep the Papermakers defense off balance.
Pick: Camas 42, Arlington 21
Marysville Pilchuck vs. Timberline
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
Where: South Sound Stadium, Lacey
Records: Timberline 6-0 Narrows League, 9-1 overall, No. 5 in AP poll; Marysville Pilchuck 4-0 Wesco 3A North, 8-2 overall, No. 8 in AP poll
Scouting report: Timberline
How they got here: Timberline held Chief Sealth to negative 11 yards rushing in the first half of the Blazers 34-16 quad-district victory over Chief Sealth last weekend.
Player to watch: Brandon Wetzel, LB. Wetzel was named the 3A Narrows league defensive MVP this season and leads the Blazers defense that is stout at stopping the run.
Biggest win: Timberline 24, North Thurston 0, The Blazers victory over North Thurston (8-2 overall) ultimately decided the Narrows league championship and it wasn’t even close. Shelton and North Thurston were the biggest challengers of the Blazers this season, but Timberline held serve in both games to go undefeated in league play.
Key to the game: This game is a classic matchup of strength versus strength. The Blazers are great at stopping the run and the Tomahawks are good at running. The difference makers for the Tomahawks as always should be the duo of Kacey Walker and Austin Joyner. Walker and his powerful inside running and Joyner’s breakaway speed to the outside and cutback ability should spell problems for even the best run-defense. If the Blazers are to slow down the run game, quarterback Jake Luton has the ability to keep the Tomahawks in the game with his arm. If the Tomahawks can establish the run and not turn the ball over, they have a good shot at moving on to the quarterfinals.
Pick: Marysville Pilchuck 42, Timberline 35
Lakewood vs. Capital
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Goddard Stadium
Records: Capital 4-1 Evergreen League, 8-2 overall, No. 5 in AP poll; Lakewood 6-1 Cascade Conference, 9-1 overall, No. 6 in AP poll
Twitter: @krueger_david
Scouting report: Capital
How they got here: The Capital defense forced seven turnovers as the No. 6 Cougars rolled over the Ridgefield Spudders 42-6 in a 2A District playoff game.
Player to watch: Kai Van Sickle, RB. Van Sickle led the Cougars’ rushing attack with 126 yards and a touchdown in Capital’s win against Ridgefield. As a team, 328 of the Cougars’ 397 offensive yards — and five of their six touchdowns — came on the ground.
Biggest win: Capital 27, Bothell 11. In Week 3, the No. 6-ranked Capital continued a fast start to its season with a big win over Bothell, a 4A team that finished first in the KingCo Crest League.
Key to the game: Capital focuses on the ground game, much like the Sedro-Woolley team who gave Lakewood all it could handle in last week’s District playoff. After that game, the Lakewood Cougars said they needed to focus on execution and not turning the ball over. If they can do that, the No. 3 2A team in the state should take care of the Cougars from Capital.
Pick: Lakewood 35, Capital 31
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