Friday/Saturday’s state football preview capsules

Friday/Saturday’s state football preview capsules

Archbishop Murphy (2A) and Monroe (4A) will play in the state quarterfinals this weekend.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s quarterfinal playoff games involving local teams:

NORTH KITSAP (10-0) vs. ARCHBISHOP MURPHY (10-1)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium (Snohomish H.S.)

North Kitsap: 1st in Olympic League 2A; beat Eatonville 66-25 in Week 10 playoffs, beat W.F. West 38-7 in state first round

About the Vikings: North Kitsap is facing Archbishop Murphy in the state playoffs for the third consecutive season, having lost the previous two meetings by a combined 61-0 margin. The Vikings have won 20 of their last 21 games, with last year’s playoff loss to Murphy being their lone defeat over the past two seasons. Senior running back Dax Solis has rushed for a school-record 1,772 yards and scored 34 total touchdowns this season to lead a North Kitsap team that’s averaging 44 points per game. The Vikings allow just eight points per contest and have held seven opponents to seven points or less. North Kitsap’s stingy defense is anchored by senior defensive lineman Ryan Brooks (the Olympic League 2A’s overall Most Valuable Player) and senior linebacker Connor Westby (the Olympic 2A’s Defensive MVP). The Vikings are making their fourth state-quarterfinal apperanace in program history and are seeking their first-ever trip to the state semifinals.

Archbishop Murphy: 1st in Cascade Conference; beat Lakewood 43-7 in Week 10 playoffs, beat River Ridge 47-7 in state first round

About the Wildcats: Defending state champion Archbishop Murphy has outscored opponents by 33 points per game this season, with its lone loss coming in a non-league defeat to perennial 3A powerhouse Bellevue. The Wildcats allow just 11.2 points per game and have held seven opponents to seven points or less. Senior running back Ray Pimentel has rushed for 1,973 yards and 27 touchdowns this season while averaging 10.6 yards per carry. Pimentel rushed for 278 yards and four scores on just 14 carries last week, helping the Wildcats race to a 47-0 halftime lead in their opening-round rout of River Ridge. Two-way senior standout Kyler Gordon has intercepted five passes on defense and totaled 1,213 yards and 16 touchdowns on offense in eight games. Ranked by 247Sports as the third-overall senior recruit in the state, Gordon has college offers from major programs such as Notre Dame, Stanford, Washington, Nebraska, Oregon, TCU, USC and UCLA. Archbishop Murphy is seeking its third consecutive trip to the state semifinals and its seventh in the last 10 years.

Recent history: Archbishop Murphy beat North Kitsap 34-0 last year in the first round of the state playoffs; Archbishop Murphy beat North Kitsap 27-0 in the 2015 state quarterfinals

Herald pick: Archbishop Murphy

MONROE (10-1) vs. SUMNER (9-2)

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Where: Sunset Chevrolet Stadium (Sumner)

Radio: KRKO 1380 AM

Monroe: 2nd in Wesco 4A; beat Mount Si 44-40 in Week 10 playoffs, beat Puyallup 21-14 in state first round

About the Bearcats: After punching its ticket to state with a dramatic comeback win over Mount Si two weeks ago, Monroe beat Puyallup last week for the program’s first-ever state-playoff victory. Running behind his team’s massive offensive line, running back Isaiah Lewis rushed for a combined 427 yards and three touchdowns in the two playoff wins, including 195 yards and a score on 45 carries in last week’s victory over Puyallup. Lewis has compiled a breakout senior season with 1,899 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns while averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Senior quarterback Jaedyn Prewitt, a first-year starter, has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,498 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Sophomore Efton Chism III leads the Bearcats in receiving with 897 yards and 12 touchdown catches, while senior receiver Isaiah Cole has posted 522 yards and six touchdowns since returning from a torn ACL that sidelined him for the first four games of the season. Monroe averages 44.4 points per game and allows 16.5.

Sumner: 3rd in South Puget Sound League 4A; beat Hazen 42-7 in Week 10 playoffs, beat Union 42-14 in state first round

About the Spartans: Sumner has won six consecutive games since suffering back-to-back losses to conference rivals Graham-Kapowsin and Puyallup. The Spartans are led by TCU commit Ben Wilson and fellow three-star senior recruit Tre Weed. Wilson, ranked by 247Sports as the top senior linebacker in the state, anchors Sumner’s defense and leads the Spartans’ two-headed rushing attack with 1,035 yards and 17 touchdowns. Weed has added 985 yards rushing, a team-high 629 yards receiving, 25 total offensive touchdowns and seven interceptions on defense. Weed, the seventh-ranked senior receiver in the state, has college offers from programs such as Syracuse, Hawaii, Air Force and Brigham Young. Sumner averages 42.1 points per game and allows 16.8. The Spartans are seeking their second consecutive trip to the state semifinals.

Recent history: Sumner beat Monroe 58-42 last year in the first round of the state playoffs

Quotable: “They want to run the ball (and) we want to run the ball,” Monroe coach Michael Bumpus said of the matchup, which features two run-first offenses that average six-plus yards per carry. “In an age where the game’s softened up a bit and it’s getting pretty with all these pass plays and stuff, it’s going to be interesting just to see some guys line up and say, ‘Hey, I’m going (through the) A-gap. Try to stop me.’”

Herald pick: Monroe

—Compiled by Cameron Van Til, Herald Writer

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.