Previews, predictions for every South Sound game in the football state quarterfinals

The high school football state playoffs continue this week in Washington.

Eight programs in the South Sound — in the 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A classifications — have advanced to the quarterfinals.

Here’s a look at each game this week featuring a South Sound team.

CLASS 4A

No. 6 Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (9-2) vs. No. 3 Sumner Spartans (10-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner

Two perennial 4A SPSL and 4A state powers are set to clash in the playoffs for the first time this weekend, and both are on impressive stretches heading into this meeting, with a trip to the state semifinals on the line. Sumner has won eight consecutive games since its only loss to Emerald Ridge — also playing in the quarterfinals this weekend — back in Week 3. The Spartans shut out another perennial state contender in Woodinville, 31-0, last weekend behind workhorse RB Matthew Spurbeck (247 carries, 1,862 yards, 18 TDs) and four interceptions from their defense. Defending 4A state champion Graham-Kapowsin has rattled off six consecutive wins since its loss to Sumner in Week 5, including a convincing 42-28 win over Skyview last week in the opening round. QB Daveon Superales (161-of-230 passing, 1,922 yards, 19 TDs; 50 carries, 271 yards, two TDs), WR Jabez Woods (52 catches, 726 yards, nine TDs) and a balanced rushing attack lead the Eagles’ offense. Sumner won this season’s league meeting with Graham-Kapowsin, 34-31, on the road at Art Crate Field in September on the way to the program’s first 4A SPSL title since 2016. Graham-Kapowsin holds a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series.

TNT pick: Sumner, 30-28

No. 5 Skyline Spartans (8-2) vs. No. 4 Kennedy Catholic Lancers (10-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Highline Memorial Stadium, Burien

Kennedy Catholic dropped a season-opening loss to 3A state contender Eastside Catholic the first week of September. Since then? The 4A NPSL champion Lancers have posted 10 consecutive wins — all by double digits. The latest was a 46-35 victory over perennial 4A contender Richland in the first round last week. RB/LB Xe’ree Alexander, an Arizona State commit, rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in the win. 4A KingCo champion Skyline, another 4A power, has already bested two 4A NPSL teams in the past two weeks. The Spartans shut out Mount Rainier, 31-0, in the district round, and topped league runner-up Federal Way, 33-27, in last week’s state first round. The Lancers routed both Mount Rainier, 52-7, and Federal Way, 40-8, during league play.

TNT pick: Kennedy Catholic, 40-31

No. 8 Emerald Ridge Jaguars (9-2) vs. No. 1 Chiawana Riverhawks (10-0)

1 p.m. Saturday, Edgar Brown Stadium, Pasco

Emerald Ridge will enter this game feeling it has a legitimate shot to knock off the bracket’s top-seeded team after stifling Eastlake in the opening round, 21-9. The return of UW commit Jacob Lane in the playoffs has been a major boost to Emerald Ridge’s defensive line. RB/LB Logan Lisherness keeps making big plays, and WR Tony Harste remains one of the most sure-handed, high-level route runners in the state. Chiawana comes into the game with an undefeated record and hasn’t played in many close games down the stretch. The Riverhawks are coming off a 49-20 rout of Sunnyside last week in the opening round, and have outscored opponents, 391-119, this season. Running back Ian Mohl paces the Chiawana run game; he rushed 16 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win.

TNT pick: Chiawana, 28-27

CLASS 3A

No. 5 Bellevue Wolverines (8-2) vs. No. 4 Lincoln Abes (11-0)

2 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma

Lincoln kept its undefeated season rolling last week with a 49-16 rout of visiting Monroe in the first round. The 3A PCL champion Abes have also won each of their past nine contests by double digits, and are averaging 43.5 points per game. QB Gabarri Johnson (115-of-168 passing, 2,127 yards, 24 TDs; 150 carries, 1,458 yards, 19 TDs), a Missouri commit, is the top-ranked quarterback recruit in the state in the senior class. Lincoln now faces the challenging task of trying to slow down defending 3A state champion Bellevue’s Wing-T, this season paced by Carson Rubin (123 carries, 1,085 yards, 18 TDs) and Ishaan Daniels (54 carries, 891 yards, 14 TDs). The Wolverines are averaging 44.8 points per game. Bellevue, the 3A KingCo champion, has won eight consecutive games since losses to Oregon 6A powerhouse Central Catholic in Week 2 and 4A state contender Lake Stevens in Week 2.

TNT pick: Bellevue, 42-38

No. 9 Kennewick Lions (9-2) vs. No. 1 Yelm Tornados (11-0)

1 p.m. Saturday, Yelm High School, Yelm

Another week, another blowout for the top-seeded Tornados, who have now gone the entirety of the 2022 season without playing in a close game, outscoring opponents, 612-83. No team in any classification has put up more points this fall than Yelm. The Tornados are averaging 55.6 points per game through 11 weeks, and are the only program that has eclipsed 600 points this season. Yelm beat Southridge in the opening round lat week, 51-7. Looking at common opponents isn’t always an accurate predictor for future matchups, but it’s worth noting that Kennewick also played Southridge this season, sneaking by with a 38-37 win. Kennewick beat 3A NPSL program Auburn Mountainview in the district round, 9-7. We just don’t see the Tornados being seriously tested until the semifinals.

TNT pick: Yelm, 42-14

CLASS 2A

No. 5 Othello Huskies (9-1) vs. No. 4 Enumclaw Hornets (11-0)

3 p.m. Saturday, Pete’s Pool, Enumclaw

Enumclaw felt it was snubbed by the 2A state bracket seeding committee, given a No. 4 seed with an undefeated record, which includes a road win over Peninsula, which advanced to the 3A state first round. It’s been a long time since Enumclaw has played a worthy opponent this season, so Saturday’s matchup will go a long way toward showing us whether Enumclaw’s gripe with the seeding committee is warranted or not. The Hornets blasted Olympic, 55-0, in the opening round last week at Pete’s Pool behind another strong performance from workhorse RB Emmit Otero (178 carries, 1,460 yards, 23 TDs). Othello, meanwhile blasted another team from the 2A SPSL, beating No. 12 Washington at home, 49-12. Sonny Asu leads Othello’s powerful run game.

TNT pick: Enumclaw, 35-28

CLASS 1A

No. 12 Freeman Scotties (8-2) vs. No. 4 Eatonville Cruisers (9-2)

2 p.m. Saturday, Art Crate Field, Spanaway

Eatonville, last season’s 1A runner-up, opened its state run with a 28-0 shutout of No. 13 Zillah last week. QB Job Kralik (34-of-47 passing, 724 yards, nine TDs; 80 carries, 736 yards, 17 TDs), RB Dylan Norman (158 carries, 1,036 yards, seven TDs) and WR Ky Nation (10 catches, 386 yards, five TDs) pace the Cruisers’ offense and made key contributions in the first-round win. Eatonville has now won its past three. Freeman upended No. 5 seed King’s, 28-13, on the road in the first round last week. QB Boen Phelps collected four total touchdowns in the upset win, leading the Scotties to a sixth consecutive win. Their only losses this season are to a pair of state qualifying programs in West Valley of Spokane (2A) in Week 1, and undefeated Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls in Week 4.

TNT pick: Eatonville, 24-21