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

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

Five programs in the South Sound — in the 4A, 3A and 2A classifications — have advanced to the semifinals.

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

CLASS 4A

No. 6 Graham-Kapowsin Eagles (10-2) vs. No. 2 Lake Stevens Vikings (10-2)

4 p.m. Saturday, Lake Stevens High School, Lake Stevens

Get ready for a title game rematch. Following last week’s upset of 4A SPSL rival Sumner in the quarterfinals, Graham-Kapowsin is back in the semifinals for the second consecutive season. The Eagles’ next opponent? The program they routed, 44-7, to secure an undefeated 4A state championship last December. Graham-Kapowsin will need a win over the Vikings on the road this season to return to the 4A title game, and graduated many of the playmakers that completed a perfect season last winter, but this Eagles’ group has progressed consistently throughout the season and enters the semifinals on a seven-game winning streak. QB Daveon Superales (180-of-255 passing, 2,142 yards, 20 TDs; 54 carries, 305 yards, four TDs) and WR Jabez Woods (1,184 all-purpose yards; 62 catches, 843 yards; 12 total TDs) have led Graham-Kapowsin through the air, balanced by a rushing attack that has collectively piled up 1,740 yards and 25 scores. Lake Stevens has been considered a 4A state favorite throughout the fall, returning four-star RB Jayden Limar, who scored five touchdowns in last week’s quarterfinals rout of Gonzaga Prep. The Notre Dame commit has piled up 1,644 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on 178 carries, while adding 320 yards and four scores on 24 catches this season for the Vikings. Lake Stevens enters the week on an eight-game winning streak. This will be the fifth meeting between the two programs in the state playoffs. The series is tied at 2-2.

TNT pick: Lake Stevens, 38-27

No. 4 Kennedy Catholic Lancers (11-1) vs. No. 8 Emerald Ridge Jaguars (10-2)

1 p.m. Saturday, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup

In the school’s first football state playoffs appearance, could Emerald Ridge win the whole thing? The Jaguars are one win away from reaching the state championship game after stunning top-seeded Chiawana, 40-37, last week in Pasco. It’s hard to win on the east side of the state in the playoffs, making it even more impressive that the Jaguars were able to dig out of a hole. Emerald Ridge has jumped out to big leads at various times this season, but had to rally after trailing 21-0 early. QB Jake Schakel — who passed for 377 yards and four touchdowns in the victory — hit Mitchell Condon for a 6-yard scoring pass with 3.7 seconds remaining. Emerald Ridge will face Kennedy Catholic in the semifinals, which is coming off a 38-10 rout of Skyline in the quarterfinals. RB/LB Xe’ree Alexander, an Arizona State commit, is a matchup issue on both sides of the ball, and has rushed for 396 yards and six touchdowns in the Lancers’ two state contests so far. WR/DB Mason Hayes also had a big game — hauling in five catches for 83 yards and adding a pair of interceptions on defense, including one returned for a 54-yard touchdown — and is another two-way standout for Kennedy Catholic. Expect a lot of scoring when the two programs meet. Kennedy Catholic is averaging 44.2 points per game behind its Air Raid attack, and has worked in a Wing-T wrinkle this season, too. Emerald Ridge is averaging 34.6 points per game this season. The Jaguars may be without their top receiver in Gio Kafentzis, who is dealing with an injury.

TNT pick: Emerald Ridge, 35-31

CLASS 3A

No. 5 Bellevue Wolverines (9-2) vs. No. 1 Yelm Tornados (12-0)

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

Can top-seeded Yelm keep its undefeated season rolling against the defending 3A state champions? The Tornados are in the semifinals for the first time in program history, getting ready to face a Bellevue program that has played at this stage often. Yelm has been considered a 3A state favorite throughout the fall, has won each of its 12 games by multiple possessions, and leads all 11-man teams in the state in points scored with 648. QB Damian Aalona (139-of-196 passing, 2,166 yards, 26 TDs), four-star RB/LB Brayden Platt (85 carries, 1,013 yards, 21 TDs) and WR/DB Kyler Ronquillo (59 carries, 553 yards, nine TDs; 56 catches, 823 yards, 10 TDs), a Portland State commit, are among several impact players on offense for the Tornados. Yelm’s defense has been just as impressive. The Tornados have allowed the fewest points to opponents in 3A this season at 110. Bellevue enters the semifinals on a nine-game winning streak — and with momentum — having completed a stunning comeback in a win over Lincoln last weekend in Tacoma. Luke Scoma kicked the winning 43-yard field goal for the Wolverines with 16.5 seconds left. Bellevue scored twice in the final minute to escape with a win. This weekend, the Wolverines will look to secure a second consecutive trip to the 3A final behind their Wing-T attack, paced by a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Carson Rubin (143 carries, 1,234 yards, 20 TDs) and Ishaan Daniels (64 carries, 1,059 yards, 15 TDs). Yelm and Bellevue have met in the state playoffs once before, with Bellevue securing a 37-20 win in the quarterfinals at home in 2018.

TNT pick: Yelm, 28-27

CLASS 2A

No. 4 Enumclaw Hornets (12-0) vs. No. 1 Lynden Lions (11-0)

5 p.m. Saturday, Civic Stadium, Bellingham

The two remaining undefeated teams in the 2A bracket face off in the semifinals, with Enumclaw traveling north to take on defending state champion Lynden. The Hornets squeaked by a tough Othello team last weekend, 20-17. This, of course, will be a different beast. Lynden’s resume is as impressive as it gets, with wins over 3A state quarterfinals team Ferndale and 2A state semifinalist W.F. West, holding both teams to seven points. Lynden has now won 22 consecutive games, including a win over Tumwater in last year’s 2A state championship game. Lynden returned its entire starting offensive line from last year’s title team and has run over opponents at will this fall. The Lions use two quarterbacks, senior Kaedan Hermanutz and 6-foot-6 sophomore Brant Heppner. Hermanutz is the more run-first quarterback, but both have running ability. Running backs Lane Heeringa and Campbell Nolte split carries. Enumclaw will feel it has as good a shot as anyone to snap Lynden’s streak — the Hornets have a style that travels and can adapt to different conditions or defensive game plans. Enumclaw has a hulking offensive line, the 2A SPSL MVP in RB Emmit Otero, and QB Gunnar Trachte has been successful targeting big-body receivers Karson Holt and Austin Paulson in the passing game this season. At its core, though, this is a matchup of two teams that want to establish the run and win up front.

TNT pick: Lynden, 24-21