From the Sidelines

Last week included some big upsets – No.2 Lynden was bounced from Class 2A despite heading into the playoffs with a perfect record. No one would count Bothell’s win over Kentwood as an upset, but I’ll bet no one predicted a 49-14 shellacking.
This week is where things get real interesting, with some great rivalry games on the slate in Bellevue-Liberty and Skyline-Issaquah. Surprising Interlake has a chance to pull the upset of the playoffs with a game against No.1 and undefeated Archbishop Murphy. Can a team with a record of four games under .500 really reach the Tacoma Dome? We’ll find out Saturday.

Last week’s results
Joel: 5-1
Kevin: 4-2
Readers: 4-2

Overall
Joel: 90-23
Kevin: 89-24
Readers: 87-23-3

BIG 5 GAMES
No.1 Bellevue Wolverines (10-1) vs. No.7 Liberty Patriots (8-3)
Joel – The game of the playoffs. Bellevue and Liberty will meet Friday for the fifth time in three years, with the Wolverines owning all five. The last thing the Liberty seniors want to do is end their careers with another loss to Bellevue (last year, the Wolverines beat the Patriots in the Class 3A championship game). This will be the biggest test Bellevue has faced since, well, the final week of the regular season, when they just squeezed past Liberty. For Liberty to finally get over the hump and beat the Wolverines, Trey Wheeler, Jake Bainton and Chandler Jenkins will have to play the games of their lives. The defense will need to limit the Bellevue run game. But these Wolverines are a little different than past Bellevue squads – they’ve probably played more close league games this year than any other iteration since 2001. If there is a team that is prepared to play Bellevue’s offense, it’s Liberty. This will be the greatest test for the Wolverines of the playoffs. And while it’s always hard to beat a team twice in one year, I’m going with Bellevue in this one. Pick: Bellevue 23-20
Kevin – Here comes round two of regular-season matchup that saw Bellevue eke out a 23-20 win. The Wolverines have continued do everything right since suffering an early-season loss to Skyline. Liberty has shown it’s vulnerability at times this season, but has also displayed the grit from 2009 that got them to the championship game. Revenge will certainly be on the Patriots’ minds and with a healthy Jake Bainton, it could be attainable. It’s hard to go against the team that gets it done every year, however. Pick: Bellevue 24-17

No.8 Issaquah Eagles (9-2) vs. No.1 Skyline Spartans (10-1)
Joel – This is the Bellevue-Liberty of 4A on steroids. Longtime rivals, these two squads have both seen their ups and downs this season. But, for whatever reason, Issaquah just can’t get over whatever mental block they have when it comes to the Spartans. They haven’t beaten the team on the plateau since 2006, including a 35-6 loss earlier this season. Issaquah quarterback Brayden Bouwman has been more than serviceable since taking over for injured starter Ethan Kalin in the final game of the regular season. Skyline, however, has been getting better each week since their season-opening loss to Liberty. Pick: Skyline 24-17
Kevin – These two teams squared off in week four with Skyline prevailing 35-6. Issaquah was in the game through the third quarter, but were unable to stay close after losing starting quarterback Ethan Kalin to a concussion before halftime. It was backup Braden Bouwman’s first appearance of the season, and the nerves were apparent. Now Bouwman has had a chance to grasp the Eagles’ offense and has looked strong, most recently leading Issaquah to a double-overtime win over Olympia and a romp of Marysville-Pilchuck. This is always a hard-fought rivalry game and I expect it to be no different Friday night. It should be a lot closer than week four. Pick: Skyline 28-24

Interlake Saints (4-8) vs. No.1 Archbishop Murphy Wildcats (11-0)
Joel – This is a tough one. On one hand you have the undefeated and wire-to-wire Class 2A No.1 team in Archbishop Murphy. On the other hand you have the surprising Interlake Saints, a team that has won three in a row and has proven that a 1-8 regular season in KingCo is nothing to laugh at. The Saints offense has really come alive the last three weeks where the team looks unstoppable at times. After covering Interlake’s last three games, I like them to continue their surprising run all the way into the Tacoma Dome. Pick: Interlake 35-34
Kevin – I haven’t seen either one of these teams this season, but I know Interlake is on fire. Running back Jordan Todd has 20 touchdowns in the Saints’ last four games, posing a real threat for any opposing defense. I saw top-ranked Archbishop Murphy fall to Eastside Catholic last season so I know the Wildcats aren’t invincible. Interlake is showing just how beneficial it is to play in one of the toughest conferences in the state during the regular season. I think it might be closer than some on the outside might think. Pick: Archbishop Murphy 32-28

No.5 Chiawana Riverhawks (10-0) vs. No.3 Ferris Saxons (11-0)
Joel – Eastern Washington folks always hate to see their top teams facing off in the quarterfinals instead of the semi’s or even the championship, but it is what it is. And in this case, it’s the two best teams from the east of the Cascades facing off in what should be one heck of a football game. Riverhawks running back Jordan Downing scored four rushing touchdowns a week ago against Newport and the defense limited the stellar Knights rushing attack to under 100 yards, something even Skyline couldn’t do. That said, I expect Ferris, who has shown their strength since week one, to win this game and move on to a semifinal game against Bothell. Pick: Ferris 23-14
Kevin – Ferris continues to be the class of 4A teams on the east side of the state. This is second-year Chiawana’s chance to make a name for itself. The Riverhawks host, but it’s hard to pick against the Saxons. Pick: Ferris 35-21

No.2 Capital Cougars (11-0) vs. No.8 O’Dea Irish (10-1)
Joel – A rematch of an early season game in which Capital picked up a big win. I like what the Cougars have been doing and I think they are a sleeper team to reach the Class 3A title game. Pick: Capital 35-21
Kevin – This is a rematch of week one, where Capital blanked O’Dea 28-0 on its home turf. This time the Cougars get to host the Irish in Olympia. I’ve seen O’Dea in person and they have a ton of athletes capable of making big plays. The Irish have sharpened their offense since the first week of the season, but I think Capital’s defense has the edge in this one. Pick: Capital 28-14

Class 4A
Auburn Trojans (9-2) vs. No.2 Curtis Vikings (11-0)
Joel: Curtis 42-30
Kevin – Curtis 28-21

Bellarmine Prep Lions (10-1) vs. No.4 Bothell Cougars (9-2)
Joel: Bothell 35-13
Kevin – Bothell 35-14

Class 3A
No.4 Camas Papermakers (11-0) vs. No.6 Lakes Lancers (10-1)
Joel: Camas 21-20
Kevin – Camas 28-20

No.5 Kamiakin Braves (11-0) vs. No.9 Mount Spokane Wildcats (10-1)
Joel: Kamiakin 42-35
Kevin – Kamiakin 21-17

Class 2A
No.4 Tumwater Thunderbirds (10-1) vs. Burlington-Edison Tigers (8-3)
Joel: Tumwater 28-10
Kevin – Tumwater 35-13

No.3 Prosser Mustangs (10-1) vs. East Valley Knights (6-5)
Joel: Prosser 45-0
Kevin – Prosser 32-24

Mark Morris Monarchs (7-3) vs. No.10 Anacortes Seahawks (7-3)
Joel: Mark Morris 21-20
Kevin – Mark Morris 28-7