Week 10 playoff football preview: La Center vs. Tenino

When, where: 7 p.m. Friday at La Center Middle School (Class 1A district playoff). Radio: None.

Last meeting: Tenino won 33-27 on Nov. 2, 2007 in a 1A district playoff game.

TENINO (7-2)

Last week: lost to Hoquiam 21-14.

Notes: The Beavers loss to Hoquiam last week dropped them into the No. 3 seed from the 1A Evergreen Conference and sent them on the road to La Center … This is Tenino’s first postseason berth in four seasons … Second-year coach Jeff Zenisek took a program that was 0-9 in 2009 to 4-6 last season to 7-2 this season.

LA CENTER (7-2)

Last week: beat Kalama 49-7.

Players to watch: RB Mike Polyakov 110-897, 10 TDs; RB Patrick Mayolo 97-552, 9 TDs

Notes: The Wildcats won six in a row to earn a share of the Trico League championship. … La Center has done it with defense, allowing opponents to score no more than eight points in each of its last five games. … QB Dylan King stepped in to direct La Center’s rushing attack last week. He had two first quarter rushing TDs.

Bottom line: The Wildcats’ rout of Kalama, which was previously unbeaten in league, really opened some eyes about how much La Center has improved.

Columbian’s pick: La Center.

Fans’ pick: Tenino (60 percent).