Week 5 prep football preview, picks

It’s tough to feel bad about a 14-2 week when picking winners.

But when one of your winners from last week ends up losing 49-7, it leaves you with a hollow feeling.

Time to make myself feel better.

We picked Skyview to beat Enumclaw 38-7, and the Storm won 44-7. Hey Storm, how about taking a knee in the third quarter?

We picked Battle Ground to beat Auburn Mountainview 31-14; the Tigers won 33-14.

We picked River Ridge to pick Hockinson 31-17; the Hawks beat the Hawks 28-14. Got the point spread right.

We picked Mountain View to lose to Peninsula 28-14. The Thunder lost 28-6. But the Thunder were on a 98-yard drive as time ran out on the clock. Give them 5 more seconds and they would have scored … and gone for two … and got it.

Even though we’re 47-9 this season, we’re still looking for that perfect score.

Maybe it will come in Week 5.

Here are the Week 5 previews:

FRIDAY’S 4A GSHL GAMES

Skyview (3-1) vs. Camas (4-0)

When, where: 7 p.m., Doc Harris Stadium, Camas.

Last week: Skyview beat Enumclaw 44-7; Camas beat Lakes 53-14.

Game notes: The 4A Greater St. Helens League couldn’t open with a better game. Camas’ first game in the 4A GSHL … Skyview is No. 4 in the AP Class 4A rankings; Camas is No. 5 … Skyview played in the 4A state title game last year; Camas reached the 3A semifinals … Dare we call this the “Game of the Year” in Southwest Washington? … The teams have one common opponent so far this year: Lakes. Skyview beat the Lancers 35-14 at home; Camas went on the road for a 53-14 win in what coach Jon Eagle called “as good a performance that I’ve seen in 30 years of coaching.” … Camas QB Reilly Hennessey has passed for 1,188 yards, including 300-yard games in three of four games this year. … Skyview QB Jordan Berni has passed for 850 yards.

Columbian’s take: Camas has everything going for it right now, a strong offense, a strong defense, and in this game, home-field advantage. Prediction: Camas 31-24

Battle Ground (4-0) vs. Evergreen (2-2)

When, where: 5 p.m., McKenzie Stadium

Radio: KKOV 1550 AM or www.1550talk.com.

Last week: Battle Ground beat Auburn Mountainview 33-14; Evergreen lost to Kelso 35-21.

Game notes: Battle Ground is 4-0 with four wins of 14 points or better. The Tigers have running back averaging 223 yards a game (Kevin Haynes). And they are still looking for a little respect? Well that will happen when you open the season 4-1 and finish 4-5 and out of the playoffs (as what happened to BG last year). A solid win over the Plainsmen would be another big step for the Tigers. … Wins over Fort (0-4) and Prairie (1-3) and losses to Mountain View (2-2) and Kelso (4-0) show that the Plainsmen are improved, but possibly not quite ready to compete for a playoff spot in the 4A GSHL.

Columbian’s take: The Plainsmen had trouble stopping Kelso’s ground attack last week. That doesn’t bode well for stopping Haynes. Prediction: Battle Ground 34-14

Heritage (1-3) vs. Union (3-1)

When, where: 8 p.m., McKenzie Stadium

Radio: KKOV 1550 AM or www.1550talk.com.

Last week: Heritage beat Decatur 34-33; Union beat Bonney Lake 52-14.

Game notes: After several close calls, Heritage finally broke threw with its first win last week, rallying for a 27-14 deficit to win a Tim Hergert’s 14-yard TD reception from Loren Standiford with 1:01 left. … Standiford leads the region with 1,378 yards and 16 TDs. .. WR Tim Hergert (566 yards, 8 TDs) and E’Lon Mack (445, 6 TDs) rank 1-2 in region in receiving. … Union QB Nolan Henry completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and rushed for two TDs last week — all in the first half. … Union is 4-0 against Heritage all-time, winning by average margin of 51-16.

Columbian’s take: Union has struggled with slow starts this year. You don’t want to do anything slow against Heritage. But we don’t think that will be an issue for the Titans. Prediction: Union 48-28

FRIDAY’S 3A GSHL GAMES

Fort Vancouver (0-4) vs. Columbia River (1-3)

When, where: 7 p.m., Chieftain Stadium, Columbia River HS.

Last week: Fort Vancouver lost to R.A. Long 49-22; Columbia River lost to W.F. West 18-16.

Game notes: Fort QB Jordan Suell passed for 280 yards and two TDs in a loss to R.A. Long. … Suell has passed for 798 yards this season. … WR William Doty has 21 catches for 312 yards for the Trappers. … River has dropped three straight since a Week 1 win over Heritage … Last week, River rallied for an 18-3 deficit only to lose when a last-second two-point conversion run by QB Clayton Frank was stopped inches short of the goal line.

Columbian’s take: Fort is improving, but the Trappers’ undersized line will have a hard time stopping Remick Kawawaki. Prediction: Columbia River 48-6

Kelso (4-0) vs. Hudson’s Bay (0-4)

When, where: 7 p.m., Kiggins Bowl.

Last week: Kelso beat Evergreen 35-21; Hudson’s Bay lost to Ridgefield 56-6.

Game notes: Kelso is 4-0 for the first time since 2004. … Kelso RB Taylor Radcliffe rushed for 74 yards and had 55-yard punt return for a TD. … All four of Bay’s losses were to 2A GSHL teams, and none of them we close (three were running clock games). … The Eagles could not manage positive rushing yards as a team against Ridgefield.

Columbian’s take: Not much we can say about this one. Prediction: Kelso 48-6

Mountain View (2-2) vs. Prairie (1-3)

When, where: 7 p.m., District Stadium, Battle Ground HS.

Last week: Mountain View lost to Peninsula 28-6; Prairie lost to Mark Morris 28-7.

Game notes: Prairie QB Jacob Austin had his best passing game of the season last week, completing 14 of 21 passes for 125 yards with one TD and no interceptions. … But the Falcons’ running game struggled to gain momentum against the Monarchs. … For a second consecutive week, Mountain View had two players gain over 100 yards rushings. Last week it was Austin Mace (14 carries, 134 yards) and Carl Falls (14-121). … The Thunder had two drives that went 99 and 98 yards, but only managed six points.

Columbian’s take: Passing has been a struggle for both of these teams this season, so expect this game to move along quickly. Prediction: Mountain View 27-13

FRIDAY’S 2A GSHL GAMES

Hockinson (3-1) vs. Ridgefield (3-1)

When, where: 7 p.m., Ridgefield Stadium, Ridgefield HS.

Last week: Hockinson lost to River Ridge 28-14; Ridgefield beat Hudson’s Bay 56-6.

Game notes: This is Ridgefield’s first game in the 2A GSHL. … The Hawks and Spudders have two common opponents — River Ridge and Hudson’s Bay. Both teams went 2-2 against those teams. Hockinson beat Bay 43-8 and lost to River Ridge 28-14; Ridgefield beat Bay 56-6 and lost to River Ridge 61-40. … Ridgefield fell behind 40-0 in the second quarter to River Ridge. … Hockinson QB Jess Krahn has passed for 764 yards and 8 TDs. … Ridgefield QB Gunnar Long has passed for 579 yards and 3 TDs.

Columbian’s take: Defense could be the deciding factor in this one. And we’ll give the edge to the Hawks’ defense. Prediction: Hockinson 26-20

R.A. Long (2-2) vs. Washougal (3-1)

When, where: 7 p.m., Fishback Stadium, Washougal HS.

Last week: R.A. Long beat Fort Vancouver 49-22; Washougal beat Clatskanie (Ore.) 42-26.

Game notes: Washougal’s Bobby Jacobs rushed for 226 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns last week against Clatskanie … Lumberjacks and Panthers have one common opponent: Fort Vancouver. R.A. Long beat Fort 49-22; Washougal beat Fort 74-7. … R.A. Long’s Jacob Yordy had 105 yards rushing and an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown against Fort. … Washougal won last year’s meeting 42-14. … R.A. Long’s non-league schedule has included 3A Fort and Kelso and 4A Battle Ground.

Columbian’s take: Both teams have shown ability to put points on the board this season. This could be a wild one. Prediction: Washougal 37-31

FRIDAY’S 1A TRICO GAMES

White Salmon (2-2, 2-1 Trico) vs. La Center (4-0, 4-0)

When, where: 7 p.m., La Center Middle School.

Last week: La Center beat Castle Rock 28-3; White Salmon beat Kalama 26-15.

Game notes: La Center passed its first test of the 2012 season with a win over Castle Rock. … The Wildcats broke open a close game with a 21-point fourth quarter. … Dylan King completed 7 of 21 passes for 184 yards and two TDs last week. … White Salmon scored two fourth-quarter TDs to beat Kalama. … La Center routed Kalama 41-16 in Week 3.

Columbian’s take: La Center’s next league test should come in final two weeks of regular season. Prediction: La Center 40-13

Stevenson (1-3, 1-3) vs. Kalama (0-4, 0-3)

When, where: 7 p.m., Chinook Stadium, Kalama HS

Last week: Stevenson beat Seton Catholic 50-0; Kalama lost to White Salmon 26-15.

Game notes: Stevenson’s Zack Irwin rushed for 86 yards and two TDs and added a 21-yard TD reception in the Bulldogs’ win over Seton last week. … Jacob Schneider added 152 yards rushing. … Kalama finished last week’s game with backup QB Mike Clizbe after starter Austin Foresman left with a minor neck injury in the third quarter.

Columbian’s take: This is a matchup of two young teams looking to get better as the season progresses. Prediction: Kalama 19-13

Seton Catholic (0-4, 0-4) vs. Toledo (3-1, 3-0)

When, where: 7 p.m., Toledo HS

Last week: Seton Catholic lost to Stevenson 50-0; Toledo beat Ilwaco 62-6.

Game notes: Erik Powell caught three passes for 24 yards for Seton last week. … Toledo rushed for 298 yards last week vs. Ilwaco … The Indians built a 49-0 lead by halftime last week.

Columbian’s take: The Cougars unlikely to find much success against one of the Trico’s stronger teams. Prediction: Toledo 48-6

Ilwaco (1-3, 1-3) vs. Woodland (3-1, 3-0)

When, where: 7 p.m., Woodland HS.

Last week: Ilwaco lost to Toledo 62-6; Woodland lost to Montesano 49-7.

Game notes: Woodland is trying to shake out the cobwebs after a good thumping at the hands of an inspirted Montesano team. … Hunter Huddleston passed for 156 yards and one TD and rushed for 59 yards against Monte. … Ilwaco’s Keishi Thompson rushed for 86 of Ilwaco’s 112 yards of total offense against Toledo.

Columbian’s take: Woodland figures to get things back on track this week. Prediction: Woodland 48-6

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