Week 9 prep football preview, picks
Week 9 brings rivalries. And you know what they say about rivalries: you can throw the records outs.
Well, I’m not throwing my record out. A 10-3 week last week — wow! nice win by Seton Catholic; congrats, Cougars — sends us into Week 9 with an 83-21 mark (80 percent).
This week, we have fewer matchups between the haves and the have-nots, and that makes picking winners a bigger challenge.
But I’m ready for that challenge.
Here are the Week 9 previews:
FRIDAY’S 4A GSHL GAMES
Evergreen (2-6, 0-4) vs. Heritage (2-6, 1-3)
When, where: 5 p.m., McKenzie Stadium.
Radio: 1550 AM or www.1550talk.com.
Last week: Evergreen lost to Union 34-0; Heritage lost to Camas 55-21.
Game notes: Nothing at stake here but bragging rights as both teams are out of playoff mix. … Battle Ground, a run-oriented team, went pass-happy on the Evergreen defense in week 5, so this is an opportunity for the Timberwolves to get its potent offense back on track. … Heritage has won the past two meetings in this rivalry.
Columbian’s take: The Timberwolves get some momentum heading into what could be a solid season in 2013. Prediction: Heritage 34-13
Battle Ground (5-3, 1-3) vs. Camas (8-0, 4-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Doc Harris Stadium, Camas.
Last week: Battle Ground lost to Skyview 42-7; Camas beat Heritage 55-21.
Game notes: Camas has clinched a share of the league title, and a win will give the Papermakers the crown outright. … Camas will host a state preliminary game next week against the Narrows League No. 4 team, which the Seattle Times projects to be Olympia. … Battle Ground is out of the playoff hunt, and the Tigers are playing for pride after two rough games the past two weeks.
Columbian’s take: Camas keeps rolling. Prediction: Camas 38-13
Union (6-2, 3-1) vs. Skyview (6-2, 3-1)
When, where: 8 p.m., Kiggins Bowl.
TV: Fort Sports, Comcast cable Ch. 29.
Webcast: www.playonsports.com.
Last week: Skyview beat Battle Ground 42-7; Union beat Evergreen 34-0.
Game notes: At the start of the year, some saw this game as a Week 9 showdown for the league title. Camas fouled up that plan. Now, the two teams will play for second place and a home playoff game next week. … Winner faces KingCo No. 3 team, which the Seattle Times projects to be Woodinville. … Loser travels to face South Puget Sound League South No. 2 team, which the Seattle Times projects to be Graham-Kapowsin.
Columbian’s take: Experience pays off in big games, and Skyview has a senior QB in Jordan Berni. Prediction: Skyview 28-24
FRIDAY’S 3A GSHL GAMES
Fort Vancouver (0-8, 0-4) vs. Hudson’s Bay (0-8, 0-4)
When, where: 5 p.m., Kiggins Bowl.
TV: Fort Sports, Comcast cable Ch. 29.
Last week: Fort Vancouver lost to Prairie 72-0; Hudson’s Bay lost to Columbia River 62-0.
Game notes: This is the second consecutive season that these two teams have meet with 0-8 records. … Bay won last year’s meeting 8-7. … Fort comes into this game on a 23-game losing streak. … The Trappers have been shut out in their last three games. … Bay’s only two wins in its past 23 games have come against Fort (8-7 and 23-22). … Bay has won the last four games in this rivalry. … Bay has been shut out five times this season, scoring just 20 points total … In dry weather, Fort QB Jordan Suell put up solid passing numbers. In the past two rainy weeks, he’s completed just two passes.
Columbian’s take: Bay should be able to run on Fort, but Fort should be able to pass on Bay. Bay grinds out win. Prediction: Hudson’s Bay 14-13
Kelso (7-1, 3-1) vs. Prairie (3-5, 2-2)
When, where: 7 p.m., District Stadium, Battle Ground HS.
Radio: 101.5 FM or www.klog.com.
Last week: Kelso beat Mountain View 14-12; Prairie beat Fort Vancouver 72-0.
Game notes: Kelso can force a three-way tie for first place in the 3A GSHL with a win and a Mountain View win over Columbia River. That tie would be broken by a coin flip as all three teams would be assured berths in the state preliminary round. However, if River wins, Kelso would take the No. 2 berth. … Prairie can keep its postseason hopes alive with a win. The easiest path for the Falcons would include a Mountain View win over River. Then Prairie would be the No. 3 team and Kelso would be out. … If Prairie wins and Mountain View loses, there would be a three-team tiebreaker on Monday at Kiggins Bowl between Prairie, Mountain View and Kelso to determine the last two seeds to the playoffs. … With Tyler Armstrong now at QB, it gives Prairie a more potent passing attack.
Columbian’s take: Prairie has won two of its past seven games and those two came against Fort and Bay. Prediction: Kelso 19-13
Columbia River (5-3, 4-0) vs. Mountain View (5-3, 3-1)
When, where: 8 p.m., McKenzie Stadium.
Radio: 1550 AM or www.1550talk.com.
Last week: Columbia River beat Hudson’s Bay 62-0; Mountain View lost to Kelso 14-12.
Game notes: Columbia River is looking for its first unbeaten league season since 2003. … The Chieftains have clinched a playoff berth and a win would give River the No. 1 seed to the state preliminary round and a home game next week. … The No. 1 team from the 3A GSHL will face the No. 7 team from the Metro League. The Seattle Times projects that team to be Bainbridge. … If Mountain View wins, the Thunder will claim the No. 1 spot and River No. 2 if Kelso loses to Prairie. If Kelso wins, there will be a three-way tie for first and a coin flip will determine seeding to the state preliminary round. … If Mountain View loses, the Thunder would claim the No. 3 berth with a Kelso win. If Prairie wins, there would be a three-team tiebreaker on Monday at Kiggins Bowl between Mountain View, Kelso and Prairie. … Last year’s River-Mountain View game was halted midway through the game because of a power outage at McKenzie Stadium and resumed the next day, when the Thunder won 34-28.
Columbian’s take: Mountain View was hurt by turnovers in Kelso territory last week. The Thunder will take care of the ball better this week. Prediction: Mountain View 27-20
FRIDAY’S 2A GSHL GAMES
Aberdeen (2-6, 1-3) vs. Ridgefield (6-2, 3-1)
When, where: 7 p.m., Ridgefield High School.
Last week: Aberdeen lost to Hockinson 36-7; Ridgefield beat R.A. Long 55-27.
Game notes: Regardless of what happens this week, Ridgefield will head to next week’s district playoff as the No. 2 team from the 2A GSHL. … The Spudders will travel in the district playoffs, likely against Capital, but River Ridge and W.F West also are possibilities.
Columbian’s take: Spudders roll toward the playoffs. Prediction: Ridgefield 40-6
Washougal (3-5, 0-4) vs. Hockinson (5-3, 2-2)
When, where: 7 p.m., Nautilus Field, Hockinson HS.
Last week: Washougal lost to Mark Morris 48-0; Hockinson beat Aberdeen 36-7.
Game notes: Hockinson can get into the district playoffs one of two ways: by beating the Panthers or an R.A. Long loss to Mark Morris. If the Hawks’ secure the No. 3 seed from the 2A GSHL, they will travel to meet Tumwater next week in the district playoffs. … Washougal’s season unraveled after blowing a big second-half lead against R.A. Long in Week 5. … After averaging 45 points a game in the first five weeks, the Panthers have scored 15 totals points in the past three games.
Columbian’s take: Hockinson doesn’t want to back into playoffs. Prediction: Hockinson 34-6
FRIDAY’S 1A TRICO GAMES
La Center (8-0, 7-0) at Woodland (7-1, 7-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Woodland HS
Last week: La Center beat Toledo 35-32; Woodland beat White Salmon 34-0.
Game notes: This game is for the Trico League championship, and the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for the district playoffs next week. Both teams are assured of home playoff games next week. The winner likely face Elma next week, the loser likely will meet Tenino, although 1A Evergreen Conference seeds have not been set yet … Woodland won the last meeting between the two teams 22-19 in 2009. … The Wildcats rallied for 15 points in the fourth quarter to knock off Toledo.
Columbian’s take: Some might say La Center’s comeback win last week shows some vulnerability. But it also could show the Wildcats’ grittiness. Prediction: La Center 27-20
White Salmon (3-5, 3-4) at Stevenson (3-5, 3-4)
When, where: 7 p.m., Stevenson HS
Last week: White Salmon lost to Woodland 34-0; Stevenson lost to Rochester 40-14.
Game notes: Stevenson beat White Salmon 20-8 last season. … The Bruins are coming off back-to-back shutout losses. … The two teams’ three wins have come against the same teams: Kalama, Seton Catholic and Ilwaco. … Stevenson’s three wins were all shutouts.
Columbian’s take: Expect a defensive battle in this one. Prediction: Stevenson 19-13
FRIDAY’S NON-LEAGUE GAME
Seton Catholic (1-7) at Rainier, Wash. (0-8)
When, where: 7 p.m., Rainier HS
Last week: Seton Catholic beat Kalama 21-20; Rainier lost Montesano 70-0.
Game notes: Seton Catholic earned its first varsity victory in school history last week when Will Noce-Sheldon hit Erik Powell on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds to play. … The Cougars won despite allowing two Kalama rushers gain more than 100 yards. … Rainier has been shut out in its last three games. The Mountaineers have not scored more than 15 points in any game this season.
Columbian’s take: The Cougars made school history with their first win last week. Now, they must try to repeat the feat on the road. Prediction: Seton Catholic 24-20
