Week 9 high school football previews and predictions
So word has it that the folks in Hockinson were upset with the Prep Proletariat last week.
The Prep Proletariat took a shot and picked Woodland to beat the Hawks in the big 2A GSHL showdown.
It didn’t happen. But that was the only misfire last week, as the Prep Proletariat went 11-1, pushing his season record to 86-14 (.860).
I was able to sit down with the Prep Proletariat about his picks this season.
ME: Well, you nearly missed another perfect week of picks. Do you regret going with Woodland?
PP: Nah, sometimes you gotta take a shot. I felt that maybe the Beavers would some big play to win. It was a close defensive game, like I thought. But Hockinson’s defense held firm. Good for the Hawks.
ME: Do you get a similar feeling with Union-Skyview this week?
PP: Absolutely. Should be a good one. Similar teams. Similar strengths. I really deliberated over this one. I even took a hard-look comparison at how each team fared against common opponents.
ME: That’s a little Score Czar-ish, isn’t it?
PP: I don’t know. Is it? Maybe, I guess. But with me, that’s where my comparisons start. But then I go beyond just the scores.
ME: How do you mean?
PP: Well, if you look at how both teams did against Heritage, for example. Skyview won 49-0, while Union won 42-14. So you’d say, advantage Skyview. But if you watched the Union-Heritage game, you’d know that Union could started the running clock. But the Titans instead worked on certain things and brought in second-teams to gain some experience. So simply comparing scores doesn’t tell the whole story.
ME: So did you learn anything from your analysis?
PP: These are two closely matched teams.
Note: The Score Czar’s picks were late in being posted this week. We’ll add in his picks when they get posted.
Friday’s games
4A Greater St. Helens League
CAMAS (8-0, 5-0) vs. HERITAGE (3-5, 0-5)
When, where: 5 p.m., McKenzie Stadium, Evergreen HS
Internet radio: elisportsnetwork.com/webcasts
Last week: Camas beat Mountain View 52-21; Heritage beat Kelso 14-9
About Camas: The Papermakers have piled up the stats. WR James Price has 55 catches for 918 yards and 9 TDs. QB Liam Fitzgerald has passed for 2,046 yards and 19 TDs. They’re rolling.
About Heritage: Kalani Umiamaka grounded out 98 yards on 23 carries in a sloppy field in Kelso. Jarod Luedecker had an 81-yard kickoff return for a score. Gavin Lee started at QB last week.
Playoff implications: Camas has clinched the No. 1 seed to the Week 10 playoffs. Camas will host the winner of Friday’s Tahoma-Thomas Jefferson game next week.
Prep Proletariat says: This one belongs to Camas.
Prediction: Camas 49-0
Score Czar: Camas 43-0
EVERGREEN (2-6, 1-4) vs. MOUNTAIN VIEW (2-6, 2-3)
When, where: 8 p.m., McKenzie Stadium, Evergreen HS
Internet radio: elisportsnetwork.com/webcasts
Last week: Mountain View lost to Camas 52-21; Evergreen lost to Skyview 37-13.
About Evergreen: It’s been a disappointing season for the Plainsmen, who entered with 2014 with lofty expectations. Playing rival Mountain View in a league game and season-finale is good capper. Evergreen would love to finish on a high note.
About Mountain View: A win today would leave the Thunder atop the second division in the 4A GSHL, if that’s any consolation. Preston Jones has rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 TDs for Mountain View.
Prep Proletariat says: Evergreen has struggled to stop the run. Mountain View LOVES to run the ball. Not a good combination for the Plainsmen.
Prediction: Mountain View 34-20
Score Czar: Mountain View 31-23
SKYVIEW (6-2, 4-1) vs. UNION (7-1, 4-1)
When, where: 8 p.m., Kiggins Bowl, Discovery MS
TV/Internet broadcast: Fort Sports, cable. Ch. 28; 360preps.com
Last week: Skyview beat Evergreen 37-13; Union beat Battle Ground 44-14
About Union: The Titans went to their bread-and-butter last week and grounded out yards on the ground. It left Caleb Browning atop the area leaders with rushing with 1,136 yards and 18 TDs. QB Nolan Henry is out again, and possibly the first playoff game for Union. But the Titans didn’t lose much with junior Jordan Lawson, who completed 13 of 21 passes for 168 yards.
About Skyview: The Storm are like the Titans. They’ve got a solid defense, and a good 1-2 punch in the running game. Josh Emmy rushed for 96 yards last week and Blake Ingram added 89 yards. QB Zac Shomler hasn’t been asked to a lot in the passing game, but he’s been efficient. He ranks fourth in the area with 1,391 yards, but only nine TDs.
Playoff implications: Both teams have clinched Week 10 playoff berths. The winner will host Curtis in the state preliminary round next week. The loser will travel to play the KingCo No. 2 team, which is quite possibly Skyline.
Prep Proletariat says: This one could be a classic. Two teams with a lot of similarities. But to me, it comes down to the guys up front. And I like Union’s line just a little better. Also, look for Tyler Dionne to play key role.
Prediction: Union 27-24
Score Czar: Union 28-20
3A Greater St. Helens League
COLUMBIA RIVER (6-2, 2-0) vs. KELSO (4-4, 2-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Schroeder Field, Kelso HS
Internet radio: klog.com
Last week: Columbia River beat Prairie 43-14; Kelso lost to Heritage 14-9
About Columbia River: Gabe Evenson is No. 3 in the area in passing with 1,395 yards and 21 TDs. He has his best game of the season last week with 316 yards on 22 of 33 passes. The Chieftains are still looking for consistency in the running game.
About Kelso: Zac Brandenberg rushed for 181 yards last week, but the Hilanders struggled in the red zone. And the Hilanders completed just 3 of 20 passes for -1 yard. That won’t work against River.
Playoff implications: Both teams have clinched Week 10 playoff spots. The winner will host the Metro League No. 6 team next week, while the loser travels to play the Metro No. 3 team.
Prep Proletariat says: If you matchup games against common opponents, and the scales tip in a big way to the Chieftains
Prediction: Columbia River 37-13
Score Czar: Columbia River 27-9
2A Greater St. Helens League
HOCKINSON (8-0, 5-0) vs. R.A. LONG (6-2, 4-1)
When, where: 7 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Longview
Internet radio: kbamcountry.com
Last week: Hockinson beat Woodland 14-7; R.A. Long beat Hudson’s Bay 41-21.
About Hockinson: What is the saying? Defense wins championships? Well, that could be the case for Hockinson. The Hawks have five shutouts and have not allowed an opponent to score more than 13 points in a game. And Hockinson’s offense is the perfect compliment to its defense. The Hawks ground out yards behind Austen Johnson and Tommy Harshaw, shortening games and keeping their defense fresh.
About R.A. Long: The Lumberjacks entered the year with many thinking it was a rebuilding year. But now R.A. Long is a playoff team with a chance at a share at the league championship. The Jacks have overcome injuries to keep this successful season going.
Playoff implications: If Hockinson wins, the Hawks will be the No. 1 seed to the district playoffs and host the winner of Friday’s Black Hills-Centralia game in Week 10. R.A. Long would be the No. 3 seed and travel to play the winner of Friday’s Tumwater-W.F. West game in Week 10. If R.A. Long wins, there will be a three-way tie for the league title, requiring a tiebreaker of some sort.
Prep Proletariat says: R.A. Long gave up a 100-yard rush game to a team that had struggled to run the ball last week against Bay. That is not a good sign for the Jacks.
Prediction: Hockinson 28-0
Score Czar: Hockinson 28-0
HUDSON’S BAY (1-7, 0-5) vs. RIDGEFIELD (4-4, 1-4)
When, where: 7 p.m., Ridgefield Stadium, Ridgefield HS
Last week: Hudson’s Bay lost to R.A. Long 41-21; Ridgefield beat Mark Morris 35-7.
About Hudson’s Bay: The Eagles played, possibly, their best game of the year against R.A. Long last week. Nehemiah McDougal rushed for 116 yards and two TDs last week. But miscues put R.A. Long in scoring position too often. Limiting miscues will be the key.
About Ridgefield: Nathan Eggleston has five 100-yard rushing games this season, and last year’s stats were not reported. Getting a first league win last week was big, now the Spudders are looking to end on high note.
Prep Proletariat says: Ridgefield look to go from 0-9 to a winning season.
Prediction: Ridgefield 42-13
Score Czar: Ridgefield 28-0
MARK MORRIS (1-7, 1-4) vs. WASHOUGAL (4-4, 2-3)
When, where: 7 p.m., Fishback Stadium, Washougal HS
Internet radio: klog.com
Last week: Mark Morris lost to Ridgefield 35-7; Washougal beat Fort Vancouver 41-28
About Mark Morris: If there is one thing the Monarchs are playing for this week, it’s pride. Mark Morris has a solid history. The Monarchs are headed to their worst season since going 0-9 in 2002. The offense showed signs of improvement, but regressed last week.
About Washougal: Brandon Casteel has had a feast-or-famine season. He has rushed for 929 yards on the season, but 689 came in two games. He has 240 yards in the other five. The Panthers don’t need a 300-yard game from Casteel, but if he runs for more than 100, it’s a good sign.
Prep Proletariat says: Panthers are running toward a winning season.
Prediction: Washougal 26-13.
Score Czar: Washougal 28-7
1A Trico League
SETON CATHOLIC (1-6, 0-4) vs. LA CENTER (5-3, 4-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Wildcat Stadium, La Center HS
Last week: Seton Catholic lost to White Salmon 27-20; La Center beat Kalama 42-22.
About Seton Catholic: The Cougars have had a competitive season despite their 1-6 season. But the schedule maker wasn’t kind to Seton for Week 9.
About La Center: As we thought after their tough non-league schedule, the Wildcats have been rolling in league play and getting better. Now they get two weeks to prepare for the state playoffs. Look for La Center to work some things this week.
Playoff implications: La Center has clinched the No. 1 seed to the state playoffs. The Wildcats will have a Week 10 bye and host a state first-round game on Nov. 14-15.
Prep Proletariat says: La Center wins.
Prediction: La Center 48-0
Score Czar: La Center 30-6
STEVENSON (4-4, 3-1) vs. WHITE SALMON (3-5, 0-4)
When, where: 7 p.m., Columbia HS, White Salmon
Last week: Stevenson beat Castle Rock 28-0; White Salmon beat Seton Catholic 27-20.
About Stevenson: The Bulldogs don’t pile up big stats, but they get the job done. Josh Anderson rushed for 73 yards and three TDs last week in the muck at Castle Rock. The defense did the rest.
About White Salmon: The Bruins started the season well, but have really struggled in league play.
Playoff implications: Stevenson has clinched the No. 2 seed to the district playoffs and will host Hoquiam in the district playoffs next week. That would be a rematch of Hoquiam’s 19-6 win in Week 2.
Prep Proletariat says: Battle for the Gorge goes to the Bulldogs.
Prediction: Stevenson 27-13
Score Czar: Stevenson 20-10
Non-league
BATTLE GROUND (3-5) vs. PRAIRIE (2-6)
When, where: 8 p.m., District Stadium, Battle Ground HS
Last week: Battle Ground lost to Union 44-14; Prairie lost to Columbia River 43-14.
About Battle Ground: The Tigers have found a runner in Curtis Stradley to complement the passing attack. But look for Gunner Talkington to finish the season with a flourish.
About Prairie: A very bumpy season for the Falcons. After an ugly start, things looked like they were about turn midsesason. But the struggles have returned, and facing the potent Tigers is not the way to remedy them.
Prep Proletariat says: The game got pushed back an hour by Prairie because it’s Halloween. Prairie likely will find more tricks than treats.
Prediction: Battle Ground 40-13
Score Czar: Battle Ground 25-23
WOODLAND (7-1) vs. FORT VANCOUVER (1-7)
When, where: 5 p.m., Kiggins Bowl, Discovery MS
TV/Internet broadcast: Fort Sports, cable. Ch. 28; 360preps.com
Last week: Woodland lost to Hockinson 14-7; Fort Vancouver lost to Washougal 41-28
About Woodland: The Beavers are looking to bounce back after likely losing a shot at the 2A GSHL title in their first year after moving up from 1A.
About Fort Vancouver: The Trappers offense has made improvements over the season. David Bishop has developed into one of the better receivers in the area with 40 catches for 567 yards and 6 TDs. But facing Eli Whitmire a week after giving up almost 400 yards on the ground to Brandon Casteel ….
Playoff implications: Woodland is waiting and seeing. Either the Beavers will be the No. 2 seed to the district playoffs and will host the loser of Friday’s Tumwater-W.F. West game in the district playoffs next week. Or the Beavers will be part of a three-way tie for the 2A GSHL title.
Prep Proletariat says: Look out, Fort! Eli’s a-coming!.
Prediction: Woodland 48-6
Score Czar: Woodland 41-0
