Ryland Spencer Picks
3A Round of 32
Seattle Prep at Glacier Peak – GP QB Chris Becerra should have himself a fine night. The winner here most likely gets Mount Si. That game would be a beauty! GP wins, 35-20.
Mountain View at Marysville Pilchuck – I really like MP. I think they have some really great athletes and I can see them making a decent little run. Tomahawks easy, 38-14.
Hazen at Ferndale – Ferndale will have no problem here. I don’t see them going far, but Ferndale is a good team. Golden Eagles win, 35-14.
Lincoln at Bellevue – My July prediction that the Abes would get to the playoffs came true. They have some REALLY nice young players that I love. Not their year though. Bellevue wins, 56-7.
Meadowdale at Eastside Catholic – This would’ve been a great game about 3 weeks ago. Meadowdale has fallen apart. This should be a good test though, but I don’t see them winning. EC wins first game on way to Tacoma Dome, 33-21.
Shelton at Nathan Hale – I will see some of this game on Saturday following the Lakes/O’Dea game. I expect Ralph Kinne to run for 300+ yards. Shelton wins easy, 40-10.
Auburn Mountainview at Mount Si – This is a game I am going to see. AM is going to have to run the ball because I guarantee you they wont be successful passing. Mount Si runs away with it, 37-7.
Lakes at O’Dea – Best game of the “Play-In” round. I will be in attendance. Can’t believe one of these teams is done after this week. Lakes wins, 34-21.
Chief Sealth at Timberline – I really like Timberline and think they could go a ways. Sealth just doesn’t match up. Blazers dominate, 45-6.
Oak Harbor at Peninsula – This is going to be a great game. I think it will be a defensive battle. Peninsula wins at home, 23-20.
Mountlake Terrace at Kennedy Catholic – Something tells me Devante Downs is going to run wild and I should pick Terrace. I just can’t do it. Kennedy moves on, 20-7.
Rainier Beach at North Thurston – Lots to like about North Thurston. They are VERY good defensively and have played a pretty good schedule. NT wins, 23-13.
Bainbridge at Columbia River – Columbia River has been good on the ground this year and stout defensively. Bainbridge likes the Wing-T and I never like it unless you run it the way Bellevue does. CR wins, 33-12.
Juanita at Kelso – Tons to like about this Juanita team right now and in the future. They are young and extremely talented. Kelso is going to need to run the ball and control the clock. Juanita wins a close one, 23-21.
Kamiakin at University – This could be considered a bit of a down year by Kamiakin standards. University has been good as of late. Kamiakin wins on road, 22-14.
4A Round of 32
Tahoma at Jackson – Two teams that like to spread the ball around. Jackson has more speed, but Tahoma has better line play. Just don’t think Tahoma can run with them. Jackson wins 33-10.
Rogers at Monroe – This is an interesting game. I really could go either way with this one. I think Rogers is a lot better than what people give them credit for. Monroe is a solid football team and playing at home helps. Monroe in a tight one, 21-17.
Kentlake at Lake Stevens – Here is my upset special. I like Lake Stevens and what they have done the last few year. I think Kentlake is a different team than the one that lost to Auburn and Kent Meridian. Nu’u Vaifale is the difference. Falcons move on, 28-17.
Puyallup at Skyline – Max Browne is gonna have fun in this one. You will get to see one of the better Sophomore QB in Puyallup’s Brenden Illies, but he is still you. Sparta in a route, 45-10.
Curtis at Bothell – Playing at Pop Keeney is always a good thing for the Bothell Cougars. Getting Danny WIlson and Reshon Watson back should be huge… If they play. Still think Cougars win, 34-10.
Edmonds-Woodway at Bellarmine Prep – I am sold on Bellarmine. They have a BIG physical line. Good line play can take teams a ways in the playoffs. B-Prep wins easy, 38-12.
Issaquah at Federal Way – I really like the Issaquah Defense. They might be one of the best that Federal Way has played all season. I don’t think it is enough though. Outside of Gellatly on offense, they have really had a problem being balanced. FW out runs Issy, 44-14.
Arlington at Kentwood – The Conks are one of the best defensive teams in the state and will do a very good job at containing Arlington QB Skyler Elgerico. Kentwood wins, 38-10.
Roosevelt at Central Kitsap – I really like what Roosevelt has going. They have the ability to run the ball and play tough on defense. Unfortunately for them I like more about Central Kitsap. CK wins, 30-20.
Union at Graham-Kapowsin – If Union brings their band… That is worth 7 points. Best band in the NW. That isn’t going be enough though. GK plays another week, 38-21.
Olympia at Auburn – Auburn is always tough at home. They have a tough defense and I expect them to be fired up. Auburn wins 27-10.
South Kitsap at Camas – I really think Camas could be in for a long playoff run… This year and next. Papermakers win easy, 38-7.
Newport at Skyview – Could be an upset here, but I am not picking that way. Newport is a very good team and Isaac Dotson is a top 3 QB in the state. Skyview has a lot of nice weapons. Skyview wins 37-24.
Chiawana at Gonzaga Prep – I don’t put much stock in last weeks loss by Gonzaga Prep. I really like Chiawana… Next year. Not now though. Bullpups win 28-21.
Mead at Richland – Down year for the Tri Cities schools. Mead is the 2nd best 4A team in the east. Mead wins, 33-14.
Scott Eklund Picks
3A Round of 32
Seattle Prep at Glacier Peak – GP just has too much offense and they have had much more success in the playoffs. Glacier Peak 41 – Seattle Prep 20
Mountain View at Marysville-Pilchuck – QB Jake Luton and RB Austin Joyner make Marysville-Pilchuck one of the teams no one wants to play in the post-season. Marysville-Pilchuck 35 – Mountain View 17.
Hazen at Ferndale – Ferndale’s running game is one of the best in the state and will be the difference in this game. Ferndale 27 – Hazen 17.
Lincoln at Bellevue – The Abes are headed in the right direction under first-year head coach Jon Kitna, but Bellevue isn’t ranked #2 in the nation for nothing. Wolverines win this one in easy fashion. Bellevue 52 – Lincoln 10.
Meadowdale at Eastside Catholic – Meadowdale has been inconsistent over the past couple of weeks, while EC has become much more potent behind senior QB Trey Reynolds. Crusaders cruise to the win. Eastside Catholic 35 – Meadowdale 16.
Shelton at Nathan Hale – Shelton has the likes of Ralph Kinne to grind out wins and he’ll do that again this week over a smallish Nathan Hale squad. Shelton 42 – Nathan Hale 13.
Auburn Mountainview at Mount Si – Mount Si is playing almost as well as any team in the state, their Bellevue game aside, and they should be able to handle their business to get to the round of 16 this weekend. Mount Si 31 – Auburn Mountainview 13.
Lakes at O’Dea – Should be one of the best matchups of the round of 32 and could come down to which team has the ball last. I like O’Dea to get past Lakes since they are at home and tend to not make costly mistakes. O’Dea 27 – Lakes 20.
Chief Sealth at Timberline – The Blazers are loaded with talented players at nearly every position and they should be able to get past Chief Sealth with little trouble. Timberline 41 – Chief Sealth 13.
Oak Harbor at Peninsula – The Seahawks have been a real surprise this year with their multi-faceted attack, while Oak Harbor relies on a great ground-game to get wins. I see Oak Harbor having just enough to get by Peninsula in a slight upset. Oak Harbor 27 – Peninsula 24.
Mountlake Terrace at Kennedy – Since their opening week loss to Mount Si, a 30-0 blowout, Kennedy has been rolling offensively. I expect that to continue even though Mountlake Terrace has been a tough out for most of their opponents this season. Kennedy 21 – Mountlake Terrace 13.
Rainier Beach at North Thurston – Beach has a ton of talent and if they can keep from making mistakes, they should be able to get the win. Rainier Beach 27 – North Thurston 17.
Bainbridge at Columbia River – Columbia River has a very good offense and should be able to overtake a scrappy Bainbridge squad. Columbia River 31 – Bainbridge 27.
Juanita at Kelso – This should be one of the most interesting matchups of the weekend. If the Rebels can keep getting great productivity from freshman QB Tavin Montgomery they should be able to get past a tough Kelso squad that doesn’t rely on athletes, but more on a team concept on defense. Juanita 24 – Keslo 20.
Kamiakin at University – University has looked solid this season while Kamiakin has come back to earth a bit after a three-year run as the dominant team east of the mountains in the 3A classification. I still see the Braves getting the win, but it will be a squeaker. Kamiakin 21 – University 20.
4A Round of 32
Tahoma at Jackson – Jackson has quite a bit of talent including RB Larry Baker-Bruce, QB Connor Plaisance and WR Trey Robinson. They should be able to walk to victory over Tahoma who has been up-and-down this season. Jackson 41 – Tahoma 17.
Rogers at Monroe – The Bearcats use a tough defense and a ground-game led by Gabe Morgan to grind out wins and they should have just enough to get past Rogers. Monroe 21 – Rogers 17.
Kentlake at Lake Stevens – QB Steffin Church leads as explosive Kentlake offense while junior signal-caller Gavin O’Neil leads a good Lake Stevens attack. I see this one being a shootout and the home team will come out on top. Lake Stevens 38 – Kentlake 31.
Puyallup at Skyline – Max Browne should be able to carve up a think Puyallup secondary for an easy win for Skyline. Skyline 42 – Puyallup 17.
Curtis at Bothell – These are two teams no one wanted to face in the first round of the playoffs. Bothell is at home and will have enough offense to get by the Vikings. Bothell 31 – Curtis 20.
Edmonds-Woodway at Bellarmine Prep – Another really good matchup to start the playoffs. EW has a tough ground-game now that Desmond Young is back and healthy. The Lions on the other hand are led by the likes of Colorado-bound Sefo Liufau at quarterback. This should be a classic matchup that will come down to who plays better defense. Bellarmine Prep 28 – Edmonds-Woodway 24.
Issaquah at Federal Way – Federal Way has blown out pretty much every team that has dared to step on the field with them and this week should be no different, although with Jack Gellatly leading the charge on the ground for Issy, this could be closer than anyone thinks. Federal Way 35 – Issaquah 21.
Arlington at Kentwood – There’s no reason the Conks shouldn’t roll in this one. They are at home and they are the much better team. Kentwood 37 – Arlington 17.
Roosevelt at Central Kitsap – This is Roosevelt’s first time in the playoffs in years and that could work against them. CK is a solid bunch that may surprise some people in the post-season. Central Kitsap 24 – Roosevelt 10.
Union at Graham-Kapowsin – Union and Graham-Kapowsin play against some of the top competition in the state on a weekly basis, so they are both battle tested. Union has some very good underclassmen while GK relies on discipline and a good ground attack. Graham-Kapowsin 35 – Union 24.
Olympia at Auburn – The Bears bounced back after an iffy start to the season while Auburn rebounded from a poor 2011 season to finish second in the SPSL North this season. Auburn should be able to use Harold Lee and Darnell Hagans to grind out a win to get to the round of 16. Auburn 31 – Olympia 20.
South Kitsap at Camas – The Wolves drew the short straw in getting Camas to start the playoffs. The Papermakers are the hottest team in the state right now and should cruise in this one. Camas 42 – South Kitsap 20.
Newport at Skyview – With QB Isaac Dotson pulling the strings, Newport isn’t out of any game, but Skyview has shown the ability to get out and run with any team. I expect a big win for Skyview in front of their home crowd. Skyview 38 – Newport 20.
Chiawana at Gonzaga Prep – The Bullpups stumbled in their final game of the season, but I expect them to come out and roll past a very young Chiawana squad. Gonzaga Prep 28 – Chiawana 14.
Mead at Richland – Mead’s offense has been strong all season, but their defense hasn’t been as stingy as expected. Richland doesn’t have the horses to keep up with the Panthers, but Mead could have trouble in the coming weeks as they get deeper into the playoffs. Mead 31 – Richland 17.
