With just two weeks left in the regular season, playoff implications are on the line for many Twin Harbors prep football teams.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap for Week 8 of the high school football season.
Aberdeen at Rochester
When and Where: 7 p.m. Friday at Rochester High School
Players to Watch: Aberdeen — Jeremy Sawyer RB/LB, Trey Anderson RB/LB, Kale Goings QB/DB, Jakob Bowers RB/DB. Rochester — Talon Betts RB/LB, Tate Quarnstrom QB, Landon Hawes QB/WR.
Aberdeen (4-2, 3-2 2A Evergreen) faces another tough league test when they meet up against the Rochester Warriors on the road Friday.
With last week’s loss to WF West, Aberdeen now sits in a tie for second place in the 2A Evergreen League, with Tumwater and Rochester close on the Bobcats heels.
In a league race with five teams all within striking distance of the top three spots, a loss to the Warriors could potentially drop the Bobcats all the way down to fifth place and on the outside looking in for a potential playoff spot.
Aberdeen running back Jeremy Sawyer is 33 rushing yards from cresting 1,000 on the season and will likely be given plenty of carries on Friday in the critical league matchup.
Look for the Bobcats to also get the ball in the hands of running backs Trey Anderson and Jakob Bowers, as well as get carries to quick-footed quarterback Kale Goings for a Bobcats rushing attack that has 1,711 yards in six games this season.
Rochester (4-3, 2-2) has shown this season to no longer be the doormat of the 2A Evergreen League, posting wins over Black Hills and Centralia this season.
But the Warriors are on a two-game losing streak, falling to WF West 38-20 two weeks ago and 41-0 to Ellensburg in a nonleague matchup last week.
Hoquiam at Montesano
When and Where: 7 p.m. Friday at Jack Rottle Field, Montesano
Players to Watch: Hoquiam — Jalen Hobucket RB/LB; Anthony Burtenshaw RB/LB; Owen McNeill WR/LB; Zander Jump QB/DB. Montesano — Jayden McElravy QB, Isaiah Pierce RB/LB, Caydon Lovell WR/DB.
A game that often represented a battle for first place in the 1A Evergreen League will look very different this season when the Hoquiam Grizzlies take on the Montesano Bulldogs on Friday in Montesano.
Hoquiam has arguably dealt with more adversity in 2021 than any other team in the region. The Grizzlies (0-4, 0-1 1A Evergreen) lost a third of its season after district officials shut down all school-related sports and in the weeks since returning, the Grizzlies have suffered injuries to the few seniors on its roster and lost a promising underclassman due to a transfer.
Thus the Grizzlies have had several younger players fill the void, while gaining valuable varsity experience.
In last week’s loss to Centralia, Hoquiam junior running back Anthony Burtenshaw rushed for more than 100 yards and junior wideout Owen McNeill caught seven passes for 96 yards.
Montesano has emerged from its worst regular-season losing streak in some time banged up and on the outside looking in at a top three spot in the league standings.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 0-2) — which lost three straight to three state-ranked opponents — were without several starters in last week’s loss to No. 10 Tenino, including starting quarterback Jayden McElravy, who fell ill and left the game in the first quarter.
Montesano will look to get the ball in the hands of senior running back Isaiah Pierce in an effort to get back in the win column and keep its playoff hopes alive.
Tenino at Elma
When and Where: 7 p.m. Friday at Davis Field, Elma
Players to Watch: Elma — Jarred Bailey RB/LB, Conan Baxter RB, René Duran WR/DB, Donovan Bishop OL/DL. Tenino — Takari Hickle RB/DL, Kysen Knox QB, Dylan Spicer RB/LB.
Elma (3-2, 1-1) had a rough time in last week’s 51-6 loss to No. 2 Eatonville and the Eagles will face another state-ranked league opponent in Tenino on Friday.
The Eagles have been hit with injuries with three starters — lineman Tanner Thompson, tight end/defensive end Nathan Comer and linebacker Isaac Phillips — unavailable for Friday’s important league game.
Furthermore, Elma senior running back Conan Baxter is questionable after dealing with concussion protocols and a knee injury, possibly leaving the Eagles without one of its main weapons on Friday.
While they may be bit by the injury bug, Elma weapons Jarred Bailey and René Duran are expected to suit up on Friday.
In Tenino, the Eagles will face its third state-ranked 1A team of the season, in what is arguably the toughest 1A schedule of any team in the state.
Tenino (6-1, 2-1) has only lost to Eatonville this season and is paced by three-star Oregon State commit RB/DL Takari Hickle, who is a load to stop at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds.
With a victory, Elma will be on the inside track to securing the league’s third-place spot.
Other games
(All games 7 p.m. Friday unless noted)
Morton-White Pass at North Beach (7 p.m. Thursday)
Raymond at Rainier
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley at Ilwaco
Taholah at Ocosta
Mary M. Knight at Lake Quinault (1 p.m. Saturday)
