Prep Football / Prime Time -- This Week's Top High-School Football Matchups

Friday's games

Eastlake (1-0) vs. Woodinville (1-0) at Pop Keeney Stadium (Bothell), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Eastlake beat Lake Washington 48-26; Woodinville beat Juanita 22-0.

Eastlake facts - The second season of Air Berry started out on the ground. Wolves junior QB Matt Berry threw only 12 passes in the victory over Lake Washington, while Eastlake ran 41 times for 237 yards. RB Ty Benson, who rushed for 130 yards, is the KingCo leader after scoring four touchdowns and a two-point conversion. The Wolves, who start seven juniors on offense, need to be mentally sharper than they were against Lake Washington. Stopping Woodinville FB Aaron Hineline, who rushed for 102 yards last week, is key.

Woodinville facts - Eastlake gave up 340 passing yards against Lake Washington, but don't expect Falcons to add significantly to that total. The defending KingCo champions defeated Juanita in opener behind rushing attack that gained 267 yards. QB Kris Billmaier rushed for 46 yards and scored twice, but threw only five passes. RB Jeremy Tager rushed for 118 yards and a score. The Falcons allowed a KingCo 4A-low 110 yards in their first game and forced four turnovers. Wolves will have to throw more than they did last week to be successful against Woodinville `D'.

Notable - These are the two winningest teams in the KingCo Conference over the past three years. Woodinville is 23-7, Eastlake 22-6. This year's game is one of a handful that will decide 1997 KingCo 4A title. The two coaches are good friends. Eastlake's Dale Cote's first coaching job was at Central Kitsap in 1987. Agnew was the head baseball coach at CK then.

Mercer Island (1-0) at Newport (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

Last week - Mercer Island beat Cedarcrest 14-2; Newport beat Interlake 40-6.

Mercer Island facts - The Islanders looked like they always do in their victory against Cedarcrest. They ran it a lot (43 times for 126 yards), threw it a little (eight times for 69 yards) and stuffed the run on defense (69 yards allowed). RB-LB Ben Mahdavi rushed for 79 yards and made 10 tackles. DL Richard Brown made two sacks last week, but he won't get many opportunities this week against Newport's wishbone offense. Islanders have one of league's best kickers in Ian McElreath and were plus-3 in turnover margin last week, a number they probably need to duplicate tomorrow to win.

Newport - The Knights rolled up 384 rushing yards in the romp over Interlake, including 102 from FB Derek Noble and RB Cameron Boys. RB Mike Cooney leads all KingCo 3A players in total yardage after the first week with 220 yards. New QB Dave Skordal rushed for 81 yards in his first game as the starter and the Knights' defense, which has struggled the past two seasons, yielded only 22 rushing yards to Interlake. The big news? Newport isn't last in KingCo 3A passing yardage - yet. The Knights threw for 48 yards last week, more than Sammamish and Bellevue. But they don't need to throw to win.

Notable - This is the only KingCo 3A matchup of unbeaten teams. Islanders always play Knights tough, including a 20-14 loss to Newport in the Knights' 1992 state-championship season that was decided on a Hail Mary pass with less than a minute to play. Winner takes big step toward playoffs. Loser might not be able to afford another slip-up.

No. 4 Kentridge (1-0) at Bethel (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

Last week - Kentridge crushed Curtis (then No. 2) 42-14; Bethel pounded Olympic 49-8.

Kentridge facts - Keegan Dougherty is a big-play back capable of breaking a long run at any time. He had runs of 66 and 73 yards last week. The Chargers won despite missing QB Andre Gayles, who is expected to see some action in this one at DB, WR and possibly QB. Jake Morgen proved he's capable of running the show, throwing for one touchdown and running for another. Ron Cabiles proved how special he is on special teams, returning a punt 76 yards for a TD. TE/LB Chris Jackson is a handful both ways.

Bethel facts - The Braves racked up nearly 500 yards of offense last week. Shawn Brathwaite broke a 72-yard touchdown run and finished with 196 yards on just 10 carries, scoring twice more on short runs. QB Dan Gall threw a pair of touchdowns, one to the ever-dangerous Chris Belser. Belser is also a top-notch defensive back.

Notable - Bethel might have had a bit of a breather with the nonleague opener at Olympic, but now faces three powerhouses in a row and four in the next five weeks. After Kentridge, the Braves open SPSL South Division play against No. 9 Curtis, then battle No. 1 Puyallup. They play Jefferson the following week, then clash with No. 6 Rogers of Puyallup. Kentridge kicks off North Division action next Saturday against Tahoma.

Renton (1-0) vs. No. 4 O'Dea (1-0) at West Seattle Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Last week - Renton edged Selah 6-0; O'Dea bopped West Seattle 51-7.

O'Dea facts - Linebacker Carlos Pierre-Antoine intercepted three passes, running one of them back 35 yards for a touchdown. . . . Junior QB Joseph Brazier rushed for two TDs and threw for two more. . . . Mario Sweet rushed for 117 yards on nine carries.

Renton facts - With just 29 players expected to suit up, Renton might resort to the unexpected to give the Irish a run for their money. Look for E.J. Ash and Earl Richardson to do most of the damage on the ground. Richardson scored the game's only touchdown last week on a 2-yard burst with less than a minute to play. QB Ryan Rutledge passed for nearly 100 yards in the opener and could air it out even more this week.

Notable - Renton opens the Seamount League campaign next week against rival Lindbergh. Both hope to challenge Kennedy for the league title and lone playoff berth. . . . O'Dea had won two straight AA titles and had a 35-game winning streak before being upset by eventual state-champ Capital in the first round of last year's playoffs.

Football schedules

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Nonleague - Edmonds-Woodway vs. Cascade at Everett Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.; Auburn Riverside vs. Jefferson at Federal Way Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Nonleague - Decatur at Central Kitsap, 5 p.m.; Lindbergh vs. Everett at Everett Memorial Stadium, Jackson vs. Meadowdale at Edmonds Stadium, Shorecrest vs. Mariner at Goddard Stadium, Kamiak vs. Hazen at Renton Stadium, Arlington at Marysville-Pilchuck, Lynnwood vs. Shorewood at Shoreline Stadium, Mount Rainier at Snohomish, Stanwood at Anacortes, Bellingham at Sehome, Oak Harbor at Mount Vernon, Monroe at Burlington-Edison, Concrete at King's, Mountlake Terrace at Lynden, South Whidbey at Sedro-Woolley, Lake Stevens at Ferndale, Chief Sealth vs. Evergreen at Highline Stadium, Renton vs. O'Dea at West Seattle Stadium, Tyee at Sunnyside, Puyallup at North Kitsap, Olympic vs. Kent-Meridian at French Field, all 7:30 p.m.

Metro 3A League - Lakeside vs. Ballard at Memorial Stadium, 4:30 p.m.

KingCo 4A Conference - Inglemoor at Franklin (Memorial), 7 p.m.; Bothell at Lake Washington, Eastlake vs. Woodinville at Pop Keeney Stadium, Garfield at Juanita, Roosevelt at Redmond, all 7:30.

KingCo 3A Conference - Skyline at Bellevue, Cedarcrest at Issaquah, Interlake at Liberty, Mercer Island at Newport, Sammamish at Mount Si, all 7:30 p.m.

SPSL (cross-division) - Kentridge at Bethel, Curtis at Enumclaw, Sumner at Federal Way, Kentwood vs. Rogers (Puyallup) at Sparks Stadium, Spanaway Lake at Tahoma, Port Angeles at Auburn, all 7:30 p.m.

Pierce County League - Lakes at Bremerton, Yelm at Clover Park, North Mason at Fife, Kentlake at Franklin Pierce, Washington at Sequim, Bainbridge at White River.

Nisqually League - Cleveland at Eatonville, Port Townsend at Chimacum, Foster at Vashon, Orting at Klahowya, Tacoma Baptist at Steilacoom (nonleague).

SATURDAY'S GAMES

Metro 3A League - Seattle Prep vs. Rainier Beach at Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.; Nathan Hale vs. West Seattle at West Seattle Stadium, 7 p.m.; Eastside Catholic vs. Blanchet at Edmonds Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Nonleague - Kennedy vs. West Valley (Yakima) at Highline Stadium, 2 p.m.; Ingraham vs. Highline at Highline Stadium, Coupeville at Friday Harbor.