Football semifinals: picks and predictions
Bellevue vs. Lynden
Friday, 1 p.m., Tacoma Dome
What : Class 3A state semifinal.
The skinny : Top-ranked Bellevue (11-0) meets 12th-ranked Lynden (10-2) for the third time in the past four postseasons. Bellevue beat Lynden in the Class 3A state-championship games in 2001 and '02. The Wolverines, seeking a fourth consecutive state title, have won 21 consecutive games after a 49-9 quarterfinal romp over fifth-ranked Timberline. The Lions, making their fourth semifinal appearance in the past seven seasons, beat fourth-ranked White River in overtime 27-26 in the quarterfinals. Bellevue RB J.R. Hasty (2,240 yards) needs one touchdown to break the state's all-time record for touchdowns in a season (45) set by Bethel's Steve Dildine in 2001. Lynden's two losses came against eighth-ranked O'Dea and unranked Burlington-Edison. RB Cody Visser (1,237 yds, 20 TDs), QB Alex Ellig (105 of 195, 1,466 yds, 12 TDs) and WR Justin Brann (43 catches, 703 yds, 5 TDs) lead the Lions. Lynden coach Curt Kramme is 113-37 (.753) in 14 seasons. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff is 55-5 (.917) in five seasons.
Times pick : Bellevue takes one step closer to a four-peat, 35-13.
Matt Peterson, Seattle Times
Pe Ell vs. Hunters
Friday, 4 p.m., Tacoma Dome
What : Class B-8 state semifinal.
The skinny : Hunters is making its third consecutive B-8 state playoff appearance, but has not made the championship game since winning two of three B-11 titles from 1987-89. The third-ranked Lions (9-1), who have won eight in a row since a Week Two loss to No. 2 Clallam Bay, use a balanced attack of run and pass. Junior running back Miles St. John leads the team with 1,054 yards on 120 carries and 10 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Dominic Kegel (47-72, 1,222 yards, 20 TDs, 4 INT) will try to connect with junior receiver Tyrel Sampson (22 receptions, 690 yards, 13 TD). Fourth-ranked Pe Ell (9-0) is making its first state appearance since 1993 and will try to capitalize on a size advantage with a three-man rushing attack. Senior quarterback Phil Compton leads the team with 616 yards and 15 TDs on 59 carries. A pair of senior running backs, Jason Canales (602 yards, 11 TDs) and Mike Elliott (543 yards, 7 TDs), round out the ground attack for the Trojans, who averaged over 10 yards per carry as a team this year.
Times pick : State experience pays off for Lions. Hunters wins 40-34.
John Boyle, correspondent
Ferndale vs. Kelso
Friday, 7 p.m., Tacoma Dome
What: Class 3A state semifinal.
The skinny: No. 14 Ferndale (12-1) comes in looking for its third straight upset after knocking off No. 3 Kennedy in the first round of the playoffs and No. 7 Rainier Beach in the quarterfinals. Junior QB Jake Locker has been phenomenal. Against Beach, he threw a 65-yard TD pass, ran for a 57-yard score, returned a kickoff 63 yards and intercepted two passes. In the Kennedy game, RB John Baker powered for 184 yards, so it's pick your poison. Ferndale has won six in a row since a 26-6 loss to Lynden, which plays Bellevue in the other 3A semi. No. 6 Kelso (11-1) owes its only loss to Mountain View, which qualified for the 4A playoffs. The Hilanders beat No. 9 East Valley of Spokane, 41-32, to reach the semis for the first time since 1986, when they were a AAA (now 4A) team and lost to Gonzaga Prep. They won the AA (now 3A) title in '83. Kelso, riding a seven-game win streak, relies heavily on the ground game and features three talented running backs — Tyler Minium (967 yards, 12 TDs), David Talley (955 yards, 12 TDs) and A.J. Maston (667 yards, 11 TDs). The Hilanders have scored 41 or more points in five of their past six games.
Times pick: Kelso clips Golden Eagles' wings, 28-21.
Sandy Ringer, Seattle Times
Archbishop Murphy vs. East Valley
Saturday, 10 a.m., Tacoma Dome
What : Class 2A state semifinal.
The skinny : The 2A titans clash in the semis, in what many observers are calling the real state championship game. No. 3-ranked Archbishop (13-0), from Mill Creek, has scored 562 points and destroyed all comers on the way to a state-best 39-game winning streak. The Wildcats feature a trio of powerful RBs — Stan Smith (1,527 yards, 25 TDs), Shiloh Keo (1,127 yards, 13 TDs) and Craig Duncan (994 yards, 16 TDs). No. 1-ranked East Valley (12-0), from Yakima, is somewhat unusual for a small school because it throws on 32 percent of its plays. Coach Barry Reifel's aptly-named son/QB, Ben Reifel, has completed 91 of 161 passes for 1,501 yards and 25 TDs, most of them to WR Matt Snell (51 rec., 988 yards, 16 TDs). The Red Devils have a potent ground game as well. RB Michael Corral has 1,227 yards and 20 TDs. Archbishop has a big size advantage (13 players weigh more than 200 pounds), but it hasn't seen a passing attack like this all season.
Times pick : In a shootout, Archbishop plays just enough defense to advance, 35-28.
Michael Ko, Seattle Times
Napavine vs. Freeman
Saturday, 1 p.m., Tacoma Dome
What : Class 1A state semifinal.
The skinny : Napavine squeaked out a 3-0 Class 1A quarterfinal win over Kalama last week on an Arturo Ramirez Jr. field goal with six second remaining. The 25-yarder was the first ever for the freshman. The shutout was no fluke, as the third-ranked Tigers (9-0) have held their opponents to 4.6 points per game. On offense, Napavine will rely on three-time all-league QB Loren Bluhm, who passed for more than 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns this year while running for more than 500 yards and eight TDs. Second-ranked Freeman (9-0) is in the state playoffs for the third straight year, having lost in the quarterfinals to Royal last year. The Scotties will rely on a balanced attack led by senior running back Kevin Hatch (1,444 yards, 16 TDs) and sophomore quarterback Andrew Dresback (72-139, 1,286 yards, 14 TDs).
Times pick : Napavine survives another close one, 20-14
John Boyle, correspondent
Pasco vs. Skyline
Saturday, 4 p.m., Tacoma Dome
What : Class 4A state semifinal
The skinny : Top-ranked Pasco (12-0) brings its 17-game win streak West for a Class 4A state semifinal clash with fifth-ranked Skyline (11-1). Pasco, the defending state champion, made mincemeat of sixth-ranked Bethel in the quarterfinals, winning 70-28 and setting an all-time 4A state-playoff record for points scored in a game. Skyline slipped past 10th-ranked Kamiak 28-21, notching its 11th consecutive victory. Pasco RB tandem of Nebraska-bound Leon Jackson (1,554 yds, 22 TDs) and Tony Coburn (1,524 yds, 29 TDs) presents formidable challenge. Skyline counters with QB Aaron Hasson (138 of 214, 1,929 yds, 17 TDs), RB Brett Kaluza (1,070 yds, 23 TDs), RB Tyler Pelluer (731 yds, 14 TDs) and WR Tony Chidiac (52 catches, 826 yds, 8 TDs). Spartans, playing their first season in Class 4A, last made semifinals in 2001.
Times pick : Skyline puts up a fight, but Pasco prevails, 33-23.
Matt Peterson, Seattle Times
Wahkiakum (Cathlamet) vs. Lind-Ritzville
7 p.m. Saturday, Tacoma Dome
What : Class B-11 state semifinal.
The skinny : Wahkiakum from Cathlamet (along the Columbia River in southwest Washington) knows its opponent painfully well. The Mules have been eliminated from the state B-11 playoffs in three of the last four years by Lind-Ritzville, twice in the semis, once in overtime. This year's Wahkiakum squad (11-0) features a potent Wing-T offense that rushed for 600 yards in one game and 590 in another. RB Jeff McNally has 1,646 yards and 25 TDs and FB Steve Henifin has 1,388 and 20. Lind-Ritzville (11-0), a combined team of two schools located east of Moses Lake, employs a pro-set offense featuring RB Nick Ashley (195 carries, 1,870 yards, 27 TDs). Broncos QB Travis Dewald has thrown for 1,250 yards and three WRs have 13 or more catches. DE Jacob Kragt is the defensive playmaker. This year's matchup is the first time the two squads have met on the west side of the state.
Times pick : Lind-Ritzville keeps the streak going, 20-7.
Michael Ko, Seattle Times
Friday Harbor vs. Royal
Saturday, 4 p.m., Lampson Stadium, Kennewick
What : Class 1A state semifinal.
The skinny : The top-ranked Knights have been a bully all season, rolling to a 12-0 record. Running back Jeff Jack, a 5-11, 190-pound junior whose family moved from Kentlake to Eastern Washington two summers ago, shows the way for Royal with 1,492 yards and 28 TDs on 177 carries. He's scored 17 points — including six receiving TDs, two TDs on fumble returns, two TDs on interceptions and one TD on a blocked punt return. Oh, and he's set a single-season 11-man state record with 80 consecutive extra-point kicks.
Times pick : Royal is king for another day, 28-7.
Jim Reding, Seattle Times