Week 9 football predictions
Hard to believe we’re already in the ninth week of the high-school football season.
With the KingCo 4A crossovers starting this week we have some interesting matchups — especially the championship game between Eastlake and Woodinville.
Be sure to get your votes in for this week’s games and check for up-to-date results on picks at the bottom of the page.
BIG 5
Woodvinville vs. Eastlake
Kevin - For the first time since 2004 the KingCo 4A championship is guaranteed to go to someone other than Bothell or Skyline, and it should be an entertaining matchup. No. 1-ranked Eastlake and No. 4 Woodinville are very successful in their run-first offensive approaches. Tailbacks Ryan Lewis (Eastlake) and Alec Schwend (Woodinville) have reaped the rewards of dominant offensive lines. Both teams are also stingy on defense. The advantage has to go to the Wolves in this one, however. Playing in a much tougher KingCo Crest Division, Eastlake is more battle-tested. The Wolves also possess more weapons in terms of speed.
Pick: Eastlake 38-20
Josh - Since Kevin just old us when the last time someone other than the Cougars or Spartans won the league title was, I’ll go with another KingCo fun-fact. It was Lake Washington that won the title back in 04, when the entire KingCo picture looked very different. As for this game, It’s hard to pick against Eastlake at this point, fresh off a win over Skyline and riding the legs of Ryan Lewis and dual-threat ability of quarterback Keegan Kemp, who could be the most underrated player in the conference. That being said, you have to respect what Woodinville has done this season with wins over Mount Si, Monroe (a WesCo North playoff team) and Bothell to clinch the league title and also gain some Northshore bragging rights. I don’t think it will be a runaway by any stretch of the imagination and the Wolves could struggle early in a championship game on a short week, trying to recreate the emotion they played with just six days earlier. But I think Dales’ squad gets it done.
Pick: Eastlake 34-24
Kevin - Two seasons are on the line in this KingCo Crest No. 3 and KingCo Crown No. 3 matchup. Issaquah’s balanced offense has started to click of late behind the ground attack of sophomore Jack Gellatly and the connection between quarterback Ethan Kalin and wide receiver Reed Peterson. The Eagles simply play in a tougher division than the Vikings and it will show Friday night.
Pick: Issaquah 42-21
Josh - Loser-out games always add that extra level of motivation and intrigue and whichever team handles that better is going to have an edge, especially if things get tight. Inglemoor has been solid all season, but its best win was probably over Snohomish (another WesCo North playoff team) back in the season-opener, a 10-0 decision. They also only lost by a pair to Bothell in the Spaghetti Bowl. But the Vikes were slapped around in a 45-25 loss to Lake Stevens and dumped 38-14 by division champ Woodinville. This one is going to be all Eagles.
Pick: Issaquah 40-14
Kevin - Newport has limped into the postseason, losing three of its last four games. The Knights do hold one advantage over Bothell, however, in that they already beat the Cougars, 28-24. Newport will have to find some of the same magic it had in mid-September when quarterback Isaac Dotson ran for one touchdown and threw for two others. Bothell has played better of late, however, and with their significant home field advantage the Cougars will certainly have revenge on the mind. Hard to pick against the Blue Train in this one.
Pick: Bothell 35-28
Josh - I was at the game between these two earlier in the year and there was a lot going on aside from the final score. One was the tragic passing of Newport offensive coordinator Tim Driver, which coaches and players learned about after the game. Another was some spotty officiating on both sides of the ball, specifically one critical pass interference call that extended a touchdown drive for the Knights. The atmosphere is going to be decidedly different at Pop Keeney than it was in the regular season matchup as well and of course as Kevin mentioned, there is the revenge factor. Dotson controlled the game last time around, making the right decisions throughout in running and passing situations. Kizhan Proctor scored two touchdowns on the ground for Bothell and at times, looked nearly unstoppable with the ball in his hands. If the Newport defense can contain the run, they should be fine against a suspect Cougars’ passing game.
Pick: Newport 35-30
Kevin - An Interlake win would give the Saints the top seed in the Seamount 2A Division. Interlake has caught fire of late, winning its last three games over Sammamish, Lake Washington and Liberty. The Saints will have to get it done on the road, but I like the momentum they carry.
Pick: Interlake 23-20
Josh - The Rebels lost by only two to Liberty and seven to Mount Si, but their only wins have come over Redmond (winless), Sammamish (two wins, one by forfeit) and Lake Washington (two wins, one by forfeit). If Juanita can slow Jordan Todd, they have a chance. I doubt that happens and when Todd gets loose, things open up for the Interlake offense.
Pick: Interlake 30-24
Kevin - Not that any week is a good one to face Skyline’s high-powered offense, but this is definitely a tough situation for Roosevelt’s defense. The Spartans are no doubt looking to get back on track after their first ever loss to Plateau rival Eastlake, 28-21. Look for a fast start from quarterback Max Browne and for the Spartan’s reserves to see time by the third quarter.
Pick: Skyline 48-10
Josh - Roosevelt is going to want no part of a motivated, angry and focused Skyline squad and this one is going to get out of hand early. Bold predictions: Max Browne throws at least five touchdowns, the Skyline defense gets a shutout and a defensive score, all the Spartans’ starters are out of the game in the third quarter.
Pick: Skyline 55-0
Kevin - Bellevue 42-10
Josh - Bellevue 45-6
Week 8 results
Kevin: 11-1
Josh: 11-1
Readers: 11-1
Year to date
Kevin: 70-16
Josh: 67-19
Readers: 70-16
