SBLive’s Top 25 Washington high school football rankings: Ahoy! 4A GSHL champion Camas crashes party in big way
High school football games continued in Washington last weekend, marking the first full fall season in two years. Here is the updated statewide all-classification SBLive Top 25 Washington after Week 9:
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WASHINGTON FOOTBALL ALL-CLASSIFICATION POWER RANKINGS
1. GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES 9-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Federal Way, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 54-0 win over South Kitsap (4A)
Last ranking: No. 1
Ranking rationale: Not the easiest round-of-32 opponent on the board ... but at the end of the day, 4A SPSL champions don't care.
2. LAKE STEVENS VIKINGS 7-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Emerald Ridge, 2 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 34-28 win over then-No. 17 Glacier Peak (4A)
Last ranking: No. 2
Ranking rationale: Will say this about the 4A Wesco champions - they are not afraid of trying new schematic looks (Wildcat) in a pinch.
3. GONZAGA PREP BULLPUPS 8-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Chiawana, 6 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 28-20 win over then-No. 16 Mount Spokane (3A)
Last ranking: No. 3
Ranking rationale: Epitome of consistent, physical nature of Bullpups' triple option wore down all contenders in Greater Spokane League.
4. BELLEVUE WOLVERINES 9-0 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Southridge, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 56-0 win over Juanita (3A)
Last ranking: No. 4
Ranking rationale: Eight different players scored touchdowns last week. With that wide of a distribution net, how do you stop this offense?
5. YELM TORNADOS 8-0 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Mead, 2 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 43-6 win over Central Kitsap (3A)
Last ranking: No. 6
Ranking rationale: Wasn't that long ago when this program never even sniffed the postseason. Now, Tornados set up for a few home games.
6. KAMIAKIN BRAVES 9-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Pasco or Lewis & Clark, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 54-19 win over Sunnyside (4A)
Last ranking: No. 7
Ranking rationale: Rare to see this defense give up a 300-yard passer (Logan Rodriguez), but still - not a lot of points went up on scoreboard.
7. EASTLAKE WOLVES 9-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Curtis, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 21-3 win over then-No. 5 Bothell (4A)
Last ranking: No. 8
Ranking rationale: A case could be made the 4A KingCo title game conditions - sheets of rain - favored Bothell. Didn't matter. Wolves are kings.
8. KENNEWICK LIONS 8-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs Timberline or Central Kitsap, 2 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 27-7 win over Richland (4A)
Last ranking: No. 9
Ranking rationale: Randy Affholter's group gave glimpse of team's here-on-out playoff blueprint - possess the football on long drives, wear on psyche.
9. SUMNER SPARTANS8-1 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Tahoma, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 49-13 win over Olympia (4A)
Last ranking: No. 10
Ranking rationale: Going to be curious how this offense invariably adjusts without standout RB Peyton Wing (knee) carrying the mail in crunch times.
10. TUMWATER THUNDERBIRDS 6-2 (2A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Columbia River, 6 p.m. (2A)
Last result: 48-6 win over Centralia (2A)
Last ranking: No. 11
Ranking rationale: Reigning 2A champions enter the postseason as team to beat. But Thunderbirds are less dimensional on offense than in years past.
11. MARYSVILLE-PILCHUCK TOMAHAWKS 8-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Bishop Blanchet, 7 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 56-8 win over Shorecrest (3A)
Last ranking: No. 12
Ranking rationale: Still consider this team the class of the 3A Wesco, and best bet to not only make most noise, but take down Metro League titans.
12. EASTSIDE CATHOLIC CRUSADERS 6-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Juanita, 7 p.m. (3A)
Last result: Did not play (49-0 win over Ballard on Oct. 22)
Last ranking: No. 13
Ranking rationale: Boring to hear who Metro League pundits think is league's top team (Crusaders). Interesting to hear who they think is No. 2.
13. O’DEA FIGHTING IRISH 4-2 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Auburn, 5 p.m. (3A)
Last result: Did not play (21-14 win over Garfield on Oct. 22).
Last ranking: No. 14
Ranking rationale: Most think because of beef up front, flash in the backfield (Jason Brown), coaching and pedigree - Irish are that No. 2 best bet.
14. CAMAS PAPERMAKERS 5-4 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Mount Rainier, 6 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 17-7 win over Union (4A)
Last ranking: Unranked
Ranking rationale: Whoa, what a jump! Time for folks to stop scrutinizing record, and start believing this team means serious business from 4A GSHL.
15. BOTHELL COUGARS 8-1 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Bellarmine Prep, 1 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 21-3 loss to then-No. 8 Eastlake (4A)
Last ranking: No. 5
Ranking rationale: Odd to see the Cougars overwhelmed in important game Thursday, but limited offense has serious questions/injuries to address.
16. LINCOLN OF TACOMA 6-2 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Stanwood, 7 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 41-6 win over Silas (3A)
Last ranking: No. 18
Ranking rationale: Get ready for some good ol' fashioned QB Gabarri Johnson-led, high-scoring, three-hour battles for Abes' games in the playoffs.
17. GLACIER PEAK GRIZZLIES 6-2 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Skyline, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 34-28 loss to No. 2 Lake Stevens (4A)
Last ranking: No. 17
Ranking rationale: On the surface, losing a close game to No. 2 Lake Stevens isn't a bad loss. But Grizzlies tired of almost-did-it moral victories.
18. MOUNT SPOKANE WILDCATS 6-2 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Gig Harbor, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 28-20 loss to No. 3 Gonzaga Prep (4A)
Last ranking: No. 16
Ranking rationale: Is Spokane's top 3A squad much of a threat? Well, Wildcats have quarterback who slings it, and defense who stops it - so yeah.
19. SPANAWAY LAKE SENTINELS 4-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Liberty of Issaquah, 7 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 32-21 win over Lakes (3A)
Last ranking: No. 19
Ranking rationale: Remember this name - RB Joshua Collie. His physical "Beast Mode" running style can get hard yards, win playoff games for Sentinels.
20. ROYAL KNIGHTS 9-0 (1A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Naches Valley, 7 p.m. (1A)
Last result: 54-0 win over Connell (1A)
Last ranking: No. 20
Ranking rationale: Did anybody see the Knights' latest A-plus effort? Shut out a perennial top-10 program that usually torments teams with physicality.
21. ARLINGTON EAGLES 7-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Auburn Mountainview, 7 p.m. (3A)
Last result: Did not play (57-18 win over Mariner on Oct. 22)
Last ranking: No. 21
Ranking rationale: QB Trent Nobach got a week to rest his red-hot rifle-of-a-passing arm - and he will need to use it often every week moving forward.
22. RAINIER BEACH VIKINGS 4-2 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 6 vs. Snohomish, 4 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 46-35 win over Seattle Prep (3A)
Last ranking: No. 22
Ranking rationale: About that No. 2-in-the-Metro-League discussion - this is the other team that comes up most often. And we're not talking basketball.
23. NORTH KITSAP VIKINGS 9-0 (2A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Renton, 7 p.m. (2A)
Last result: 56-0 win over Kingston (2A)
Last ranking: No. 23
Ranking rationale: With more competitive playoff games on horizon - and more complicated defenses to face - interesting to see how QB Colton Bower reacts.
24. PUYALLUP VIKINGS 7-2 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 6 at Mount Si, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 42-7 win over Bellarmine Prep (4A)
Last ranking: Unranked
Ranking rationale: Winners of five games in a row, Vikings showing signs of putting it all together for time of year they've become well-accustomed to.
25. RICHLAND BOMBERS 7-2 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Central Valley, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 27-7 loss to then-No. 9 Kennewick (3A)
Last ranking: No. 15
Ranking rationale: Good news - Bombers faced other No. 2 seed (Central Valley of GSL) at home. Bad news - new home turf cannot defend good offenses.
(Featured file photo by Vince Miller)
