SBLive’s Top 25 Washington high school football rankings: Pair of 4A SPSL-vs.-4A GSHL state matchups highlight opening round
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 10:
Bracket breakdown: Surprises, snubs, top first round matchups
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WASHINGTON FOOTBALL ALL-CLASSIFICATION POWER RANKINGS
1. GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES 10-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. Kentwood, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 63-6 win over Federal Way (4A)
Last ranking: No. 1
Ranking rationale: Eric Kurle's group eclipses the 60-point mark for the first time this fall; 4A SPSL champions still have another gear in which to shift.
2. LAKE STEVENS VIKINGS 8-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. No. 24 Richland, 5 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 63-21 win over Emerald Ridge (4A)
Last ranking: No. 2
Ranking rationale: Another game, another dominant RB Jayden Limar performance (195 rushing yards, five TDs); Viks-Gonzaga Prep quarterfinal looms?
3. GONZAGA PREP BULLPUPS 9-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. Moses Lake, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 34-14 win over Chiawana (4A)
Last ranking: No. 3
Ranking rationale: Speaking of the Greater Spokane League champions, a No. 6 seed in the 4A bracket? Seems like program annually gets undersold.
4. BELLEVUE WOLVERINES 10-0 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. Lakes, 7 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 42-0 win over Southridge (3A)
Last ranking: No. 4
Ranking rationale: Most impressive thing about Bellevue's old-school Wing-T renaissance is how technically-sound and in sync this offensive line is in its blocking.
5. YELM TORNADOS 9-0 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. Seattle Prep, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 37-21 win over Mead (3A)
Last ranking: No. 5
Ranking rationale: QB Braeden Smith is game headliner, but two of 3A's best linebackers - Seattle Prep's Austin Harnetiaux and Yelm's Brayden Platt - also go at it.
6. KAMIAKIN BRAVES 10-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. North Creek, 4 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 48-3 win over Lewis & Clark (4A)
Last ranking: No. 6
Ranking rationale: If you like big-play-in-all-three-phases impact players, this game has it with Jaguars' Rocco Traore and Braves' Payton Graham, both seniors.
7. EASTLAKE WOLVES 10-0 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. Eastmont, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 49-14 win over Curtis (4A)
Last ranking: No. 7
Ranking rationale: 4A KingCo champions grab No. 2 seed behind Graham-Kapowsin. If you weren't the least bit surprised by that ... well, the Wolves were.
8. KENNEWICK LIONS 9-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. No. 18 Spanaway Lake, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 28-7 win over Timberline (3A)
Last ranking: No. 8
Ranking rationale: In Randy Affholter's first year in 2019, Lions beat Bethel in 3A quarterfinals. Now, they get another scary-athletic team from same school district.
9. SUMNER SPARTANS9-1 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. No. 25 Skyview, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 59-21 win over Tahoma (4A)
Last ranking: No. 19
Ranking rationale: Spartans really do have a second home in the 4A GSHL. Last two state trips, they've played Camas (2016) and Union (2017) - and now the Storm.
10. TUMWATER THUNDERBIRDS 7-2 (2A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. East Valley of Spokane, 7 p.m. (2A)
Last result: 62-14 win over Columbia River (2A)
Last ranking: No. 10
Ranking rationale: Maybe this matchup is a good omen for the Thunderbirds. Last time they played the Knights at state, it was 2010 - the year of first 2A title.
11. MARYSVILLE-PILCHUCK TOMAHAWKS 9-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. Garfield, 7 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 62-28 win over Bishop Blanchet (3A)
Last ranking: No. 11
Ranking rationale: To win a 3A title, you're going to likely have to go through multiple Metro League opponents - and Tomahawks get that right off the bat.
12. EASTSIDE CATHOLIC CRUSADERS 7-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. Stanwood, 7:45 p.m., Memorial Stadium (3A)
Last result: 42-0 win over Juanita (3A)
Last ranking: No. 12
Ranking rationale: Dare this thought be explored, but could Crusaders' defense this fall rival dominant group of 2018, led by DL J.T. Tuimoloau? Hmm ...
13. O’DEA FIGHTING IRISH 6-2 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. Kelso, 5 p.m., Memorial Stadium (3A)
Last result: 48-8 win over Auburn (3A)
Last ranking: No. 13
Ranking rationale: Last time Hilanders brought 1,000-yard rusher into state matchup with Irish was 2019. Josh Webb was held to 16 yards. Next up, Conner Noah.
14. CAMAS PAPERMAKERS 6-4 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. No. 23 Puyallup, 5:30 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 57-20 win over Mount Rainier (4A)
Last ranking: 14
Ranking rationale: Four early losses, followed by six consecutive wins - WIAA selection committee split the difference in Papermakers' state seed - No. 5.
15. BOTHELL COUGARS 9-1 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 12 at No. 16 Glacier Peak, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 24-6 win over Bellarmine Prep (4A)
Last ranking: No. 15
Ranking rationale: Last time the Cougars (No. 9) were a lower state seed in the first round? It was 2018. Cougars went to Chiawana and put on a clinic (40-14 win).
16. GLACIER PEAK GRIZZLIES 7-2 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 12 vs. No. 15 Bothell, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 49-21 win over Skyline (4A)
Last ranking: No. 17
Ranking rationale: How will Grizzlies handle the moment in first 4A state game? Hopefully much like first 3A appearance in 2009 - 38-24 victory against Timberline.
17. MOUNT SPOKANE WILDCATS 7-2 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 13 at No. 20 Arlington, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 20-0 win over Gig Harbor (3A)
Last ranking: No. 18
Ranking rationale: Perennially underrated, Wildcats have won three consecutive state openers - against Hanford (2009), University (2010) and Peninsula (2019).
18. SPANAWAY LAKE SENTINELS 5-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 13 at No. 8 Kennewick, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 41-6 win over Liberty of Issaquah (3A)
Last ranking: No. 19
Ranking rationale: Arriving just in time is ram-built sophomore RB Joshua Collie, who will see the most physical defensive front of his career, to-date.
19. ROYAL KNIGHTS 10-0 (1A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. Bellevue Christian, 1 p.m. (1A)
Last result: 55-0 win over Naches Valley(1A)
Last ranking: No. 20
Ranking rationale: In past five seasons, no 1A first-round opponent has scored more than a touchdown against Knights - who have outscored them, 236-13.
20. ARLINGTON EAGLES 8-1 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. No. 17 Mount Spokane, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 35-0 win over Auburn Mountainview (3A)
Last ranking: No. 21
Ranking rationale: Might think Eagles are more a basketball school, but they reached three 3A football title games in a four-year span - winning in 1979 and 1982.
21. RAINIER BEACH VIKINGS 5-2 (3A)
Up next: Nov. 13 at Peninsula, 1 p.m. (3A)
Last result: 28-14 win over Snohomish (3A)
Last ranking: No. 22
Ranking rationale: No other way to characterize it - coach Corey Sampson and his group feel they were snubbed in seeding (No. 9). Expect angry football in Purdy.
22. NORTH KITSAP VIKINGS 10-0 (2A)
Up next: Nov. 13 vs. Shadle Park, 1 p.m. (2A)
Last result: 42-7 win over Renton (2A)
Last ranking: No. 23
Ranking rationale: Rare occurrence that two league champions are playing in state opening round - which should be enough to have Vikings' attention.
23. PUYALLUP VIKINGS 8-2 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 13 at No. 14 Camas, 5:30 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 35-14 win over Mount Si (4A)
Last ranking: No. 24
Ranking rationale: C'mon, another 4A GSHL state opponent? Viks have lost past three to Clark County squads (Skyview in 2006, Union in 2018, Camas in 2019).
24. RICHLAND BOMBERS 8-2 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 13 at No. 2 Lake Stevens, 5 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 21-10 win over Central Valley (4A)
Last ranking: No. 25
Ranking rationale: Oddly enough, in their long WIAA state history, the three-time 4A champions have never played Lake Stevens - or any Wesco program.
25. SKYVIEW STORM 7-2 (4A)
Up next: Nov. 13 at No. 9 Sumner, 7 p.m. (4A)
Last result: 28-7 win over Kamiak (4A)
Last ranking: Unranked
Ranking rationale: Loss of RB Jaydin Knapp (knee) takes away offenses's big-play ability, but Storm built country strong - and can sustain long drives.
(Featured file photo by Vince Miller)
