Everything has built up to Friday night.
Unbeaten versus unbeaten in Class 2A. A top-five showdown in the C2BL East. Mentor against Mentee in the C2BL West. One of the most known rivalries in Southwest Washington renews.
High school football was made for weeks like this. It was made for Week 8.
Here is a capsule look at the 10 games featuring area schools that begin on Friday night plus a Saturday afternoon showdown.
Tumwater (7-0) at W.F. West (7-0), 7 p.m.
In prime contention for Game of the Year, the usual suspects atop the EvCo will settle it out in Chehalis and the added bonus of both being perfect and top-10 in respected polls. After six weeks of playing on turf, the Thunderbirds will play their first game on natural grass this week. Per usual, it has been a committee of tailbacks in the Wing T Tumwater attack. W.F. West QB Gage Brumfield, a recent Eastern Washington commit, is nearing 35 total touchdowns on the season. The Bearcats have allowed 54 total points this season.
Aberdeen (2-5) at Black Hills (3-4), 7 p.m.
This game will likely determine the third and final bid for a post-Week 9 contest out of the Class 2A Evergreen Conference. Both the Bobcats and Wolves each have one league victory heading into Friday’s showdown at Tumwater District Stadium. Black Hills pulled out a grinder of a win over Elma last week that featured two blocked field goals – one returned for a touchdown – and a safety. Aberdeen is coming off a goose egg versus Tumwater and have alternated victories and setbacks the last four weeks.
Rochester (4-3) at Tenino (4-3), 7 p.m.
This fall’s annual Scatter Creek Showdown has more prominence with it as a league game plus the Warriors being two wins away from an unbeaten record in the Class 1A Evergreen League. Rochester has triumphed in four of the last five games since an 0-2 start and are two victories away from its first six-win season since 2021. Tenino kept its playoff hopes alive with a victory over Hoquiam, but needs a win this week plus Elma to lose out in order to finish top-three in the standings. Rochester won last year’s matchup by 13 points.
Toledo (7-0) at Onalaska (7-1), 7 p.m.
One of the best Class 2B games of the season takes place in Logger Country when the Riverhawks and Loggers battle for C2BL East supremacy on Friday night. Technically, Onalaska won twice last week – a forfeit versus Winlock and a 50-point blowout over Klahowya. Blaze Underhill and Rodrigo Rodriguez have contributed to five straight 50-plus point games. Toledo’s three-headed attack of Eli Weeks, Carter Swofford and Nathan Beaver have been the driving force of its balanced attack. The Loggers beat the Riverhawks 20-0 last year.
Mossyrock (2-5) at Rainier (4-3), 7 p.m.
It is a battle for third place in the C2BL East between the Vikings and Mountaineers in South Thurston County. If Rainier pulls out the home win, the first one of the season, it closes the league slate alone in third place heading into the crossover round post-Week 9. The Mountaineers are one victory away from back-to-back winning seasons. Mossyrock only picked up safety in a non-league game last week. Similar to Rainier’s home woes, the Vikings have yet to pull out a road victory.
Toutle Lake (2-5) at Morton-White Pass (3-4), 7 p.m.
When the Ducks and Timberwolves clash helmets in Randle, a Week 8 victory isn’t the only thing up for grabs. The winner remains in the hunt for a crossover spot and the loser has a long road to nab even a top-five finish in the C2BL East. MWP lost via blowout to Toledo last week, its fourth setback in five weeks. In the last three league matchups going 11-on-11, the T-Wolves have totaled 42 total points. Toutle Lake lost a barnburner 60-56 versus Rainier a week ago, mostly with playing its backup quarterback.
Winlock (0-7) at Coupeville (4-3), 5:30 p.m.
After accepting a forfeit last week against Onalaska, the Cardinals return to the field for their final non-league game against Coupeville. Winlock has played two eight-man games and took two forfeits since its last 11-on-11 contest versus Toutle Lake in Week 3. This fall will be the Cardinals’ second straight under .500 campaign. Coupeville is battling a C2BL program for the second week in a row. The Wolves have dropped back-to-back games since winning four of their first five. Their season finale at Friday Harbor likely determines a crossover berth.
Napavine (5-2) at PWV (5-2), 7 p.m.
Between playing in Pe Ell and Menlo as hosts, the Titans have not lost a home game since Week 3. They will try for five wins at home on Friday, welcoming a traditional Class 2B power in the Tigers. PWV, coached by former Napavine assistant Josh Seymour, have allowed just 26 total points in three C2BL West games. The Tigers have won three straight since a Week 4 setback. The winner of this has the inside track at a league title. Napavine got a little healthier at RB with two players back plus Colin Shields finished with 150 yards last week.
Adna (4-3) at Ilwaco (4-3), 7 p.m.
A road win against the Fishermen will clinch a crossover berth for the Pirates for the second straight season under Coach Aaron Cochran. So long as Forks upends Raymond/South Bend, the top-four in the C2BL West would be Napavine, PWV, Adna and Forks in no order. Adna’s Beau Miller bulldozed to over 280 rushing yards last week, winning on an odd week for the first time all year. Ilwaco has lost three in a row since a 4-0 start, only scoring total points in three league matchups. The Fishermen will honor their seniors on Friday night.
Centralia (0-7) at Sultan (4-3) Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Tigers close the non-league slate with a two-hour trek north to battle the Turks in a matinee contest. Centralia, playing its second afternoon game in three weeks, is attempting to avoid a second winless season in three years. The Tigers offense tallied just 12 total yards in a Swamp Cup loss last Friday. Sultan is just 1-3 at home this season, picking up that win two weeks ago versus Lynwood. After dropping their opening two matchups, the Turks have won four of five and eclipsed 30 points in those victories.
