Roles start to be identified. Weaknesses are more glaring and strengths become clearer.
By the time Week 3 rolls around, the picture of teams gets less grainy and more in focus. For six area teams, the potential of 3-0 is in the cards. League play starts in Class 2B and the non-league slate
Here is a capsule look at the 12 games from SW Washington as Week 3 draws near.
Adna (1-1) at Tenino (2-0), 7 p.m.
A doozy could be in store on the blacktop between two teams with contrasting styles so far. The Pirates are averaging 33 points per game while the Beavers have only allowed one touchdown in eight quarters. Trevin Salme threw for 236 yards in a Week 2 victory over Cle Elum-Roslyn. Adna hasn’t started 2-1 in three years. Tenino can get to 3-0 for the first time since 2022 and it’s been the defense that has carried them. The Beavers won the meeting last year by a field goal.
PWV (2-0) at Toledo (2-0), 7 p.m.
It is the only area matchup between a pair of 2-0 teams this week and a potential crossover contest down the road. No offense has lit up the scoreboard quite like the Riverhawks, putting up 51 and 60 points in the first two weeks, respectively. Toledo will only play at home two more times over the next month. PWV gets its first taste of Friday night after back-to-back Saturday games. The Titans have four ball carriers averaging over five yards per play.
Morton-White Pass (2-0) at Rainier (0-2), 7 p.m.
This game opens the C2BL East division and it may have major implications. The Mountaineers whipped the Timberwolves by 30 points a year ago and it earned them the No. 3 seed in the division. MWP, like 2024, is perfect with two blowout victories. Logan Mays, Kohen Ingalsbe and Liam Pelletier already have 200-plus rushing yards. Rainier fell to RSB by a point last week, failing a two-point try for the lead. It has won five of the last seven games against MWP.
La Center (1-1) at Napavine (1-1), 7 p.m.
For the first time in eight years, the Tigers are coming off a home loss. They haven’t lost back-to-back home games since 2012-13. Napavine ran the ball well with Grady Wilson and Caleb Von Pressentin, but penalties and turnovers killed momentum in their Week 2 loss. It will face Class 1A programs in back-to-back weeks. La Center pocketed its first win last week over Woodland. The Wildcats lost in the state quarterfinals a year ago to Montesano.
Aberdeen (1-1) at Rochester (2-0), 7 p.m.
In two games so far, the Warriors’ offense has been riding the hot hand of junior Maddox Rodgers. He’s sitting at seven touchdowns and nearing 400 yards already. Rochester hasn’t started a year 3-0 in four years and with a victory on Friday, will be halfway to its first winning season also in four years. Aberdeen has played in two one-score games, beating Olympic and losing to Steilacoom. The Bobcats only have scored one offensive touchdown this year.
W.F. West (1-1) at Timberline (2-0), 7 p.m.
The Bearcats turned a corner in Week 2 with a dominating 41-0 victory over Class 3A Capital. Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Hoffman went ballistic with five touchdowns and over 300 yards of total offense. Top wide receiver Connor Coleman may return to the field after sitting out last Friday. W.F. West begins a stretch of three road games in a four week period. Timberline destroyed Washington (Tacoma) 54-6 behind a 36-point first half.
Centralia (1-1) at Foster (1-1), 7 p.m.
The bus ride back from Longview was a happy one for the Tigers, snapping an 11-game losing streak with a 35-0 thrashing of R.A. Long in Week 2. Can they duplicate it heading to Tukwila? Malcolm Tukes is a way-too-early first team all-league back candidate with averaging over 150 yards on the ground. In last year’s contest, Foster whipped Centralia 58-7. It will be the Bulldogs’ home opener after splitting the first two games on the road.
Eastlake (1-1) at Tumwater (1-1), 7 p.m.
The Thunderbirds welcome a traditional Class 4A power to Tumwater District Stadium for their first home game of the season. Tumwater got back on track with a 45-6 demolition of Bainbridge behind the ground attack of Peyton Davis and Tyler Briscoe. The duo combined for six of its seven scores on the night. Eastlake, out of the KingCo Conference, used three scores from Myles Johnson to clip Gig Harbor 39-20 last week.
Black Hills (1-1) at Montesano (2-0), 7 p.m.
Scoring has been an issue for the Wolves through two games, putting up 27 total points. They rallied down 13-0 at halftime against Eatonville, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Elijah Simpson has three tackles for loss and three sacks for Black Hills, who have totaled 10 tackles for loss as a team. Montesano, off an appearance in the Class 1A state semis, have picked up where it left off with two statement wins over La Center and Ridgefield.
Oakville-North River (2-0) at Chief Leschi (0-2), 7 p.m.
If the Acorns find a way to win their final of three straight road games, it will be the first time in 19 years they have started 3-0. The offensive attack has been a three-headed monster of Gio Rodas, Ben Kimbrel and Lewis Koser. Rodas is averaging 156 yards per game on the ground. Defensively, ONR is sitting at 15 tackles for loss as a team with four turnovers forced. Chief Leschi has allowed 84 points in two weeks and is aiming to snap an eight-game skid.
Naselle (1-1) at Winlock (1-1), 7 p.m.
A week after obliterating Chief Leschi behind seven touchdowns from Carter Svenson, the Cardinals came back down to earth with a double digit loss to Ocosta. Winlock scored first, but proceeded to give up 42 consecutive points before the fourth quarter. It has not gotten to two wins in September since the 2022 season. Naselle is coming off a 54-10 blowout loss to Wahkiakum. Comets quarterback Leith Chadwick has thrown six touchdowns to zero picks.
Onalaska (1-1) vs. Cedar Park Christian (2-0) at Juanita High School, Saturday, 7 p.m.
The Loggers rebounded in a big way last week with a 10-point win over Napavine on the road. It was the arm of quarterback Lane Gordon that iced the game. Fullback Ethan Thayer ran for over 100 yards and Morgan Allen came away with a forced fumble. This is the third of six road games for the Loggers. Cedar Park Christian walloped Friday Harbor and Klahowya by double figures. Eagles QB Tre Samuelu has a 7:1 touchdown to interception ratio.
