The End Zone

Here we go with another season of prognosticating outcomes of KingCo 2A/3A/4A high-school football games.

We’re keeping the same format we had last season, but welcome new Bellevue sportswriter Josh Suman to the mix. Glad to see some fresh meat, because I was getting tired of whooping up on former Bellevue sportswriter Joel Willits (OK, complete lie).

We will also include Eastside Catholic and Bellevue Christian games week to week because they fall in our coverage area.

Polls are open, so you the reader can vote. We’ll keep track of the correct picks throughout the season for a friendly competition.

Without further ado, here are the picks for the first week.

BIG 5
Issaquah vs. Heritage
Kevin - This is a rematch of last year’s season-opener, a game in which Issaquah dominated Heritage 42-13 in Vancouver. The Eagles hold home-field advantage over the Timberwolves this season. Other than that, there are a handful of unknowns. Heritage has a new coach and a new starting quarterback. The Timberwolves are supposedly fast, but small. Eagles’ starter Ethan Kalin opened the season passing for 286 yards and two touchdowns while Issaquah also tallied 210 yards on the ground. Unless Heritage has made drastic improvements on the defensive side of the ball, don’t be surprised if there is a similar outcome.
Pick – Issaquah 38-10

Josh - Issaquah rolled 41-13 in the playoffs last season and has enough weapons back in 2011 to control the T-Wolves again, especially in their own house. As long as Gellatly, Thomas and the rest of the Eagles’ backfield can generate any productivity in the running game, Issaquah will have little trouble.
Pick – Issaquah 38-17

Skyline vs. Liberty
Kevin - Expect revenge to be on the minds of Skyline, which lost its only regular-season game 39-34 to Liberty in last season’s season opener. The Spartans get the Patriots at home on Friday. Both teams lost key names from last year’s squads, but perhaps none more paramount to their team than Liberty. The Patriots graduated Trey Wheeler, Chandler Jenkins and Jake Bainton — their leading passer, rusher and receiver. Skyline junior quarterback Max Browne passed for 415 yards and five TDs against Liberty in his first ever varsity game. One big question for the Spartans comes at receiver where they graduated their two top performers, Kasen Williams and Jordan Simone. New names seem to arise at the position year after year, however. Spartan Stadium will be loud Friday night, and a true test for Liberty’s first-year starting quarterback Jordan West. Experience at key positions will be the difference in this one.
Pick – Skyline 35-14

Josh - Post-Big Three life begins with a daunting task for Steve Valich and the Patriots. No more Jenkins, Wheeler or Bainton and that is going to spell trouble against Peyton Pelleur and a physical Skyline defense, even with three All-KingCo lineman returning in Anthony Olobia, Jalen Robinson and Kevin Ahrens. Max Browne will make the losses of Simone and Williams out wide bearable and the Spartans never seem to have trouble finding capable skill-position guys.
Pick – Skyline 40-14

Central Kitsap vs. Eastlake
Kevin - Central Kitsap caught Eastlake off guard during the first week last season in Sammamish. Now, the Wolves hope to do the same in Silverdale. The Cougars methodically earned a 13-10 victory over the Wolves behind a veteran quarterback, running back and a strong defense. With most of the components gone, the Cougars are rebuilding in 2011. Still, third-year coach Mark Keel has his program believing it can win. The Cougars were just two points away from knocking off Skyline in last year’s state tournament. Eastlake’s expectations are extremely high this season. With a giant offensive line guiding running back Ryan Lewis and quarterback Keegan Kemp the Wolves should put up big numbers this season. A fast start will be crucial on the long road trip.
Pick – Eastlake 21-7

Josh - Some say the Wolves have the potential to shake things up at the top of the Crest this year with senior quarterback Keegan Kemp and a massive offensive line anchored by 2010 all-conference selection Gino Breslin and Canadian transfer James Bradley, who tips the scales at 310 pounds. That run to the league title game may or may not materialize, but a win in the opener is a no-doubter.
Pick – Eastlake 42-21

Oaks Christian vs. Bellevue
Kevin - I saw Oaks Christian first hand two years ago when they made the trip to Skyline and was impressed by the way coach Bill Reddell his program. The Lions like spreading the ball around the field and apparently have a transfer quarterback from Utah, Lucas Falk, who can sling the ball with the best of them. Bellevue comes with no surprises. They will run the ball, and run it some more behind their sharpened Wing-T offense. Can quarterback Tyler Hasty and his slew of talented running backs move the ball and control the clock? Will Bellevue be able to stop the Oaks Christian passing attack? The outcome will weigh heavy on both of these factors.
Pick – Oaks Christian 28-24

Josh - I’ve gone back and forth on this one several times since the game was finalized. On the one hand, Bellevue dropped its last two games to high-caliber out of state competition back in 2009. On the other hand, that was back in 2009. This group of Wolverines is deep, experienced and still possesses pinpoint precision in its offensive attack that is impossible to duplicate, especially with a scout team. Oaks Christian will win the game if they get into the end zone early and often (say, 20 first quarter points) and don’t allow Bellevue to build the morale-crushing momentum of those 12 play, nine minute drives they are known for (see: goal line stand by Katy that loomed large throughout in 09). But I don’t think they will be able to do either of those things consistently enough and it will be Tyler Hasty, not Ishmael Adams or Jordan Payton, who has the biggest impact on this one.
Pick – Bellevue 24-22

Interlake vs. Newport
Kevin - This is a rematch of last year’s game in which Newport crushed Interlake 70-14. The Saints are no doubt more comfortable under second-year coach Jason Rimkus’ offense and with a weapon like Jordan Todd, can strike at any time. According to Knights’ coach Mike Miller, his team is even bigger and stronger than last season. That doesn’t bode well for 2A Interlake, which will need to find a way to stop talented quarterback Isaac Dotson and the potent Newport offense.
Pick – Newport 42-20

Josh - Coaches at both programs have said repeatedly this game will be closer than the 70-14 result in favor of Newport last season, which was the first game as a head coach for Interlake’s Jason Rimkus. Who am I to disagree with those in the know? That being said, Dotson will still be too much and the Interlake offense is going to have some growing pains with a quarterback who hasn’t been under center since middle school.
Pick – Newport 31-17

OTHER GAMES
Juanita vs. Redmond
Kevin - Juanita 24-14
Josh - Juanita 42-13

Ballard vs. Sammamish
Kevin - Ballard 35-14
Josh - Sammamish 17-16

Bothell vs. Union
Kevin - Bothell 24-20
Josh - Bothell 30-21

Lake Washington vs. Garfield
Kevin - Lake Washington 21-20
Josh - Lake Washington 24-6

Snohomish vs. Inglemoor
Kevin - Inglemoor 35-14
Josh - Inglemoor 20-19

Franklin vs. Roosevelt
Kevin - Franklin 28-20
Josh - Franklin 17-10

Mount Si vs. Woodinville
Kevin - Mount Si 28-14
Josh - Mount Si 28-20

Mercer Island vs. Seattle Prep
Kevin - Mercer Island 35-32
Josh - Mercer Island 35-14

Eastside Catholic vs. Cleveland
Kevin - Eastside Catholic 48-7
Josh - Eastside Catholic 42-0

Bellevue Christian vs. Northwest Christian
Kevin - Northwest Christian 28-7
Josh - Northwest Christian 11-6