4A Games to Watch in Week Eight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tillamook @ Scappoose (Thursday 10/19 @7pm)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>League title game in SD1. Tillamook needs a win in order to host in the first round of the playoffs, Scappoose needs a win in order to wrap up the #1 seed, with Henley hot on their tail in the #2 spot ready to move up if the opportunity is given. The pressure in this one, much like the talent that will be on the field, is abundant.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: Scappoose: [player_tooltip player_id='511860' first='Max' last='Nowlin'] (Jr, QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1224410' first='Cayden' last='Baker'] (Jr, RB/LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1095889' first='Eli' last='Harrah'] (Sr, WR/DB); Tillamook:&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='738760' first='Tanner' last='Hoskins'] (Sr, QB/DB), [player_tooltip player_id='1234454' first='Griffyn' last='Boomer'] (So, WR/DB), Andrew White (Sr, RB/LB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Milwaukie @ St Helens (Friday 10/20 @7pm)&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If either of these teams are going to compete for an at-large bid into the playoffs, they have to win this game. St Helens is currently ranked 14th and trails Marshfield, currently ranked 10th, in the race for the only non-automatic spot. Milwaukie is currently ranked 22nd, though has a narrow–but nonetheless evident–path to the playoffs. Both need a win, one will be knocked out of the playoff hunt this week.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: St Helens: Austin Stockwell (Sr, RB/LB), Skyler Bjornstrom (Sr, WR/DB), Mason Stroud (Sr, WR/DB); Milwaukie: Larenzo Dukes (Sr, RB/DE), Tate Brandon (Sr, WR/DB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cascade @ Marist (Friday 10/20 @7pm)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cascade needs a win to keep their league title hopes, or at least a tie of the league title, alive. Marist is not guaranteed a home playoff game at the moment, and could with a loss set up a scenario in week nine where the loser between themselves and Junction City would have to be on the road to start November. With a win, there is a considerable chance even without a league title under their belt they would still end up with a home playoff game in round one, though would likely also mean a second round trip to Mazama, Henley, or Scappoose.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: Marist: [player_tooltip player_id='1322050' first='Nick' last='Hudson'] (Jr, QB), [player_tooltip player_id='209673' first='Aiden' last='Hazen'] (Sr, RB/LB); Cascade: [player_tooltip player_id='1234447' first='Bryce' last='Kuenzi'] (So, RB/LB), Karsten Sande (Sr, WR/DB), Teagan Allen (Sr, OL/DL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Henley @ Mazama (Friday 10/20 @7pm)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huge stakes in this rivalry matchup. The winner positions themselves to be in a tight contest with Scappoose in week nine hunting for the #1 overall seed, the loser might drop to the 4-5 range–with Seaside being elevated–and being in danger of having to travel in the second round. [player_tooltip player_id='738727' first='Logan' last='Whitlock'], [player_tooltip player_id='738761' first='Tyson' last='Van Gastel'], Vic Lease, Alex Stork. What a matchup. Game of the week in small school football.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: Mazama: [player_tooltip player_id='738761' first='Tyson' last='Van Gastel'] (Sr, QB/DB), Armondo Galindo (Sr, OL/DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1326582' first='Kristopher' last='Baldwin'] (Jr, RB/LB); Henley: [player_tooltip player_id='738727' first='Logan' last='Whitlock'] (Sr, RB/DB), [player_tooltip player_id='914279' first='Joseph' last='Janney'] (So, QB/DB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Crook County @ Baker (Friday 10/20 @7pm)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crook County can clinch a playoff spot with a win, but with a loss opens the door for La Grande to potentially sneak back in and grab the third automatic spot allotted to SD5. Baker with a win can guarantee that next week against Pendleton is for the league title regardless of what happens in the Pendleton @ La Grande matchup this friday. Baker with consecutive wins can clinch a home game in the first round, which would cap a tremendous turnaround from their 0-4 start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: Crook County: Luke Freauff (Sr, WR/DB), Jacob McKinnon (Sr, QB/LB); Baker: [player_tooltip player_id='769993' first='Rasean' last='Jones'] (So, WR/LB), Paul Hobson (Sr, QB/DB), Hudson Spike (Sr, WR/DB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->