THE NW’s Top 30 Programs (1-15)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Midway through the year we take a look at the Northwest's top 30 programs and who has excelled thus far. Washington has double the population and has always had more teams listed, but top Oregon schools have beaten up on Washington teams over the last ½ decade so it's interesting to compare. Here we see 22 Washington programs mentioned to Oregon's 8. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#16-30</strong> listed here</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.Puyallup WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My #1 ranked team heading into the season hasn't shied away from the competition, beating traditional Idaho power Rocky Mountain HS by 43 points to start the year. They followed that up by getting a 32-14 victory over 3A title favorite Bellevue and recently a 43-42 OT win over #2 Lake Stevens.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.Lake Stevens WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week's matchup versus Puyallup could have gone either way with the other purple team coming up just short in the 1-point loss. Lake Stevens is a legit state title contender. They have played an equally tough slate with a 31-26 win over another contender in GK to start the season, before proceeding to destroy Bothell 41-10.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.Graham Kapowsin WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GK took a 31-26 loss to Lake Stevens to start the year, but that game could have gone either way. They don't really play any other state powers the rest of the regular season, so they will likely be 8-1 heading into the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if that's a net benefit or if the lack of competition hurts them come November.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.Lake Oswego OR (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LO is playing as well as any team in the NW, not named Puyallup. The reigning 6A state champs fought off a good Casteel team out of Arizona and have beaten three top 10 Oregon programs (Willamette, Central Catholic, Sherwood) by a combined score of 127-29. Lake O gets a nice little break with a bye and then a game versus Oregon City, before traveling to West Linn where I would NOW consider them a favorite.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.Bellevue WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines beat a very talented Kennedy Catholic team 14-10 to start the year before falling to #1 Puyallup by 18. They are still young but a 3A title favorite in my opinion. They likely won't be challenged for the rest of the regular season even while playing a 4A Kingco Conference schedule.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.O'Dea WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior RB [player_tooltip player_id='986701' first='J'Shaun' last='Wilson'] has been unreal, but the Irish haven't played anybody. The 2x reigning state champs only challenging game will be in 3 weeks versus Eastside Catholic who is also a LEGIT state title contender and looking as good as any team in the state thus far.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.Eastside Catholic WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastside has outscored their first four opponents by a score of 171-22 and like O'Dea is in a similar situation with regards to lack of competition. Rainier Beach and Seattle Prep are improved programs, but the games most likely won't be close when they play. The Crusaders look like they are the real deal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.Kennedy Catholic WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think the Lancers have a shot come playoff time with a few of their early games being indicative of the talent on the roster. Kennedy came up just short 14-10 to 3A title favorite Bellevue in the opener and then blasted a solid Mount Tahoma program 33-0. Playing a NPSL schedule doesn't really help with most of the games being lopsided but there isn't anything they can do about that.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.Nelson OR (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nelson just had a program changing win at #1 West Linn 36-35 after losing their opener to Grants Pass 49-48 in OT. The loss to GP can be justified with the team being so young and the Cavemen being one of the region's best. I've said numerous times that the Hawks are the fastest rising program in Oregon with QB [player_tooltip player_id='1242808' first='Braylon' last='Gaines'] and Duck commit [player_tooltip player_id='937176' first='Malachi' last='Garlington'] leading the way.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.West Linn OR (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions were my clear cut #1 coming into this week before falling to Nelson 36-35 at home. It's an injury plagued group who has played good but not great thus far. West Linn has dominated Washington competition the last few years, beating 2x reigning state champ Sumner the last two seasons and Lake Stevens back-to-back years as well. The next two weeks will tell us all we need to know playing Tualatin and Lake Oswego.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11.Tumwater WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's incredibly tough to keep Tumwater outside of the top 10 with it being highly unlikely they lose to anyone this year at the 2A level. They have destroyed everyone in their path this year by a combined score of 198-29 (Avg 49-7). This includes solid programs like Mount Si (3-1) and Liberty (3-1), along with Steilacoom and Woodland who are both very respectable.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12.Tualatin OR (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I really like this Tualatin program and think there is a good chance they get the W versus West Linn this coming week. It's now or never for the T-Wolves the next few seasons, with the team featuring a litany of D1 athletes and what should be one of the best lines in the NW, at least on paper. They have beaten opponents thus far by an average margin of 49-12. This includes three top 15 teams (Sherwood, Mountainside, Glencoe)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1<strong>3.Sumner WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You have to give the reigning 2x 4A state champs the necessary respect with solid wins over a good Eagle, Idaho team 41-22 to start the year and Tahoma 38-21. The biggest question mark for me came in week 3 came with the 22-19 win over Mount Tahoma. Just to put that into perspective Kennedy Catholic beat the T-Birds (Mt Tahoma) 33-0 the week prior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14.Silverton OR (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Word on the street is that Coeur d'alene, Idaho is that good. Everyone was rightfully concerned when the reigning 5A state champs got lit up in week 1 37-7 by Coeur d'alene. Since then the Idaho group has proceeded to destroy everyone going (6-0) against good teams, wining by a combined score of 246-38...&nbsp; &nbsp; Silverton more than turned the corner as well, crushing two top 10 6A Oregon opponents in Grants Pass and Willamette.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15.Skyview WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year was a little bit deceptive with the Storm playing a brutally tough schedule against the likes of Puyallup and Graham Kapowsin and going (3-6). They've come back in a big way, getting a quality win to start the year against Glacier Peak, and then beating longtime foe Camas 38-21. This past weekend they also just beat an undefeated Battle Ground team 35-0.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->