THE NW’s Top 30 Programs (16-30)

<!-- 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.&nbsp;</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><strong>#1-15</strong> listed here <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/the-nws-top-30-programs-1-15/">https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/the-nws-top-30-programs-1-15/</a></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.Anacortes WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I still don't see anyone hanging with Tumwater at the 2A level, but Anacortes and Washington St commit [player_tooltip player_id='1428218' first='Ryan' last='Harrington'] picked up that an insane 48-47 triple OT victory over reigning state champ Archbishop Murphy a few weeks ago. This speaks to the talent within the program.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17.Bothell WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Traditionally one of the better programs at the 4A level. Bothell got destroyed by Lake Stevens 41-10 in week 2 but have since picked up solid wins against Glacier Peak and Woodinville. It's unfortunate they aren't playing the other usual Kingco suspects like Eastlake, Skyline, Mount Si and Bellevue this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18.Grants Pass OR (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GP beat Oregon #2 Nelson 49-48 to start the year, just to put the teams overall potential into perspective. They also have standout QB [player_tooltip player_id='796694' first='Jordan' last='Rossetta'] back from injury with the Cavemen impressing the last two weeks in blowout wins over North Medford and Sprague.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>19.Archbishop Murphy WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reigning 2A state champs bring back multiple D1 guys after they ran the table and went (13-0) last year, beating opponents by an average score of 52-9. They did graduate a bunch of division 1 talent which is tough to make up for, showing some of their vulnerabilities in the 48-47 triple OT loss to Anacortes. The 28-22 win over Burlington Edison this past Friday also raises questions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>20.Mount Tahoma WA (1-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't let the record fool you. The T-Birds graduated a bunch of talent from a team that played in the 3A state title game last year. They are young, featuring the likes of one of the nation's top 29's in [player_tooltip player_id='1397364' first='Kamari' last='Wilson']. They lost their opener to Waipahu, Hawaii who currently sits at (6-1) and then to Kennedy Catholic 33-0 which wasn't pretty. The 22-19 loss to Sumner was much more reflective of where they are at, although they are still far off from where they were a season ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>21.Glacier Peak WA (2-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glacier Peak is always tough. They lost a close one to a surging Skyview team out of Vancouver 31-25 and then got beat by Bothell 35-21. A lot will depend on what type of improvements they can make before the playoffs with state power Lake Stevens being a big-time test in two weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>22.Moses Lake WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The kids from Eastern Washington return numerous athletes from a squad that went 11-1 last year behind Montana QB commit Brady Jay. They were another example of how good Coeur d'alene, Idaho is losing 42-7 in week 2.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23.Willamette OR (2-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines took losses to Oregon reigning 6A &amp; 5A state champs Lake Oswego and Silverton to start the year. They have come back in recent weeks with nice wins over top 10 programs in Sherwood and Jesuit. I still like them to potentially make a run come playoff time behind multiple D1 guys.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24.Southridge WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Suns did get tripped up by Eastmont 30-24 in week 2, but I like the trajectory of where they are headed with big wins over Kamiakin 27-14 and conference power Chiawana 30-27. [player_tooltip player_id='2381190' first='Tayton' last='Jackman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2381183' first='Jacob' last='Korotkov'] have played lights out all year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>25.Chiawana WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Definitely the most consistent MCC team year in and year out. The 28-7 win at Camas in the opener was impressive with the loss to Southridge being a tough pill to swallow. They usually make a run come playoff time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>26.Lincoln WA (3-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You would have to imagine 4* QB [player_tooltip player_id='1188085' first='Sione' last='Kaho'], a Stanford commit, is looking to make his senior year special, after a mediocre last three years as a team. Junior RB [player_tooltip player_id='995881' first='JT' last='Williams'] has been of the charts good early in the season with the Abes playing an intriguing game against Mount Tahoma in a few weeks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>27.Lakes WA (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lakes had a tough 8-7 loss to WF West but they are led by QB Jadis Lefono who was the conference POY as a freshman last season. They also have numerous athletes on the perimeter ranked among the top players in the state, so I could see them winning a playoff game or two. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>28.Camas WA (2-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Papermakers lost respectable games to Chiawana and Skyview and have the necessary playmakers to make some noise later in the season if they can clean some things up. They get to play Skyview again at home in three weeks, which will be telling.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>29.Enumclaw WA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enumclaw beat Jefferson and Decatur by a combined score of 127-7 to start the year and then got two big wins against good teams in White River (28-14) and Federal Way (28-27). As of right now they look like a favorite to go undefeated before heading into the 3A playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>30.Sherwood OR (1-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You have to respect the non-league schedule with the Bowmen dropping contests to #1 Lake O, #4 Tualatin, and a 37-28 ball game to #6 Willamette. They will win the rest of their games and go into the playoffs with a 6-3 record.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->