By Nathan Joyce
MaxPreps.com
The football playoffs are upon us.
State play-in games will kick off around the state this weekend.
With 32 teams qualified in the Class 4A and Class 3A brackets, and with many Class 2A and Class 1A playing their own play-in games, the matchups are endless and action entertaining.
Here's a first-round game that could be the most interesting.
Top-ranked Bothell (9-0) won the KingCo 4A Conference and will host the Gig Harbor Tides (6-3).
This is a tough draw for the Cougars as the Tides are big enough and physical enough to play with anybody. The Tides only losses are to Lakes, the top-ranked Class 3A team, playoff-bound South Kitsap, which came on a bad punt snap on a horrible field to lose 7-0, and to Central Kitsap, another playoff team.
The Tides' line averages nearly 6-foot-1 and 280 pounds, a considerable size advantage over the smaller Cougars.
Both teams boast stellar defenses. Bothell has yielded only 53 points (just less than six per game) while Gig Harborhas given up only 85 (just over nine per game).
Football: Around the State
No. 2 Ferris wrapped up its first league title in 33 years with a win over winless Rogers, 43-14. . Jordan Durbin's threw for 401 yards yards, fifth-best in school history, and seven touchdowns as Prosser, No. 1 in the 2A classification, clinched at least a share of the Central Washington Athletic Conference title by crushing Wapato 49-0. . Olympic, in the playoffs for the first time since 1999, wrapped up its first league title since 1986, beating Peninsula 22-17 to clinch the Olympic League's Class 3A Division. . Olympia used a big second half to beat South Kitsap 33-14 and win the Narrows League title. . Kennedy earned a share of the Seamount League title by knocking off No. 8 Renton 35-29. . Washington recruit Demitrius Bronson, despite an ankle injury, rushed for 127 yards as Kentwood clinched a playoff spot with a 35-19 win over Kentlake. . O'Dea won its third straight Metro League title with a 45-14 win over Nathan Hale.
Cross Country: Mead Dynasty Set to Continue?
The state cross country meet is Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
Mead again looks like the team to beat as it won the eastern Washington regional and heads into state as the top-ranked team.
Mead has won 11 state titles since 1988. In fact, a team from Spokanehas own the boys title every year since 1988.
Ferris, which won the last four titles, won't defend its crown this year as the Saxons failed to qualify for state.
North Central, also of Spokane, is the No. 1 Class 3A team and is expected to repeat.
Gig Harbor, which on theClass 4A girls title, is also expected to repeat.
Volleyball: Mead Dynasty Set to Continue?
The Mead Panthers have won the last four Class 4A state volleyball titles, and it appears they'll be a favorite again this year. ThePanthers are the top-ranked team in the coaches' poll.
As district playoffs open up across the state this weekend, the Panthers already clinched their own district title beating Lewis and Clark 3-0. Mead moves onto the eastern Washington Regionals this weekend.
"We rocked," Mead coach Judy Kight told the Spokesman-Review. "I love my life. The kids just rocked tonight. We look like we're ready to me. They sure worked hard to get here, so it's cool that we put it together when it really means something. ... When you get kids likethis, this talented with this much heart and passion - and put in the hard work with it - you've got it all if you put it all together at the right time.That's what's fun about tonight."
