Prep Football: Week 3 will tell us what’s real and what we wish we could believe in

Jordan Nailon / blastzonemedia@gmail.com

Prep football season has a funny way of taking forever to get started and then disappearing than fog during an Indian summer. As we prepare for kickoff in Week 3 of what was not-so-long-ago a brand new season, there’s far more unknowns floating in the air than there are concrete truths forming any sort of useful foundation of common knowledge.

It seems like Kelso is good, again. How’s that for exclusive insight?

R.A. Long has more wins than any team in Longview and Mark Morris is winless since Shawn Perkins retired. Those are facts.

Woodland seems to be searching for a new identity under a first-year head coach, but the 2A GSHL has been so underwhelming that they’re as close to runner up as last place on the N2 Media power rankings.

Kalama seems to be having a good time playing 1A football, so far, and Castle Rock is 2-0 heading into a matchup that should show just how high the ceiling is in the Trico League.

Toledo has done what it promised to do by playing physical football in the 2B ranks and avoiding the wrath of a disappointed coaching staff. Toutle Lake smacked a 1A foe last week and will now look to stack wins, while Winlock will try to pull out of a tailspin to spoil the Fighting Ducks’ plans. Even Ilwaco has been better than advertised and seems to be enjoying the benefits of some addition by subtraction as they look to improve to 3-0. 

The early returns have been rough for Wahkiakum in the 1B world, and the Mules will be stepping up to play the Fishermen in an Ocean Beach Highway showdown this week before diving into the meat of their 8-man league schedule. Naselle has looked like the same old juggernaut, but the Comets will have to survive the next 6-8 weeks (at least) without Jacob Lindstrom after the senior quarterback snapped his collarbone last week.

Over in Oregon Country, both Rainier and Clatskanie have experienced some tough sledding in the early going. However, the beginning of league play for both teams could provide the spark needed to grease the track.

Here’s who to watch, what to keep an eye out for, and where to look for football fans in the Blast Zone Media coverage area:

Kelso (2-0) at Bellarmine Prep (2-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., Tacoma 

A pair of 2-0 teams will collide when the Hilanders brave the aroma of Tacoma to take on Bellarmine Prep. Last week the Lions defeated Auburn 33-8 after surviving a shootout with Rogers by a score of 41-34 in Week 1. Kelso is coming off a 40-21 win over River Ridge in which Aden Mintonye rushed for five touchdowns. The Scots will need their linebackers to continue to play well, and special team to take care of business, in order to bring home a victory in their first road game of the season.

Mark Morris (0-2) vs Columbia River (1-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., Longview Memorial Stadium

Could tonight mark the second time Mike Peck has picked up his first win at Longview Memorial Stadium? The former R.A. Long quarterback will try to nail down his first victory as head coach of the Monarchs with Columbia River in town. The Rapids should provide a good measuring stick after suffering a blowout loss to Seton Catholic (56-7) in Week 1 before defeating White Salmon 30-14 last week. As for the Monarchs, they’ll need more bedazzle on their offense than just wideout Deker Bartell if they want to win one for their new gipper.

R.A. Long (1-1) at Hudson’s Bay (0-2)

Friday, 8 p.m., Kiggin’s Bowl

The Lumberjacks felled their first win in more than a year at Centralia last week in an overtime thriller. Will they be able to keep that momentum rolling at Kiggin’s Bowl against a winless Hudson’s Bay team? We shall see. The Eagles opened the season with a 47-7 loss at home to 2B Napavine and followed that up with a 21-10 loss at Heritage. The Jacks saw improved quarterback play last week from Jaxson Rivenes and will need to find a new breakout player this week to keep the ball rolling.

Woodland (0-2) vs Washougal (1-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., Beaver Stadium

The Beavers have had a hard time scoring in their first two games with just a pair of touchdowns to show for their efforts. Woodland could get right this week, though, now that it’s had some time to gel under first-year head coach Glen Flanagan. Washougal defeated 3A Mountain View (home of former Woodland head coach Sean McDonald) in Week 1 before losing to 3A Prairie last week. Meanwhile, the Beavers have been trying to get quarterback Elijah Andersen and company back up within earshot of last season’s awe-inspiring production levels. Look for Karsen Northcut to assume more of a role this week in order to spread the workload.

Castle Rock (2-0) vs Seton Catholic (2-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., The Rock

The Rockets have a chance to do something incredible tonight - keep the score close with Seton Catholic. The Cougars have outscored their opponents 102-13 in the first two weeks, including a 46-6 win at Mark Morris seven days ago. Castle Rock is also undefeated, but has not shown the same sort of firepower as the Cougars. To be fair, nobody has. Look out for quarterback Kolten Gesser (son of a certain former WSU quarterback),, who threw for six touchdowns last week, and running back Jacob Williams, who makes every run look like a Beast Quake reenactment. Meanwhile, the Rock will continue to lean on Trevor Rogen after he threw for two touchdowns and ran in another in a win over Rochester.

Kalama (2-0) vs King’s Way Christian (2-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., Kalama

The Chinooks’ first taste of the 1A Trico League will happen tonight up on the hill, with a 50% chance of an epic sunset shortly after kickoff. Last week Kalama quarterback Aiden Brown threw for six touchdowns in a close shave with Tenino. Drew Schlangen and Abel Koski will have to back up their signal caller on the defensive side in order to get by the Knights. King’s Way is coming off a 49-13 win over Hoquiam after squeaking by Rochester in Week 1.

Toledo (2-0) at Pe Ell-Willapa Valley (1-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., Menlo

The Riverhawks will have to take their show back out on the road this week to meet PWV for a Friday night date in beautiful downtown Menlo. Toledo has benefitted from big gains by tailback Carter Swofford and smart plays from quarterback Eli Week in a pair of wins to open the season. The Titans, though, should be a good test after implementing parts of Napavine’s system in the offseason to run behind a bruising offensive line.

Toutle Lake (1-1) vs Winlock (0-2)

Friday, 7 p.m., Toutle

The Fighting Ducks put a whoopin’ on Fort Vancouver in front of their home fans last week which should help to drive turnout for a matchup against a Winlock side that’s still searching for its first win. Last week the Ducks saw Caleb Webber pull down two touchdown passes from Jamison Schelb, while Austin Webber carried in two scores. Winlock was not so lucky, allowing 52 consecutive points in a 58-12 loss to Ilwaco. Landon Cline was responsible for both of the Cardinals’ touchdowns.

Ilwaco (2-0) vs Wahkiakum (0-2)

Friday, 7 p.m., Ilwaco

It will be a battle between teams headed in opposite directions when the Mules and Fishermen face off on the peninsula. Ilwaco has won its first two games of the season against 2B opponents, while Wahkiakum has gone 0-2 in its first two tries at the 1B level. Last week Ilwaco defeated Winlock 68-12, with Corbin Johnson picking up five touchdowns and 128 rushing yards. Wahkiakum, meanwhile, was crushed 72-6 by Naselle in the Battle of KM Mountain. Parker Leitz picked up 95 of the Mules 111 yards of offense himself, with one touchdown to show.

Naselle (2-0) vs Sound Christian (1-0)

Friday ,7 p.m., Naselle

After starting the season with big wins over Darrington and Wahkiakum, the Comets will have a whole new look this week now that senior Jacob Lindstrom has been sidelined by a broken collarbone. Interestingly enough, it may prove easier to replace him at quarterback than linebacker, as the Comets boast a deep quarterback room.

“We’re pretty lucky in the fact that we’ve got three quarterbacks who can really play,” Naselle coach Kevin McNulty said. “I feel like all three could start for most of the teams in our league.”

Last week those backup signal callers did their best to prove their coach right by going 4 for 4 on passing attempts after Lindstrom went out. Leith Chadwick was first among former clipboard holders with three attempts that went for three touchdowns.

Sound Christian had a bye in Week 1 and defeated Ocosta 44-0 last week. 

Rainier (0-2) at Yamhill-Carlton (1-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., Carlton, Ore.

The Columbians will have their hands full when they make the road trip south to play Yamhill-Carlton in their league opener. The Tigers are 1-1 after defeating Scio 41-6 in Week 1 and then losing 30-6 to Santiam Christian one week ago. Meanwhile, Rainier will enter with a record of 0-2 after a tough showing at Willamina last week. Adrian Nguyen posted the only score of the night for Rainier when he returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown.

Clatskanie (0-2) at Vernonia/Jewell (0-2)

Friday, 7 p.m., Vernonia

At the end of a long and winding road the Tigers could very well find themselves in a position to secure their first win of the season in Week 3. The Vernonia/Jewell Loggers were shut out last week 44-0 at Central Linn and fell 28-12 to Riverside in their opener. Last week Clatskanie was stymied nearly all game long until quarterback Will VanVoorst hit Braydon Top for a touchdown pass on the final play of the game. The Tigers will need their defense to come up with a few more big plays this week in order to help keep the offense tilted in the right direction.

N2 Media Game of the Week

Nick Sisson for Blast Zone Media

Hockinson (0-2) at Ridgefield (2-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., Ridgefield

Last year: Ridgefield 42, Hockinson 7

Current Streak: Spudders have won three in a row.

Prediction: Ridgefield 34-13

Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/lKuni-GzJO0?si=Tg7vZTY3XXTNONUd

After two weeks of non-league games for Ridgefield and Hockinson the 2A GSHL foes will clash in the league opener on Friday night at “The Hot Potato.”  Ridgefield (2-0) is the lone remaining unbeaten team in the league, while Hockinson (0-2) is on the opposite side of the coin much like every other team in the standings thus far. 

The Spudders were almost not so lucky last week after having to dig deep and put together a game winning drive to fend off an upset minded Montesano squad that gave Ridgefield all they could handle. In the end, Ridgefield got the game-winning score from Cly Stephens, who carried the ball 33 times for 187 yards to go with the lone touchdown. On the short season Stephens has totaled 283 yards rushing and two TD’s. 

Meanwhile, Hockinson took a long bus ride up to Mt. Baker and couldn’t get their offense going, falling 27-7. It was the second straight week the Hawks couldn’t get above scoring more than seven points, but their defense did show signs of improvement versus the first game of the year against Fife. Still, the Hawks will have to find a rhythm against the Spuds offensively to keep up with the firepower Ridgefield possesses. Junior quarterback Logan DeBeaumont has done a good job thus far for Ridgefield and has passed for 294 yards with three TD’s and two more TD’s on the ground.