Thanks to Todd Milles for doing these preview capsules, while I was out of the office earlier this week.

SPSL NORTH
No. 7 Kentlake (5-0 overall, 5-0 league) at Kentwood (4-1, 3-1), 7 p.m. Friday at French Field

Lowdown: Tempo could be a defining aspect to this titanic, intra-city matchup. The no-huddle Falcons want to play fast; the bigger and more physical Conquerors want it controlled. Kentwood must pay attention to Kentlake’s do-everything WR Austin Pernell (871 all-purpose yards, eight total TDs), who has scored on a kickoff return, an interception, a reception and a rushing attempt. If Kentlake can snap its seven-game skid in the series tonight, it will have the inside track to its first outright SPSL North title in school history.
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Wild. Unreal. Amazing.

Pick an adjective; it won’t do justice to the finish of ninth-ranked Federal Way’s 28-26 victory at No. 10 Bethel on Friday night.

“I’ve never experienced an end of the game situation like that,” Eagles coach John Meagher said, “in terms of the range of emotions that I felt.”

The final two minutes were such a roller coaster that three times Federal Way celebrated victory – just once with the win secured – but could finally exhale when quarterback Evan Elliott kneeled in the end zone, taking a safety as time expired. The Eagles had preserved their undefeated record in a matchup of SPSL South titans.

Trailing 28-24 with 2 minutes, 20 seconds remaining, Bethel stuffed Federal for no gain on fourth down and took over at its own 28. Less than a minute later, quarterback Justin Hordyk had guided the Braves to the Eagles’ 30.

One the next play, Hordyk threw to David Fontenette, who tangled with defensive back Marcel Morris. A referee originally ruled that Morris intercepted the pass, but the call was overturned after an officials’ huddle.
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Three to See in Week 5

SPSL SOUTH
No. 9 Federal Way (4-0 overall, 4-0 league) at Bethel (3-1 overall, 3-0 league), 7 tonight

Lowdown: Federal Way’s dynamite defense collides with Bethel’s barnstorming offense in a contest that could determine the league champion. Led by DB D.J. May, LB Jordan Pulu and NG Uso Olive, the Eagles have stymied opposing offenses, holding them to only 54 points. Federal Way is particularly tough against the run, allowing a league-best 56.5 yards per game. But pass defense has been Federal Way’s Achilles heel – the Eagles rank dead-last in the league, allowing 186 yards per game. That bodes well for Bethel QB Justin Hordyk, who’s thrown for 838 yards and 8 TDs. Hordyk leads the SPSL in total offense, averaging 302 yards per game. RB Jeffrey Holder (359 yards and 7 TDs) gets the bulk of the Braves’ carries, while WRs Brandon Kirian and David Fontenette are Hordyk’s top targets.

TNT pick: Bethel 33, Federal Way 31
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By DON HUNT
Contributing Writer
Three games into the high school football season and the Bethel High Braves are putting up basketball-like numbers on the scoreboard.

The Braves’ high-powered offense exploded for 49 points in the first half on the way to a 63-8 rout of Rogers in a South Puget Sound League game Friday night at Bethel High.

The huge point total comes one week after a 56-39 victory over Todd Beamer and two weeks after a 56-44 loss to Permian High of Odessa, Texas.

Do the math, and the Braves (2-1 overall, 2-0 league) are averaging 54.3 points per game, or more than one point per minute.

“If we keep executing like this than our offense could carry us a long way,” said Bethel senior quarterback Justin Hordyk, who completed 12 of 15 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns and ran the ball eight times for 96 yards and another score. “We’ve got a lot of weapons and a great offensive line. I really haven’t been touched all year.”
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Curtis ended the regular season with a 70-24 win over playoff-bound Beamer on Thursday night. By scoring 70 points, the Vikings tied the SPSL’s record for points scored in a season with 416. Auburn set the original mark last year.

Some other postseason-related loose ends were tied up on Thursday, too:

Kentridge and Auburn Riverside both lost, which means Kentridge will play at the winner of tonight’s Gig Harbor-Bellarmine Prep contest and Auburn Riverside will take on Graham-Kapowsin at Art Crate Field in a pig-tail game on Tuesday. Read more »

It looks like the Bethel-Permian football game will be broadcast online. You can access the broadcast here.

The Bethel football team arrived safely in Odessa, Texas, on Tuesday evening. Reporter Joel Erickson of the Odessa American caught up with the Braves during practice at Ratliff Stadium and wrote this story.

Odessa American photo editor Mark Sterkel passed along some photos from Tuesday. You can find them after the jump.

It sounds like it didn’t take long for the Braves to understand just how big high school football is in Texas.

When Shawn Santomassimo stepped into Ratliff Stadium for the first time, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

High school football stadiums in Washington aren’t built like Ratliff. Rising tall into the West Texas sky, massive concrete bleachers and a scoreboard bigger than the side of most two-story houses.
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