FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN WEEK 7

LAKES OFFENSIVE CLICKING
Lakes’ offense is on pace to shatter the SPSL 3A’s single-season scoring record. Through six games, the Lancers have scored 305 points, averaging 50.8 points per game. Lakes owns the current record of 438 points, which it set in 2009. The Lancers have been quick starters in 2011, outscoring opponents 248-16 in the first half. Lakes has gotten its point-scoring production from an ensemble cast – five players have scored four touchdowns or more.

WORST TO FIRST AT WHITE RIVER?
White River can take a big step toward claiming the SPSL 2A title and a inch closer to a worst-to-first turnaround with a win on Friday against Franklin Pierce. A victory would give the Hornets a two-game lead in the conference with two regular season games remaining. However, a Cardinals win would move Franklin Pierce into a first-place tie with White River and set the stage for a wild finish, like last fall when numerous tie-breaker scenarios were possible.
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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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It was the green-light showcase of football Friday night at Sunset Chev Stadium – go, go and go.

In the end, tenth-ranked Bonney Lake High had one more score in it that did visiting Lincoln High.

Joey Surber scored a short touchdown run with eight minutes remaining, and the Abes’ final drive stalled in the red zone as Bonney Lake pulled out a 55-47 non-league victory in Sumner.

The two teams combined for 1,020 yards – with the Abes accounting for 564 of it. In fact, they went over 500 yards of offense for a third consecutive game.

“It was fun, but it was also killing me,” Bonney Lake coach Chad Barrett said. “It was back and forth.”
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Three to See: Week 2

SPSL SOUTH
Puyallup (1-0 league, 1-0 overall) at Federal Way (1-0, 1-0), 7 p.m. Friday
Lowdown: Puyallup shined its season-opener, dismantling Spanaway Lake 56-7. The Vikings rotated Trevor Lyon and Rhys Gervais at quarterback, with Lyon getting the majority of the snaps over Gervais, who joined the team shortly before the season. Both ran the offense well, but they’ll face a bigger, stronger and faster defense tonight. Few teams can match the Eagles’ athleticism, who have at least three Division-I recruits – RB/DB D.J. May, NG Uso Olive and OT/LB Jordan Pulu – on their roster. When Federal Way has the ball, keep an eye on the line to see the matchup between Pulu, a WSU commit, and defensive lineman Joshua Garnett, rated as one of the top offensive linemen in the country. Federal Way rallied from a first-quarter deficit last week, scoring five unanswered touchdowns in a 37-14 win at Graham-Kapowsin.
TNT pick: Federal Way 31, Puyallup 24
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A press release from the Sumner School District:

Sumner School District announces 2010-11 Co-Coaches of the Year

Each year the Sumner School District Athletic Department selects a Sumner School District “Coach of the Year.” Nominations include coaches who demonstrate outstanding character building among their athletes. The selection of the award winner was announced at an annual Awards Luncheon on August 16, 2011. Tim Thomsen, Athletics/Activities Director, also presented the award winner at the August 17, 2011 meeting of the Sumner School District Board of Directors.

Nominees for the 2010-2011 Sumner School District “Coach of the Year”:
Sara Jackson, Sumner Middle, Fastpitch, Girls Basketball
JD Rushton, Mountain View Middle, Boys Basketball, Bonney Lake High Boys Golf
Kristin Martin, Sumner High, Cross Country, Track
Shirley Baker, Bonney Lake High, Volleyball, Track
Cleo Reed, Lakeridge Middle School, Girls Basketball, Baseball
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I ventured out to watch the scrimmages at the University of Puget Sound football team camp on Wednesday and shot some video. I saw the following teams scrimmage: Arlington, Auburn Riverside, Bonney Lake, Curtis, Enumclaw, Gig Harbor, Skyline, Tahoma and Timberline.

A few quick observations:

1. Skyline quarterback Max Browne looked very good. Spartans coach Mat Taylor said Browne, a highly-recruited junior, is progressing and playing even better than last year. To put that in perspective, Browne threw for 4,182 yards, 50 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2010.

The Spartans defense shined, too, coming up with a few picks. And …

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Previews of the Big Games of Week 9

SPSL 3A
3A No. 6 Lakes (4-0 league, 7-1 overall) vs. Bonney Lake (4-0, 7-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Sunset Chev Stadium
Lowdown: The upstart Panthers will try to slay traditional power Lakes when the two meet with the SPSL 3A title and a home playoff game on the line. Bonney Lake has the league’s top-rated offense (427.8 yards per game) and defense (215.9). QB Chris Brown (129-of-196 for 2,091 yards, 26 TDs) and WR Austin Marshall (61 catches for 1,111 yards, 18 TDs) are have record-setting seasons, but RB Tyler Babukas is quietly having a spectacular season. Read more »

Narrows League 4A
Bellarmine Prep (5-0 league, 7-0 overall) at No. 10 Olympia (5-0, 6-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Ingersoll Stadium
The lowdown: This is the game of the year in the Narrows League 4A. If Olympia wins it will capture at least share of the Narrows League 4A title, the league’s top seed to the postseason and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If Bellarmine Prep beats the Bears, it will secure a share of its first league title since 2000, but the possibility of a three-way tie for first looms if Gig Harbor wins tonight at Shelton. For now, the Lions’ focus is on Olympia, a team they have not defeated since 2004. Bellarmine Prep, one of five undefeated teams in all of Class 4A, should make it difficult for Olympia to score. Finding the end zone is not something that has troubled the Bears lately. The two-headed rushing attack of Anthony Parks and Spenser Killman has helped Olympia average 43 points in their last three games. Bellarmine Prep’s defense has allowed just 65 points all season. Strong-armed sophomore QB Sefo Liufau has emerged as a legitimate threat, throwing for eight touchdowns in the last four games. Against Shelton last week, Liufau twice hooked up with WR Michael Rector for touchdowns. RB Isaiah Flynn has rushed for 244 yards in the last two games, adding depth to the backfield.
TNT pick: Olympia 20, Bellarmine Prep 17
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