CORRECTION: A previous version of this article contained incorrect information. Aberdeen running back Jeremy Sawyer is serving a two-game suspension.
Several Twin Harbors prep football teams face off against league foes as we enter Week 5 of the season.
HOQUIAM AT ELMA
When and where: 7 p.m. Friday at Davis Field, Elma
Players to watch: Hoquiam — Zander Jump QB, Owen McNeill WR/DB, Jake Templer RB/LB. Elma — Carter Studer QB/OLB, Gibson Cain WR/DB, Isaac Phillips RB/LB.
Hoquiam will visit Davis Field for the first time in several seasons when the Grizzlies and Elma Eagles square off in a 1A Evergreen League opener for both teams on Friday.
Elma (2-2 overall) is coming off arguably its most impressive performance of the season as the Eagles new-look air raid offense hit its stride in a 41-7 win over Columbia-White Salmon.
Eagles junior quarterback Carter Studer threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in the win, his favorite target being senior receiver Gibson Cain, who had a huge game with 206 receiving yards on just five catches with three scores.
PHOTO BY BEN WINKELMAN Hoquiam running back Jalen Hobucket (29) squares off against Nooksack Valley defenders in a loss on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Hoquiam will travel to Davis Field in Elma for the first time since 2018 to take on the Eagles on Friday.
Hoquiam (2-2) struggled in a 63-20 loss to a ranked opponent in Nooksack Valley last week and will look to get back in the win column against the Eagles, a team the Grizzlies haven’t defeated in their previous two tries.
The last time Hoquiam played at Davis Field was in 2018 when the Grizzlies won 14-13 on a blocked field goal attempt as time expired.
Hoquiam had won six of its previous seven meetings with Elma until the 2020 COVID-delayed season, where Elma won 27-13 on a snow-covered Jack Rottle Field in Montesano on Feb. 15, 2021.
BLACK HILLS AT ABERDEEN
When and where: 7 p.m. Friday at Stewart Field, Aberdeen
Players to watch: Aberdeen — Aidan Watkins RB/LB, Trey Anderson RB/LB, Grady Springer QB. Black Hills — Tanner Parkinson WR/S/K; Johnnie Stallings RB/OLB; Jaxsen Beck WB.
Aberdeen will continue its 2A Evergreen Conference schedule when it hosts Black Hills on Friday evening.
The Bobcats (2-2, 1-0 2A Evergreen) — beset by injuries and a two-game suspension to senior running back Jeremy Sawyer — lost to a speedy 4th-ranked Prosser Mustangs last Saturday.
With Sawyer out to serve his second game of the suspension — which happened as a result of a controversial personal-foul call against Centralia on Sept. 16. — the rushing duties will fall on the shoulders of senior running back Trey Anderson and junior running back Aidan Watkins, who has performed admirably in Sawyer’s stead.
In Black Hills (3-1, 1-1), Aberdeen will be facing a team also vying for the No. 3 spot in the 2A Evergreen Conference.
The Wolves have wins over Montesano, North Thurston and Rochester this season but struggled last week in a 35-0 loss to WF West, managing just 143 yards of total offense, with just nine yards rushing for the game.
DAILY WORLD FILE PHOTO Montesano’s Cole Ekerson (12) is chased by Castle Rock defenders in a win on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 in Montesano. The Bulldogs will have a tough road test when they take on the Shelton Highclimbers on Friday.
MONTESANO AT SHELTON
When and where: 7 p.m. Friday at Shelton High School
Players to watch: Montesano — Jayden McElravy QB/LB, Bode Poler WR/DB, Gabe Bodwell RB/LB. Shelton — Mason Goos QB, Dante Trickoff WR, Bradley Eleton RB/S.
The only Twin Harbors team playing in a non-league matchup this week is the Montesano Bulldogs, which will punch up against a 2A opponent in the Shelton Highclimbers on Friday.
Monte (3-1) moved up one spot to No. 9 in the latest scorebooklive rankings after thrashing previously-undefeated Castle Rock 57-12 last week, rushing for over 300 yards as a team and holding the Rockets to just 57 rushing yards in the game.
In its three straight wins, the Bulldogs have had a different player step into the spotlight in one way or another. Last week it was senior running back Ethan Blundred, who rushed for 124 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns.
Shelton (3-1) will pose a challenge for the Bulldogs as the Highclimbers are off to a solid start this season with wins over North Mason, White River and Rochester sandwiched around a loss to a ranked WF West team.
Shelton is led by senior quarterback Mason Goos (39-68, 503 yards, 6 TD) and an offense that has rushed for 131.5 yards per game and seven touchdowns this season.
PHOTO BY LARRY BALE Raymond-South Bend running back Ty Reidinger, left, takes a handoff from quarterback Austin Snodgrass (3) during the Ravens’ 34-2 win over Adna on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 in South Bend. Seventh-ranked RSB will face the Forks Spartans on Friday in Forks.
RAYMOND-SOUTH BEND AT FORKS
When and where: 7 p.m. Friday at Forks High School
Players to watch: RSB — Austin Snodgrass QB/DB, Ty Reidinger RB/LB, Ferrill Johnson RB. Forks — Gunner Rogers QB, Nate Dahlgren RB, Walker Wheeler WR.
The cat is out of the bag regarding the Raymond-South Bend Ravens.
After last week’s 34-2 upset of a ranked Adna Pirates squad, the Ravens are not sneaking up on anybody anymore.
The Ravens will face another tough test when they put their undefeated record on the line against the previously-ranked Forks Spartans on the road Friday.
RSB’s win over Adna shook up the 2B rankings, dropping Adna from this week’s scorebook live poll while the Ravens cracked into the top 10 at No. 7.
The Ravens rushing attack has been unstoppable in going 4-0 this season, with nearly 1,200 yards as a team led by junior quarterback Austin Snodgrass (31 carries, 474 yards, 10 TD) and senior running back Ty Reidinger (57 car., 305 yds., 4 TD).
Forks (2-1, 1-1 2B Pacific-Coastal) dropped out of the rankings after a 24-13 loss to Morton-White Pass two weeks ago but rebounded with a 49-6 walloping over Ilwaco last week.
In the Ilwaco victory, the Spartans were fueled by quarterback Gunner Rogers, who had three touchdown runs — including a 44-yarder — and two touchdown passes of more than 40 yards each.
PE ELL-WILLAPA VALLEY AT MORTON-WHITE PASS
When and where: 7 p.m. Friday at White Pass High School
Players to watch: PWV — Kolten Fluke QB/LB, Blake Howard RB/LB, Derek Fluke RB/LB. MWP — Carter Dantinne RB, Brecken Pelletier QB.
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley’s case for the toughest schedule in the 2B class continues when the Titans take on No. 10 Morton-White Pass on the road on Friday.
PWV (1-3, 0-1) had a minor victory in being known as the first team to score against top-ranked Napavine this season in last Friday’s 46-6 loss.
All three of PWV’s losses this season came against ranked opponents.
Morton-White Pass sports a perfect 4-0 record with two blowout wins over Ilwaco and White Swan followed by two close victories over Forks and Rainier.
The Timberwolves are led by senior running back Carter Dantinne, who has rushed for 494 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
MWP has rushed for 888 yards as a team and has recovered 14 fumbles this season.
OTHER GAMES
Lake Quinault at WA School for Deaf (3:30 p.m. Thursday) — Lake Quinault will have a short turnaround when it faces WA School for the Deaf on Thursday in Vancouver.
Chief Leschi at Ocosta (7 p.m. Friday) — After a mistake-filled blowout loss last week, Ocosta will look to get back on track against Chief Leschi on Friday in Westport.
Taholah at Mossyrock (7 p.m. Friday) — Taholah has a tough task this week when it takes on undefeated Mossyrock on Friday at Mossyrock High School.
Toutle Lake at North Beach (7 p.m. Friday) — North Beach is set to take the field for the first time in several weeks when the Hyaks face Toutle Lake in Ocean Shores.
Northwest Christian at Wishkah Valley (1 p.m. Saturday) — Wishkah Valley picked up a forfeit win over Mary M. Knight last week and is set to face Northwest Christian for a home game on Saturday.
