Playoff pictures are starting to take shape as we preview the Week 8 prep football action for Twin Harbors teams.

Forks at Elma

The Elma Eagles put themselves in a good spot to earn a postseason berth with Friday’s big win over Tenino. They’ll face a much tougher test when they host the Forks Spartans at 7 p.m. Friday in Elma.

Elma (6-1, 1-1) responded nicely after losing a one-point game to the league’s top team, Hoquiam, two weeks ago, with a 62-0 blowout over Tenino last week.

In that game, Elma scored 49 points by halftime and racked up 399 yards rushing and nine TDs on the ground in the game.

Running back Taitum Brumfield led the way with 98 yards and three touchdowns, but the Eagles got help in the backfield from Mikia Diacon (7 carries, 97 yards, TD) and Brody Rustemeyer (11-81, 2 TDs).

After losing its league-opener to Monte on Sept. 28, Forks (4-2, 1-1) comes into Friday’s game with a league win over Tenino and a non-league victory over Olympic (2A) on Friday, 49-26.

With both teams sitting at 1-1 with two league games left, this matchup has major implications for both teams’ playoff chances.

Elma controls its own destiny if it hopes to finish slotted in at the very least the No. 2 spot in the 1A Evergreen league. If the Eagles beat Forks this week and manage to defeat Monte in the ‘East County Civil War’ a week later, Elma can do no worse than second place and hosting a crossover game.

Aberdeen at Rochester

The Bobcats will be fighting for their playoff lives when they hit the road to take on Rochester this week.

Aberdeen (1-6, 1-2 Evergreen 2A) will likely need to win this week and next week to make the postseason and will need to keep Rochester (1-6, 0-3) winless in league.

Outside of a 53-20 win over Tenino in the season opener, the Warriors have had trouble scoring points this season and hasn’t surpassed 21 points since.

Rochester loss to Centralia 55-21 at Tiger Stadium and featured a decent amount of offense with the Warriors piling up 292 total yards.

Aberdeen will have to watch out for Warriors running back Enrique Sanchez-Hope, who had an efficient night against Centralia, rushing for 96 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown.

Unlike Rochester, who prefers to rely on the run, Aberdeen hasn’t been afraid to pass this season.

Due in part to the lopsided score in their 53-14 loss to Black Hills last week, quarterback Ben Dublanko dropped back to pass 35 times, completing 19 passes for 354 yards.

The passing attack hasn’t always resulted in trips to the endzone, however. Aberdeen, like Rochester has also not surpassed the 21-point threshold this season.

Aberdeen and Rochester will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday at Rochester High School.

Sequim at Hoquiam

Two undefeated records will be on the line when Hoquiam takes on Sequim in a non-league contest at 7 p.m. on Friday at Olympic Stadium.

Sequim (7-0, 5-0 Olympic 2A) has been dominant on both sides of the ball this year. Other than a nail-biting 16-14 victory over North Kristaps and a close 20-16 win over Forks, the Wolves have won every game by more than two possessions.

Sequim’s passing attack has been a threat this year with signal caller Riley Cowan leading the way. Cowan has thrown for 1,258 yards and 17 touchdowns this season with a QB rating of 105.5.

The rushing attack has been solid this year as well, with leading ball carrier Taig Wiker averaging 6.1 yards per carry and 763 total rushing yards.

Hoquiam’s defense was up to the task last week and limited Monsanto’s running attack when the Grizzlies defeated the Bulldogs 37-25 last week.

Linebacker Matt Brown had a strong game up front and the led the Hoquiam with seven solo tackles.

Defensive linemen Zach Underwood also created problems in the backfield and had two tackles for loss.

Hoquiam’s secondary hasn’t been tested often but has come up with a few key interceptions. Payton Quintanilla came away with a pick-6 and Jackson Folkers has presented problems to opposing passers, grabbing six interceptions this season.

Hoquiam last faced Sequim in 1978, when both teams were undefeated heading into the first round of the state playoffs. The Grizzlies won that game, 21-0.

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley at Ocosta

Ocosta will be battling for a playoff spot and will need to take down the top team in the league to climb the standings.

The Wildcats (4-2, 2-2 Pacific 2B Coastal) are trying to bounce back from two straight losses after starting the season 4-0 and will likely used a balanced offensive attack to right the ship.

In attempt come back from its 41-14 loss to Raymond last week, the Wildcats let it fly as quarterback Cole Hatton completed 12 of 21 pass attempts and threw for 186 with touchdown through the air.

Last week’s struggles aside, Ocosta’s defense has been a strength this year and has only surrendered an average of 14 points per game this season.

Ocosta’s primary running back, Kobe Beck, has been valuable this season and found a way to make an impact in the team’s loss to Ilwaco, scoring the only Wildcats points with a 5-yard touchdown run.

The Titans (6-2, 4-0) has some weapons that can put the Wildcats to the test. PWV leading rusher Max Smith has 612 yards on the ground and is averaging 5.5 yards per carry with eight touchdowns.

PWV also passes enough to keep opposing defenses honest. Logan Walker has thrown for nine touchdowns and 493 yards this season.

The Wildcats will clash with the Titans with postseason position on the line in Ocosta at 7 p.m.

Raymond at Ilwaco

The Raymond Seagulls have looked impressive during a current four-game win streak that has seen them dominate Pacific 2B Coastal league opponents.

Behind their dynamic backfield duo of Patrick Edwards and McCartney Maden, the Seagulls have blownout their past four league opponents by a combined score of 200-34.

That all could chance come Friday, as Raymond will face an Illwaco Fishermen team that boasts a 5-1 record and is tied with PWV atop the league with a perfect 4-0 mark.

If the Seagulls are to have any success, they’ll have to contain Ilwaco’s running-back tandem of Trevor Hutson and Jackson Wilkin, both of whom went over 100 yards rushing in a win over South Bend on Sept. 21.

But the Fishermen (5-1, 4-0) are far from a one-dimensional team, as Ilwaco quarterback Ethan Personius threw for 267 yards and four TDs in a 49-14 win over North Beach a week later.

But the combination of Edwards and Maden, when both are healthy, has been hard for Seagulls opponents to stop. Edwards is one of the leading rushers in the Twin Harbors with 1,060 yards and 13 touchdowns to his credit. Made will likely finish the season with over 1,000 yards as well, as he has amassed 877 yards and 14 touchdowns on just 68 carries in 2018, a 12.9 yards-per-carry average.

The two teams will square off at 7 p.m. on Friday at Ilwaco High School.

Tenino forfeits game with Monte

Monte (6-2, 2-1 Evergreen 1A) picked up a win this week without having to take the field as the Tenino Beavers (0-8, 0-4) forfeited Friday’s scheduled game against the Bulldogs, citing a lack of healthy players, according to Montesano High School officials.

Monte will use the extra time to focus its sights on Elma, which it will face at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26 in the ‘East County Civil War’ at Elma High School.

Other games

Chief Leschi at North Beach, 7 p.m., Friday

Wishkah Valley at Mary M. Knight, 1 p.m., Saturday

Oakville at Crescent, 1 p.m., Saturday

Hoquiam’s Payton Quintanilla had three tackles, a sack and an interception return for a touchdown in a win over Montesano. He was honored with The Daily World’s ‘Game Ball’ for defense this week. (File photo)