The T-Birds keep rolling

Tumwater kept on rolling this week and stays on top of the power rankings yet again. It will be big news if they lose that #1 spot this season. Tanner Gueller and WF West will have the best opportunity to knock them out when the T-Birds roll into Chehalis on Friday night.

Olympia has a lock on the #2 position after North Thurston got drilled by Lincoln and River Ridge moves up to a surprising #3 after three straight wins.

Here is my completely unscientific power rankings, disagree if you like…

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1. Tumwater T-Birds (4-0)
Last week: #1 (No change)
Previous game: Tumwater 49, Capital 22
Next game: @ WF West (4-0) – Bearcat Stadium, Chehalis – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Sid Otton won his 350th game and Tumwater keeps finding new players to contribute. This week it was Trevor Davis, who blocked two Capital punts and a 180 yard, three touchdown performance from Tyrus Snow. They have their toughest test coming up this week, though, when they travel to Chehalis to take on 4-0 WF West.

2. Olympia Bears (3-1)
Last week: #3 (+1)
Previous game: Olympia 54, Stadium 6
Next game: vs. South Kitsap (1-3) – Ingersoll Stadium – Saturday, 3:00 PM

Notes: Hard to take too much from a big win over Stadium, really, but the Bears took care of business and are rolling right now and next get a struggling South Kitsap team on Saturday afternoon.

3. River Ridge (3-1)
Last week: #4 (+1)
Previous game: River Ridge 17, Hockinson 14
Next game: @ Black Hills (2-2) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Well look at the Hawks. They had to come from behind to beat previously unbeaten Hockinson on Saturday and have now won three straight games. Michael Key scored two touchdowns for the Ridge and Chris Behnke made a 37 yard field goal that proved to be the game winner. They kick off EvCo play with Black Hills in what should be a close game.

4. Rochester Warriors (3-1)
Last week: #5 (+1)
Previous game: Rochester 24, Hoquiam 12
Next game: @ Elma (2-2) – Davis Field, Elma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Tyler Yarber is a beast. 34 carries, 237 yards and a touchdown in Rochester’s win over Hoquiam. That was Yarber’s third 200 yard performance of the season and the 3-1 Warriors have a date with an inconsistent Elma squad coming up.

5. North Thurston (3-1)
Last week: #2 (-3)
Previous game: Lincoln 53, North Thurston 7
Next game: @ Wilson (4-0) – Stadium Bowl, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Wow, the Rams laid an egg on homecoming dropping a 46 point decision to Lincoln. The balance of power in the 3A Narrows League has officially shifted from Lacey to Tacoma with the Abes and Wilson sitting on top and the Rams and Blazers looking up at them. The Rams have an opportunity to turn it around when they travel to Stadium Bowl to take on Wilson this week but the speed of Wilson is concerning, especially after Lincoln dismantled them so thoroughly.

6. Yelm Tornadoes (3-1)
Last week: #6 (No change)
Previous game: Yelm 26, Shelton 15
Next game: vs. Central Kitsap (2-2) – Tornadoes Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Still not sure what to think of Yelm. They actually trailed Shelton 8-7 at halftime before they made some adjustments in the second half and eventually took it to the Highclimbers. They have solid running backs in Aaron Rivera – 105 yards and two TDs – and freshman Brandon Thompson, who had a 84 yard touchdown run on the second play of the game.

7. Black Hills (2-2)
Last week: #7 (No change)
Previous game: Black Hills 27, Aberdeen 17
Next game: vs. River Ridge (3-1) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Nick Knittle had 106 yards receiving and a touchdown, returned a punt 74 yards to set up a touchdown and intercepted a pass to move the Wolves to 2-2 this season under new head coach Dominic Yarrington. They get River Ridge next in a game that is kind of a must win for both teams with the middle of the conference a complete toss up at this point.

8. Tenino Beavers (1-3)
Last week: #10 (-2)
Previous game: Tenino 21, Forks 20 (3OT)
Next game: vs. Rainier (1-3) – Tenino Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Nobody likes to drive home from Forks with a loss on their shoulders. I can’t even imagine that ride on a school bus when you are wet, smelly and pissed off. Tenino found a way to avoid that hell with a triple overtime win and will take that momentum into a home game against Rainier.

9. Timberline (1-3)
Last week: #9 (No change)
Previous game: Wilson 28, Timberline 26
Next game: @ Lincoln (4-0) – Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Is there a more disappointing team in the area than Timberline? Three straight losses, but at least the offense has been actually moving the ball, they just need to put it in the endzone with more consistency. Next up is what should have been the game of the year in the 3A Narrows League – a date with the Abes at Lincoln Bowl.

10. Rainier Mountaineers (1-3)
Last week: #8 (-2)
Previous game: Elma 46, Rainier 13
Next game: @ Tenino (1-3) – Tenino Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: What was a nice story in week one has turned into a three game losing streak. The Mountaineers are vastly improved but are struggling. They next get Tenino in a game that could be pretty entertaining.

11. Capital Cougars (0-4)
Last week: #11 (No change)
Previous game: Tumwater 49, Capital 22
Next game: vs. Centralia (2-2) – Ingersoll Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Hard to have a young team and a ridiculously hard schedule the way that Capital has had over the first four weeks. Three 4A schools to start with and then their EvCo opener with Tumwater. But with that start out of the way, can the Cougars rally and get it going against the rest of their evenly matched conference opponents? Runs like this from Connor Kennedy will help (skip to the 2:14 mark)…

12. Shelton Highclimbers (0-4)
Last week: #12 (No change)
Previous game: Yelm 26, Shelton 15
Next game: @ Foss (3-1) – Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Well, the Highclimbers had their first lead of the year after Brian Nault blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown. They also recovered nicely on defense after being torched on an 84 yard touchdown run on the second play of the game and limited the Yelm offense to take an 8-7 lead into the half. But despite racking up decent yardage, they have been plagued by mistakes and penalties and have scored just three offensive touchdowns so far and they have the toughest part of their season still on the way with games against Foss, Lincoln, North Thurston and Timberline looming.