Four local teams remain undefeated and by outscoring their opponents by 117 points so far this season, the Olympia Bears sit on top of the Oly Sports Power Rankings this week. Yelm held the top spot last week but allowed 28 unanswered points in the first half to Timberline and took a big tumble.

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1. Olympia Bears (3-0 overall, 1-0 4A Narrows)
Last week: #2 (+1)
Previous game: Beat South Kitsap, 48-7
Next game: @ Timberline (1-2 overall, 0-1 4A Narrows) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: 131-14. Olympia is dominating this season thus far. Granted the combined records of the three teams they played is 2-7. Next up, Timberline, who they should beat soundly, but then that’s what I said last week about #1 Yelm.

2. Black Hills Wolves (3-0 overall)
Last week: #3 (+2)
Previous game: Beat North Kitsap, 21-6
Next game: vs. Columbia River (2-1) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: The Wolves are still going strong beating a North Kitsap squad that was ranked in both week one and week two. While it looks like the Vikings might not be as strong as expected, the Wolves have shown a ton of improvement and now look like the favorites to knock off a Columbia River team that was upset by Centralia on Friday night.

6. River Ridge Hawks (3-0 overall, 1-0 2A SPSL)
Last week: #6 (+3)
Previous game: Beat Franklin Pierce, 26-19
Next game: @ Orting (3-0 overall, 1-0 2A SPSL) – Cardinal Stadium, Orting – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Franklin Pierce has given the Hawks fits since joining the 2A SPSL but this season went to River Ridge giving them a big boost in the race for the league title. But now a road trip to Orting looms. The Cardinals (the second Cardinals opponent in a row) are 3-0 with wins over 1A Eatonville, 1A Cascade Christian and a league win over Clover Park.

4. Tumwater T-Birds (3-0 overall)
Last week: #7 (+3)
Previous game: Beat Timberline, 49-6
Next game: @ Lake City, ID (1-3) – Lake City HS, Couer D’Alene, ID – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Tumwater beat up on 1A La Center, as one would expect and now face a Lake City, Idaho squad that they destroyed last season and is 1-3 this season with losses to two other Washington schools.

5. North Thurston Rams (2-1 overall, 1-0 3A Narrows)
Last week: #8 (+3)
Previous game: Beat Wilson, 14-13
Next game: vs. Central Kitsap (1-2 overall, 1-0 3A Narrows) – South Sound Stadium – Thursday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Considering how bad Wilson looked in weeks one and two, the one point win by North Thurston is concerning. It took a one yard run by Zion Kirk in the fourth quarter to get the win and improve to 1-0 in the 3A Narrows. On Thursday they get Central Kitsap, a team that is solidly in the middle along with North Thurston, Shelton, Capital and more in what looks to be a mediocre league this season.

6. Shelton Highclimbers (2-1 overall, 1-0 3A Narrows)
Last week: #9 (+3)
Previous game: Beat Foss, 26-6
Next game: vs. Lincoln (3-0 overall, 1-0 3A Narrows) – Highclimbers Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: It has been two years since Shelton beat someone other than Mount Tahoma in 3A Narrows League play, so the win over a diminished Foss team was fantastic. They looked fantastic in the first half and have a solid running back in Willy Ruiz and Tyler Giraldes continues to improve at quarterback. But Lincoln comes to town this week so the goal probably should be just stay healthy and not get too discouraged by the clear class of the league.

7. Rainier Mountaineers (2-1 overall, 1-1 2B Pacific)
Last week: #4 (-3)
Previous game: Lost to Raymond, 27-13
Next game: vs. Ocosta (1-2 overall, 1-2 2B Pacific) – Rainier HS – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Last season, Raymond beat Rainier 42-0. This season, the Mountaineers kept things close down on the Willapa and get a date with the other power of the 2B Pacific, North Beach, in two weeks. But first, Ocosta, who has struggled to a 1-2 record against the lesser teams of the league.

8. Tenino Beavers (2-1 overall, 0-1 2A/1A Evergreen)
Last week: #5 (-3)
Previous game: Lost to Hoquiam, 20-13
Next game: @ Elma (3-0 overall, 1-0 2A/1A Evergreen) – Rottle Field, Montesano – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Tenino started out 2-0 last season before losing to Hoquiam. They then went into a tailspin losing four straight and five of their last seven games. This season, Tenino started 2-0 and then lost to Hoquiam. They head to Montesano to face 3-0 Elma hoping to avoid that tailspin again.

9. Timberline Blazers (1-2 overall, 1-0 4A Narrows)
Last week: #10 (+1)
Previous game: Beat Yelm, 35-21
Next game: vs. Olympia (3-0 overall, 1-0 4A Narrows) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Timberline played a decent schedule but went 0-2 to begin the season while Yelm played a weak schedule and went 2-0. That difference showed on Friday night when the Blazers jumped out to a 28-0 lead through the first half. Maybe the Blazers have figured some things out and they will need to because their next three games are brutal. Olympia followed by Bellarmine followed by Gig Harbor and then a hugely improved Stadium squad. 

10. Yelm Tornadoes (2-1 overall, 0-1 4A Narrows)
Last week: #1 (-9)
Previous game: Lost to Timberline, 35-21
Next game: @ South Kitsap (1-2 overall, 0-1 4A Narrows) – Knowles Field, Port Orchard – 7:00 PM

Notes: Timberline turned out not to be Steilacoom or Foss and now the Tornadoes will have to regroup with a trip to South Kitsap. South Kitsap hasn’t looked great but I’m not sure at all how this game will go.

11. Capital Cougars (0-3 overall, 0-1 3A Narrows)
Last week: #11 (no change)
Previous game: Lost to Lincoln, 71-46
Next game: vs. Foss (0-3 overall, 0-1 3A Narrows) – Ingersoll Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Capital’s first three games are so tough. Tumwater, Olympia then Lincoln. The Cougars and their freshman quarterback kept the game against the Abes close for a while and did put up 46 points in the loss and faces an undermanned Foss team on Friday night. Considering how mediocre the 3A Narrows League looks this season, despite their tough start, Capital still could make some noise this season.

12. Rochester Warriors (1-2 overall, 0-1 2A/1A Evergreen)
Last week: #12 (no change)
Previous game: Lost to Elma, 26-14
Next game: @ Forks (1-2 overall, 0-1 2A/1A Evergreen) – Forks High School – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Eliminated from the playoffs last week and then a loss to a 1A league team. Sadly, that means the Warriors will still occupy the #12 spot with a trip to Forks as a reward.