Olympia finally gave up some meaningful points allowing 25 to Timberline and actually had a close game on their hands until the third quarter. But eventually they poured it on and recorded their highest point total of the season with a 49-25 win. That gives them 180 point so far this season with two weeks of games coming up that don’t suggest that they will be slowed down soon. With that, they get the top spot in this week’s power rankings.

Oly, Black Hills, River Ridge and Tumwater are all undefeated with favorable schedules for the next couple weeks. Except for Black Hills, who face historic league power WF West this week in Chehalis.

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1. Olympia Bears (4-0 overall, 2-0 4A Narrows)
Last week: #1 (no change)
Previous game: Beat Timberline, 49-25
Next game: vs. Issaquah (2-2 overall) – Ingersoll Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Oly has so many weapons. Scott Gunther, David Woodward, Jayden Toussaint, etc. They did allow Timberline to get with nine points in the third quarter but quickly put them in their rear view after that. Oly gets a non-league game with Issaquah this week and Stadium after before they face Gig Harbor and Bellarmine in back-to-back weeks.

2. Black Hills Wolves (4-0 overall)
Last week: #2 (no change)
Previous game: Beat Columbia River, 46-20
Next game: @ WF West (2-2 overall) – Bearcat Stadium, Chehalis – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Black Hills continues to roll and have now beaten three teams that have appeared in the AP football poll at one point or another this season. That’s all well and good, but league play is here with a trip to Chehalis on tap. WF West sits at just 2-2, but other than a 35 point loss to West Valley, have given up just 27 points to decent teams.

3. River Ridge Hawks (4-0 overall, 2-0 2A SPSL)
Last week: #3 (no change)
Previous game: Beat Orting, 35-14
Next game: vs. White River (0-4 overall, 0-2 2A SPSL) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Orting looked like the team to beat and River Ridge did just that. And with that, it looks like the Hawks are on a collision course with Fife late in the season. White River comes in this week at 0-4.

4. Tumwater T-Birds (4-0 overall)
Last week: #4 (no change)
Previous game: Beat Lake City, Idaho – 35-21
Next game: vs. Columbia River (2-2 overall) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: T-Birds are the #1 team in the state and undefeated but we knew that would happen, especially with a relatively easy schedule. The lack of surprise keeps them at #4 despite those high rankings. Their best offensive player, Easton Trakel, still hasn’t taken the field yet.

5. Tenino Beavers (3-1 overall, 1-1 2A/1A Evergreen)
Last week: #8 (+3)
Previous game: Beat Elma, 39-20
Next game: vs. Forks (2-2 overall, 1-1 2A/1A Evergreen) – Tenino Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Tenino took it to previously unbeaten Elma on Friday night to bounce back from their loss to Hoquiam the week before. Thomas Pier ran for 212 yards and three TDs and will likely continue to run wild this week against Forks.

6. Rainier Mountaineers (3-1 overall, 2-1 2B Pacific)
Last week: #7 (+1)
Previous game: Beat Ocosta, 59-19
Next game: @ North Beach (4-0 overall, 3-0 2B Pacific) – North Beach HS, Ocean Shores – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Rainier continued to run past the bottom half of the 2B Pacific burying Ocosta 59-19. Next up, though, is a trip to the Ocean where they will run into the #3 team in the state. While highly unlikely, it isn’t completely out of the question that you might see an upset, which is really saying something for the Mountaineers.

7. North Thurston Rams (2-2 overall, 1-1 3A Narrows)
Last week: #5 (-2)
Previous game: Lost to Central Kitsap, 23-22
Next game: @ Foss (0-4 overall, 0-2 3A Narrows) – Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: A very close loss to Central Kitsap moved the Rams back to the 3A Narrows pack at 1-1. They should pick up an easy win this weekend against Foss.

8. Capital Cougars (1-3 overall, 1-1 3A Narrows)
Last week: #11 (+3)
Previous game: Beat Foss, 46-14
Next game: @ Central Kitsap (2-2 overall, 2-0 3A Narrows) – Silverdale Stadium – Friday, 7:30 PM

Notes: Capital got their first win over a bad Foss squad, this time scoring 46 and winning after scoring 46 and losing to Lincoln the week before. The Cougars have showed that they can put up some points over the past two weeks and with the 3A Narrows proving to be mediocre this season after Lincoln, they can easily make some noise the rest of the way. A win over Central Kitsap would put them in the drivers seat for the #2 spot in league.

9. Shelton Highclimbers (2-2 overall, 1-1 3A Narrows)
Last week: #6 (-3)
Previous game: Lost to Lincoln, 54-3
Next game: @ Wilson (1-3 overall, 1-1 3A Narrows) – Stadium Bowl, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: No shame in getting trounced by Lincoln – who might be better than last season under Jon Kitna. And the middle pack of the 3A Narrows is very winable for the Highclimbers. They could take second in league, they could fall to sixth. Hard to tell. This week’s game at struggling Wilson will be a big measuring stick.

10. Rochester Warriors (2-2 overall, 1-1 2A/1A Evergreen)
Last week: #12 (+2)
Previous game: Beat Forks, 49-7
Next game: vs. Aberdeen (0-4 overall, 0-2 2A/1A Evergreen) – Rochester HS – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Always nice to go up to Forks and get a win and a bad Aberdeen team comes to town this week.

11. Timberline Blazers (1-3 overall, 1-1 4A Narrows)
Last week: #10 (+1)
Previous game: Lost to Olympia, 49-25
Next game: @ Bellarmine (3-1 overall, 1-0 4A Narrows – Memorial Stadium, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Big loss to Olympia with Bellarmine looming and Gig Harbor after that. Brutal. Probably the toughest schedule over the first five weeks of anybody and that win over Yelm keeps them out of the cellar.

12. Yelm Tornadoes (3-1 overall, 1-1 4A Narrows)
Last week: #10 (-2)
Previous game: Beat South Kitsap, 49-29
Next game: vs. Stadium (1-3 overall, 0-2 4A Narrows) – Yelm HS – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Yelm, Yelm, Yelm. I’m not sure what to do with you. Yeah, you sit at 3-1 overall and are coming off a big win but that loss to Timberline has thrown me for a loop. I can’t rank you ahead of them and I can’t rank them ahead of anybody else with that 1-3 record. So you find yourself in the #12 spot despite all your wins. A rejuvenated Stadium squad comes to town in what should be a really interesting game.