Capital claims the top spot in the first Oly Sports high school football power rankings

Welcome to the first edition of the Oly Sports high school football power rankings, a highly unscientific look at where the 12 Olympia area football programs stand, in my opinion (I have chosen to include all Thurston County teams and Shelton in my football coverage this season).

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1. Capital Cougars (2-0)
Previous game: Capital 19, Olympia 0
Next game: vs. Bothell (0-2) – Ingersoll Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Even without star running back Kai Van Sickle, the Cougars got the Spaghetti Bowl win over the struggling Olympia Bears and retained their 2A #1 ranking. Behind their talented offensive line, it might not matter who is running the ball this season. Sophomore Connor Kennedy ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Bothell is 0-2 but is still ranked #10 in 4A by The News Tribune after losing to 4A #1 Skyline in their opener and 3A #1 Bellevue last week.

2. Tenino Beavers (2-0)
Previous game: Tenino 55, Washougal 28
Next game: vs. Elma (0-2) – Tenino HS – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Is there a more dynamic duo in the South Sound than QB Mac Shaw and WR Devante Harris? Shaw completed 31 passes for 460 yards and five touchdowns and scored three rushing touchdowns in their win over 2A Washougal on Friday. Harris was on the receiving end of three of those touchdowns. Shaw has ten total touchdowns while Harris has scored six times himself.

3. North Thurston Rams (2-0)
Previous game: North Thurston 24, Black Hills 0
Next game: vs. Foss (0-1) – South Sound Stadium – Thursday, 7:00 PM

Notes: While the running attack has been on point, as expected, the Rams defense has been the star, blanking Black Hills, who were coming off of a nice offensive performance in their opener, and allowing just seven points to Steilacoom before mop up duty in the fourth quarter.

4. Shelton Highclimbers (2-0)
Previous game: Shelton 54, North Mason 24
Next game: vs. Wilson (2-0) – Highclimber Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Ralph Kinne is establishing himself as one of the premier running backs in the state with 538 yards and five touchdowns to start the season. As the voice of the Highclimbers, I’ve seen how he hits holes faster than anybody else I’ve seen and carries tacklers along for the ride and I think that even when the Highclimbers get to some of the top defenses in the 3A Narrows League, he’s still going to succeed. It helps to have a fullback in DeShon Bell that is equally dangerous.

5. Yelm Tornadoes (2-0)
Previous game: Yelm 49, Olympic 48
Next game: @ Stadium (1-1) – Stadium Bowl, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: The Tornadoes have put a lot of points on the board knocking off Highline 53-14 in the opener and Olympic 49-48 in overtime this week, but neither Highline or Olympic are particularly tough opponents and allowing 48 points to Olympic after they were shutout by Renton in their opener is troubling. The Tornadoes open 4A Narrows League play this week against Stadium, who was thrashed by Lincoln 56-13 on Friday night.

6. Tumwater T-Birds (1-1)
Previous game: Tumwater 48, Timberline 26
Next game: vs. Inglemoor (0-2) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: I’m not sure what to think of this T-Birds team. In the opener against Shelton, they looked completely over-matched by the Highclimbers but a big win over Timberline behind five touchdowns from Andrew Brown (one punt return, one passing, two running and one interception return) has them back on track. And this week, they host 0-2 Inglemoor, who has only put 16 points on the board in two games.

7. Timberline Blazers (1-1)
Previous game: Tumwater 48, Timberline 26
Next game: vs. Olympia (0-2) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: One has to be concerned at the way that Timberline lost to Tumwater. They were beaten every which way possible. Two passes intercepted and taken back, one punt returned, three rushing TDs, one pass. But they did shutout River Ridge in the opener and host a reeling Olympia team coming off two straight shutouts.

8. River Ridge Hawks (1-1)
Previous game: River Ridge 34, Sequim 0
Next game: vs. Ridgefield (2-0) – South Sound Stadium – Saturday, 7:00 PM

Notes: After getting shutout by Timberline in their opener, the Hawks traveled to Sequim and beat up on a Sequim team that lost their first game to Shelley, Idaho 42-0. So what to make of this River Ridge team? They will get a serious test on Saturday when Ridgefield comes to town. The Spudders are 2-0 and have beaten Rochester and Kalama by a combined 63-14.

9. Black Hills Wolves (1-1)
Previous game: North Thurston 24, Black Hills 0
Next game: @ Bainbridge Island (1-1) – BI Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: The Wolves blew out Clover Park in their opener and had high hopes for their offense. But North Thurston held that offense in check on Thursday night and it remains to be seen which offense will show up the rest of the year. But, the defense did play relatively well against the Rams. They play their only game away from town this weekend when they go to Bainbridge Island. River Ridge and Black Hills could easily be switched, but since the Hawks won last week, they get the nod at #8 over the Wolves.

10. Rochester Warriors (0-2)
Previous game: RA Long 47, Rochester 19
Next game: @ Rainier (0-2) – Rainier HS – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: The Warriors started out with a pretty tough schedule playing two 2A Greater Saint Helen’s League teams in a row. They gave up 28 first quarter points to RA Long but played them fairly evenly the rest of the way on Friday night. They next travel to Rainier to open 1A Evergreen Conference play against the 0-2 Mountaineers.

11. Rainier Mountaineers (0-2)
Previous game: Mossyrock 42, Rainier 12
Next game: vs. Rochester (0-2) – Rainier HS – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Unlike Rochester, the Mountaineers have played down, getting handled by two 2B Central League teams to open the season, which is understandable considering Mac Shaw moved on to Tenino in the off-season. Their cross county match-up with Rochester on Friday will be a tough test despite the Warriors losing record.

12. Olympia Bears (0-2)
Previous game: Capital 19, Olympia 0
Next game: @ Timberline (1-1) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Are the Bears the worst team in the area? No way. They have played arguably the best team in Oregon and one of the best teams in Washington in their two losses. But are they the only team in the area to be 0-2 and not score a point so far this season? Yes they are. So for now, they have to be on the bottom of these power rankings. And it doesn’t get any easier for the Bears. They head to South Sound Stadium to take on Timberline Friday night.