Here’s a lock: T-Birds #1

Five places in the Oly Sports Power Rankings are obvious: Tumwater is first, Oly is second, Rochester is third, Rainier is 11th and Shelton is 12th. Those are almost unarguable based on their winning or losing streaks. But after those spots, even I question my rankings. Am I crazy? A one win Capital team over a three win River Ridge? Well, winning steaks count and Capital is suddenly sitting in a playoff spot if the season were to end today.

Since I can’t completely explain my reasoning for those middle spots, I give you really bad haikus in my completely unscientific rankings and have added the awesome ScoreCzar computer predictions…

——————————————–

1. Tumwater T-Birds (5-0, 2-0 2A EvCo)
Last week: #1 (No change)
Previous game: Tumwater 35, WF West 28
Next game: vs. Bellarmine (5-0) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: Bellarmine 24, Tumwater 18

Haiku:
T-Birds edge Bearcats.
Still on top of Oly rankings.
Can B Prep stop them?

2. Olympia Bears (4-1, 2-0 4A Narrows)
Last week: #2 (No change)
Previous game: Olympia 28, South Kitsap 21
Next game: @ Central Kitsap (3-2) – Silverdale Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: Olympia 27, Central Kitsap 7

Haiku:
Four straight wins looks good.
One blemish in Oregon.
Becker made right choice?

3. Rochester Warriors (4-1, 3-0 1A Evergreen)
Last week: #4 (+1)
Previous game: Rochester 49, Elma 14
Next game: @ Montesano (2-3) – Stewart Field, Aberdeen – Thursday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: Rochester 27, Montesano 14

Haiku:
Warriors drill Elma.
3 and 0 in the Southwest.
Yarber is ridic.

4. Black Hills (3-2, 1-0 2A EvCo)
Last week: #7 (+3)
Previous game: Black Hills 24, River Ridge 17
Next game: @ WF West (4-1) – Bearcat Stadium, Chehalis – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: WF West 35, Black Hills 16

Haiku:
Three wins in a row.
Yarrington puts on a show.
Black Hills all aglow.

5. Tenino Beavers (2-3, 2-1 1A Evergreen)
Last week: #8 (+3)
Previous game: Tenino 56, Rainier 7
Next game: vs. LaCenter (5-0) – Tenino Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: LaCenter 36, Tenino 7

Haiku:
Beavers ran roughshod.
Mountaineers go home shell shocked.
Who is Tenino?

6. Timberline (2-3, 1-1 3A Narrows)
Last week: #9 (+3)
Previous game: Timberline 26, Lincoln 20
Next game: vs. Foss (4-1) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: Foss 27, Timberline 7

Haiku:
Just two wins, T-Line.
Beating Lincoln is fine.
Blazers get rolling?

7. Capital Cougars (1-4, 1-1 2A EvCo)
Last week: #11 (+4)
Previous game: Capital 50, Centralia 6
Next game: vs. North Thurston (3-2) – Ingersoll Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: North Thurston 27, Capital 16

Haiku:
Sorry Centralia.
Your Tigers sure lost their roar.
One win earns a big bump.

8. River Ridge (3-2, 0-1 2A EvCo)
Last week: #4 (-4)
Previous game: Black Hills 24, River Ridge 17
Next game: vs. Centralia (2-3) – South Sound Stadium – Thursday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: River Ridge 30, Centralia 9

Haiku:
Not so sure about Hawks.
Black Hills a really tough loss.
Needs this Thursday game.

9. Yelm Tornadoes (3-2, 1-1 4A Narrows)
Last week: #6 (-3)
Previous game: Central Kitsap 23, Yelm 14
Next game: @ South Kitsap (1-4) – Knowles Field, Port Orchard – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: Yelm 28, South Kitsap 13

Haiku:
An up and down year.
For Ronquillo’s Tornadoes.
To South K they go.

10. North Thurston (3-2, 1-2 3A Narrows)
Last week: #5 (-5)
Previous game: Wilson 29, North Thurston 9
Next game: @ Capital (1-4) – Ingersoll Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: North Thurston 27, Capital 16

Haiku:
Speed is killing Rams.
Wilson, Lincoln way too fast.
Not nearly this bad.

11. Rainier Mountaineers (1-4, 0-3 1A Evergreen)
Last week: #10 (-1)
Previous game: Tenino 56, Rainier 7
Next game: vs. Forks (2-3) – Rainier HS – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: Forks 17, Rainier 11

Haiku:
507 battle.
40 point loss to rivals.
Welcome back Rainier.

12. Shelton Highclimbers (0-5, 0-2 3A Narrows)
Last week: #12 (No change)
Previous game: Foss 28, Shelton 0
Next game: vs. Lincoln (5-0) – Highclimber Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM
Scoreczar prediction: Lincoln 38, Shelton 0

Haiku:
Five TDs all season.
Offense has been offensive.
We miss Ralph Kinne.

Addie, scouting her picks

Addie is back! Two weeks ago she went 6-4 and is now 17-12 overall for the season. Not too shabby. Let’s see you do better with your statistical analysis and logic and whatnot. This week, her 2 1/2 year old sister Rory takes a much bigger role in the predictions providing her own unique insight into almost every game. Take it to the bank!

Here is the complete schedule complete with radio information and Addie and Rory’s expert predictions…

—————

Tumwater T-Birds @ WF West
Bearcat Stadium, Chehalis – 7:00 PM – Radio: KELA and KGY

Rory’s pick: Bearcats
Addies’s pick: Bearcats
“I think they are going to eat them! Eat them eat them eat them.” – Rory
“I’ll take the Bearcats too for the same reason!” – Addie

North Thurston Rams @ Wilson Rams
Stadium Bowl, Tacoma – 7:00 PM

Rory’s pick: Rams! Them Rams! NORTH THURSTON RAMS!
Addie’s pick: The Rams….HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA….North Thurston.
“I can’t stop laughing! When they are bucking, the Rams are going to jump on the backs of the other Rams.” – Addie

River Ridge Hawks @ Black Hills Wolves
Tumwater Stadium – 7:00 PM

Rory’s pick: Hawks
Addie’s pick: Wolves
“I think they are just going to buck them.” – Rory
“Buck them in the butt? I don’t know about you, but I think that when they come to buck them in the butt another wolf is going to come and eat the hawk.” – Addie

Rochester Warriors @ Elma Eagles
Davis Field, Elma – 7:00 PM

Rory’s pick: Eagles
Addie’s pick: Warriors
“I think they are gonna just fly around.” – Rory
“How is that gonna makes them win, Rory? If one of the Warriors boss yells ‘fire’, I think one of the Warriors would just shoot them with their gun.” – Addie

Yelm Tornadoes vs. Central Kitsap Cougars
Tornadoes Stadium – 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: Tornadoes
“The Tornadoes are gonna go right where the Cougar is standing and eating a wolf that is eating a bat and the Tornado is going to come and pick up the Cougar and spin it all around and around and around.” – Addie
“Did I hear that right? The Cougar is eating a wolf that is eating a bat?” – Me
“Hahahahaha…The Cougar is eating a wolf that is eating a bat!” – Addie

Rainier Mountaineers @ Tenino Beavers
Tenino Stadium – 7:00 PM

Rory’s pick: BEAVERS! BEAVERS!
Addie’s pick: Beavers
“They are gonna whack ’em with their tail! ♫ BEAVERS BEAVERS, WHACK ‘EM WITH YOUR TAIL! ♫” – Rory
“♫ BEAVERS BEAVERS, WHACK ‘EM WITH YOUR TAIL! WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK! ♫” – Addie
“The Beavers are going to win EVERY time.” – Mommy
“WE ARE ALL SET UP FOR HALLOWEEN, RIGHT GUYS!” – Rory

Timberline Blazers @ Lincoln Abes
Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma – 7:00 PM

Rory’s pick: Abes
Addie’s pick: Blazers
“I think they will crawl around.” – Rory
“Are Abes carnivores?” – Addie
*about a minute of laughing*
“Yeah, he was a carnivore. Actually, probably an omnivore.” – Me
“What’s an omnivore?” – Addie
“They eat meat and vegetables.” – Me
“What do Blazers do? That’s my question.” – Addie
“They chop down trees.” – Me
“If the Abe doesn’t see the guy in the tree, the guy might cut the tree down and squish the Abe.” – Addie
“That kind of already happened….way back in history. Don’t worry about it.” – Me

Capital Cougars vs. Centralia Tigers
Ingersoll Stadium – 7:00 PM – Radio: Eli Sports Network

Rory’s pick: “Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers! Go Go Go! Goodbye!”
Addie’s pick: Cougars
“Rory, why do you think the Tigers would win?” – Me
“NO! I was singing a song!” – Rory
“The Cougars are gonna pounce on the other team and bite off the other team’s legs.” – Addie

Shelton Highclimbers @ Foss Falcons
Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma – 7:00 PM – Radio: 1030 AM KMAS

Rory’s pick: Falcons
Addie’s pick: Falcons
“They are going to just eat them, eat them.” – Rory
“Are Falcons carnivores? I ask that for just about every one that is a animal. The Falcons will use their beak and push the Highclimbers out of the tree.” – Addie

Olympia Bears vs. South Kitsap Wolves
Ingersoll Stadium – Saturday, 3:00 PM – Radio: KGY

Addie’s pick: Bears
“Actually, why I think they would win is because they would both wrestle and the Bear would sneak his claw and scratch the Wolves.”

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…

——————————————–

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.

This week on the Countdown to Kickoff on Newsradio 1030 KMAS, 104.1 FM and KMAS.com, John McGlamery and I recap the Shelton/North Mason game last week, preview the game between the Highclimbers and Wilson that we will call at 7:00 PM, talk about the OlySports.com power rankings, run around the 3A Narrows League, make our predictions and talk to North Mason head coach Jeff Bevers and replay a fun interview that we did with Shelton stars Ralph Kinne and David Ajamu.

You can listen live beginning at 6:00 PM on KMAS or you can listen to the show now in an Oly Sports exclusive early listen…

Addie, scouting her picks

Kind of a rough week two for Addie as she went just 5-4 and is now 11-8 for the season. But that doesn’t deter her or her crack scientific system of prognostication. Nope, she just buckles down and, with the help of her little sister, gets right back on the horse. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!

Here is the entire week two high school football schedule, complete with radio information and Addie’s expert picks…

—————

Tumwater T-Birds @ Inglemoor Vikings
Pop Keeney Stadium, Bothell – 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: Vikings
Rory’s pick: T-Birds
“Since the Vikings have swords, I think they will stab the other team.” – Addie
“Because, they are gonna, um, headbut them!” – Rory, 2 1/2

North Thurston Rams @ Foss Falcons
Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma – 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: Falcons
Rory’s pick: Rams
“When they are running towards the other team, one of them is going to come down and is gonna grab the fur and is just going to pull the Ram straight up and the Ram will go WOOOO.” – Addie
“Because they are going to do that,” windmills her arms. “They’ll buck into ’em” – Rory

Timberline Blazers @ Olympia Bears
Ingersoll Stadium – 7:00 PM – Radio: 1240 AM KGY

Addie’s pick: Blazers
Rory’s pick: Bears
“They are going to cut down the tree right on the Bear’s head.” – Addie
“Because they are going to kill them. The girls are going to whack ’em. With the rocks.” – Rory

River Ridge Hawks @ Ridgefield Spudders
Ridgefield Stadium – 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: Hawks
“Since last time I said they were going to throw potatoes at them, Now I think the Hawks will, when they are throwing them at them, they will put their beaks out and stab the potatoes and squish them.”

Rainier Mountaineers @ Rochester Warriors
Rochester HS – 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: Warriors
“They are gonna be on stilts with metal bottoms and they are going to squish the other team.” (???)

Yelm Tornadoes vs. Stadium Tigers
Tornadoes Stadium – 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: Tornadoes
“Since Tigers are attached to the ground, the Tornadoes are going to come right on the Tiger and spin them up and throw them on the ground when they get to the top.”

Black Hills Wolves vs. Bainbridge Spartans
Tumwater Stadium – 7:00 PM – Radio: Eli Sports Network

Addie’s pick: Spartans
“The Spartans are going to shoot the Wolves.”

Capital Cougars @ Bothell Cougars
Pop Keeney Stadium, Bothell – Saturday, 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: “I DO NOT have an answer….Capital”
Rory’s pick: Capital
“Since they are both cougars, one of the Cougars will keep their mouth open wide like in the morning and the other Cougar will run straight into their mouth.” – Addie
“They will whack them, with their tails” – Rory

Tenino Beavers @ Elma Eagles
Davis Field, Elma – 7:00 PM

Addie’s pick: Eagles
Rory’s pick: “Beavers, Beavers whack them with your tail.”
“Since Eagles are carnivores, I think that the Eagles will eat the Beavers.” – Addie

Shelton Highclimbers @ Wilson Rams
Stadium Bowl, Tacoma – 7:00 PM – Radio: 1030 AM KMAS

Addie’s pick: Rams
Rory’s pick: “Beavers, Beavers bucka…..bye…I said bye when I singed the song!”
“They are going to come bucking into the other team, buck buck buck!” – Addie