Previews, predictions for the 2021 WIAA high school state football championships: SBLive Washington podcast

The WIAA Gridiron Classic returns for the first time in two years Saturday, with six high school state football championships set to take place at three stadiums in Pierce County.

On a state championship preview episode of the SBLive Washington podcast, reporters Todd Milles and Andy Buhler explain why the games are held at three high school district stadiums instead of the Tacoma Dome, Husky Stadium or another big-scale venue. They also preview and predict 1B Almira/Coulee-Hartline vs. Quilcene (7:45 minute mark), 2B Napavine vs. Kalama (12:40), 1A Royal vs. Eatovnille (19:58), 2A Tumwater vs. Lynden (33:00), 3A Bellevue vs. Kennewick (37:59) and 4A Graham-Kapowsin vs. Lake Stevens (49:25).

Listen to the episode here, leave a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you get podcasts:

SBLive staff score predictions

1B: NO. 3 SEED QUILCENE RANGERS (10-1) vs. NO. 1 SEED ALMIRA/COULEE-HARTLINE WARRIORS (11-0)

Noon Saturday at Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma

Andy Buhler: 42-24, ACH

Todd Milles: 38-19, ACH

2B: NO. 2 SEED NAPAVINE TIGERS (12-0) vs. NO. 1 SEED KALAMA CHINOOKS (11-0)

4 p.m. Saturday at Harry E. Lang Stadium, Lakewood

Andy Buhler: 40-37, Kalama

Todd Milles: 40-36, Napavine

1A: NO. 2 SEED EATONVILLE CRUISERS (13-0) vs. NO. 1 SEED ROYAL KNIGHTS (13-0)

Noon Saturday at Harry E. Lang Stadium, Lakewood

Andy Buhler: 34-28, Royal

Todd Milles: 27-24, Eatonville

2A: NO. 2 SEED LYNDEN LIONS (11-1) vs. NO. 1 SEED TUMWATER THUNDERBIRDS (10-2)

4 p.m. Saturday at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup

Andy Buhler: 24-14, Tumwater

Todd Milles: 30-10, Tumwater

3A: NO. 6 SEED KENNEWICK LIONS (12-1) vs. NO. 1 SEED BELLEVUE WOLVERINES (13-0)

Noon Saturday at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup

Andy Buhler: 27-24, Kennewick

Todd Milles: 23-21, Bellevue

4A: NO. 3 SEED LAKE STEVENS VIKINGS (11-0) vs. NO. 1 SEED GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES (13-0)

4 p.m. Saturday at Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma

Andy Buhler: Graham-Kapowsin, 40-28

Todd Milles: Graham-Kapowsin, 38-20

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In-depth Gridiron Classic previews

WIAA 1B football championship preview: No. 1 Almira/Coulee-Hartline, No. 3 Quilcene both see unfinished business

WIAA 2B football championship preview: Like clockwork, No. 1 Kalama, No. 2 Napavine meet late in playoffs, this time for all the marbles

WIAA 1A football championship preview: No. 2 Eatonville is a yesteryear state power. Can it end No. 1 Royal’s torrid run?

WIAA 2A football championship preview: Legacy rivals Tumwater, Lynden take center stage in Puyallup

WIAA 3A football championship preview: Us-against-world Kennewick faces its final test — resurgent state power Bellevue

Behind Kennewick receiver Austin Stoddard’s breakout season is a father-son bond forged through hardship

WIAA 4A football championship preview: There’s a first time for everything, including winning a state title

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About the SBLive Washington podcast

The SBLive Washington podcast is a weekly conversation that takes a look at the top stories impacting high school sports across the state of Washington. Thanks to sponsor Washington Federal. Download the SBLive Sports app on iPhone and Android today at no charge.

Hosts: Todd Milles, Andy Buhler
Producer: Andy Buhler

How to subscribe?

Apple Podcasts // TuneIn // Spotify // Google Play // Stitcher

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(Lead photo by Vince Miller)