Top 25 Washington high school football rankings (9/20/2023)
After a busy weekend, here are the SBLive Power 25 Washington high school football rankings heading into Week 4. The rankings span all WIAA classifications.
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1. EASTSIDE CATHOLIC CRUSADERS 2-1 (3A)
Up next: Saturday at Lincoln of Seattle (3A)
Last result: 44-0 win over Bishop Blanchet (3A)
Last ranking: No. 1
Ranking rationale: Offense gaining momentum as team heads into meatier stretch of 3A Metro schedule.
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2. YELM TORNADOS 3-0 (3A)
Up next: Friday vs. River Ridge (3A)
Last result: 36-6 win over Central Kitsap (3A)
Last ranking: No. 2
Ranking rationale: Good news - pass game is fully untracked. Better news, RB Brayden Platt (hip) played last week.
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3. O'DEA FIGHTING IRISH 3-0 (3A)
Up next: Friday vs. Seattle Prep (3A)
Last result: 42-0 win over Rainier Beach (3A)
Last ranking: No. 3
Ranking rationale: Uncommited top senior RB Jason Brown Jr.'s blistering production might start attracting new suitors.
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4. GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES 3-0 (4A)
Up next: Thursday vs. Bellarmine Prep (4A)
Last result: 27-13 win over Olympia (4A)
Last ranking: No. 4
Ranking rationale: Changing of guard? Newcomer WR Malachi Durant looking like new No. 1 target in pass game.
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5. LAKE STEVENS VIKINGS 3-0 (4A)
Up next: Friday vs. West Linn (OR)
Last result: 63-13 win over Federal Way (4A)
Last ranking: No. 5
Ranking rationale: Whole state should be pulling for Viks this week as they get Oregon's top team in home rematch.
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6. EMERALD RIDGE JAGUARS 3-0 (4A)
Up next: Friday at Curtis (4A)
Last result: 42-28 win over Sumner (4A)
Last ranking: No. 6
Ranking rationale: Run defense not as good as a year ago, but high-powered offense even better than it was in 2022.
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7. KENNEWICK LIONS 3-0 (3A)
Up next: Friday at Kamiakin (4A)
Last result: 42-7 win over Sunnyside (4A)
Last ranking: No. 7
Ranking rationale: Can anybody in the Tri-Cities beat this team? Best bet might be Friday in rival Kamiakin.
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8. BELLEVUE WOLVERINES 1-2 (3A)
Up next: Friday vs. Mercer Island (3A)
Last result: 35-7 win over Liberty of Issaquah (3A)
Last ranking: No. 8
Ranking rationale: Remember this name - FB Max Jones. In first start last week, rushed for 268 yards and three TDs.
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9. SKYVIEW STORM 3-0 (4A)
Up next: Saturday at Kamiak (4A)
Last result: 21-7 win over Bothell (4A)
Last ranking: No. 9
Ranking rationale: Took a half, but WR Riley Artis and company came to life last week just in time..
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10. KENNEDY CATHOLIC LANCERS 2-1 (4A)
Up next: Saturday vs. Decatur (4A)
Last result: 49-6 win over Kentwood (4A)
Last ranking: No. 10
Ranking rationale: Opportunistic defense picking up where it left off in 2022 by forcing five turnovers against Kentwood.
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11. MOUNT SI WILDCATS 3-0 (4A)
Up next: Friday at Skyline (4A)
Last result: 24-10 win over North Creek (4A)
Last ranking: No. 11
Ranking rationale: Folks going to soon find out how much of a chore it is dealing with this physical run game.
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12. KAMIAKIN BRAVES 2-1 (4A)
Up next: Friday vs. Kennewick (3A)
Last result: 50-14 win over Southridge (3A)
Last ranking: No. 12
Ranking rationale: As long as RB Makram Altahir (164 yards, three TDs) stays steady, Braves should be fine.
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13. LYNDEN LIONS 2-1 (2A)
Up next: Friday at Sedro-Woolley (2A)
Last result: 35-0 win over Squalicum (2A)
Last ranking: No. 14
Ranking rationale: Defense keeps QB Marcus Nixon and Storm offense in check as Lions leaving Week 1 loss far behind.
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14. CURTIS VIKINGS 3-0 (4A)
Up next: Friday vs. Emerald Ridge (4A)
Last result: 35-20 win over Bethel (4A)
Last ranking: No. 17
Ranking rationale: Pretty simple - when QB Rocco Koch gets rolling on the ground, Viks' offense opens up tremendously.
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15. BOTHELL COUGARS 2-1 (4A)
Up next: Friday at North Creek (4A)
Last result: 21-7 loss to Skyview (4A)
Last ranking: No. 13
Ranking rationale: Lost opportunity last week to enhance state-contending reputation. Still a solid top-10 group.
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16. CHIAWANA RIVERHAWKS 2-1 (4A)
Up next: Thursday at Richland (4A)
Last result: 52-10 win over Pasco (4A)
Last ranking: No. 15
Ranking rationale: With 11 touchdowns in past two games, safe to say offense is back after opening-weekend slumber.
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17. ANACORTES SEAHAWKS 3-0 (2A)
Up next: Friday at Lakewood (2A)
Last result: 45-0 win over Archbishop Murphy (2A)
Last ranking: No. 16
Ranking rationale: For those unclear what a complete effort looks like ... just watch the Archbishop Murphy film.
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18. ENUMCLAW HORNETS 3-0 (2A)
Up next: Friday at Orting (2A)
Last result: 42-0 win over Steilacoom (2A)
Last ranking: No. 19
Ranking rationale: If that was the supposed 2A SPSL title showdown last week, what are state games going to look like?
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19. CAMAS PAPERMAKERS 2-1 (4A)
Up next: Friday at Kelso (3A)
Last result: 21-7 win over Lincoln of Tacoma (3A)
Last ranking: No. 20
Ranking rationale: Five touchdowns in two weeks - RB Beau Harlan becoming key cog in Papermakers' plans.
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20. GARFIELD BULLDOGS 2-1 (3A)
Up next: Saturday vs. Bishop Blanchet (3A)
Last result: 28-19 win over Seattle Prep (3A)
Last ranking: No. 23
Ranking rationale: Seems like QB EJ Caminong-to-WR Reggie Witherspoon III combination nets long touchdown every week.
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21. MONROE BEARCATS 3-0 (3A)
Up next: Saturday at Lynnwood (3A)
Last result: 53-0 win over Kamiak (4A)
Last ranking: No. 23
Ranking rationale: That is back-to-back game scoring 53 points. Offense surely heating up before 3A Wesco play.
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22. RICHLAND BOMBERS 2-0 (4A)
Up next: Thursday vs. Chiawana (4A)
Last result: 41-13 win over Hanford (4A)
Last ranking: No. 24
Ranking rationale: Is QB Joshua Woodard the MCC's most dangerous player? Had four more touchdowns Friday.
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23. ARLINGTON EAGLES 3-0 (3A)
Up next: Friday vs. Ferndale (3A)
Last result: 52-14 win over Mount Vernon (3A)
Last ranking: Unranked
Ranking rationale: Not getting the same fanfare as other perennial 3A Wesco playoff teams ...but Eagles should be.
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24. EASTMONT WILDCATS 3-0 (4A)
Up next: Friday vs. Davis (4A)
Last result: 49-10 win over Wenatchee (4A)
Last ranking: Unranked
Ranking rationale: In span of four minutes, RB Gunnar Peterson closes rivalry show with two late third-quarter touchdowns.
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25. MOUNT SPOKANE WILDCATS 3-0 (3A)
Up next: Friday vs. Ferris (3A)
Last result: 34-7 win over Lewis & Clark (4A)
Last ranking: Unranked
Ranking rationale: WR Bode Gardner (two touchdown catches, INT return for score worth price of admission every week.
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(Featured file photo by Vince Miller)
