Is it too early to be thinking about the playoffs?
Never.
The high school football regular season is two-thirds done with just three more weeks until the postseason.
Teams will be battling not only for league titles, but playoff spots. And with the top two teams from each league in our region — 4A Greater St. Helens League, 3A GSHL, 2A GSHL and 1A Trico League — receiving home games in Week 10, second place will be nearly as big as first.
So, let’s take a look at seven key games down the stretch.
No. 7: Hockinson at Kelso
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
OK, I know this is non-league game, which plays no role into which teams advance to the postseason. But this is a compelling matchup on many levels.
First, some background. High school football schedules are made in two-year cycles. Last season, Hockinson had its Week 7 game wiped off the schedule when West Seattle was unable to complete its varsity schedule. It also left a Week 7 hole in the Hawks’ 2019 schedule, which they were unable to fill.
Kelso also had a Week 7 vacancy in its schedule when Fort Vancouver opted to play an independent schedule this season. The Hilanders first tried to fill that hole with — wait for it — West Seattle. But the Wildcats again withdrew from that game back in June.
Since then, it’s made perfect sense for the Hawks and Hilanders to fill their Week 7 openings by playing each other.
Well, after a couple of months to work out the details, they’re playing each other.
No. 6: King’s Way Christian at Columbia-White Salmon
When: 7 p.m. Friday
It’s a little odd to have a key game that features a team that is 0-2 in league. That’s where King’s Way sits in the Trico League.
But the Knights opened league play with a gauntlet of La Center and Castle Rock, and they performed well in losses.
Now King’s Way travels into the gorge to play Columbia in a game that might just determine the third and final playoff berth from the Trico.
No. 5: Washougal at Hockinson
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25.
Washougal has been a bit of an enigma this year. Some weeks, the Panthers look very, very good — like they did Friday against Columbia River. And other weeks, they’ve stubbed their toes. Injuries have played a part in that. But if the Panthers show up and play like they did against River, Hockinson could have a lot on its hands as the Hawks look to secure another 2A GSHL title.
No. 4: La Center at Castle Rock
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1.
All signs are pointing toward this Week 9 showdown being for the Trico League title. It will be the one-man wrecking crew of Wyatt Partridge of Castle Rock going against Tom Lambert and all of his weapons from La Center. This should be a good one.
No. 3: Kelso at Mountain View
When: 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25.
Having dispatched of Prairie last Thursday, Mountain View figures to lock down another 3A Greater St. Helens League title when the Hilanders come to McKenzie Stadium.
No. 2: Camas at Skyview
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24.
Some might say this is the game of the year in the region, and it should be a good one. Skyview routed Union on Friday, showing that the Storm should be ready for Camas when the Papermakers roll into Kiggins Bowl. A Skyview win should give the 4A Greater St. Helens League title to the Storm. But if Camas wins …
No. 1: Union at Camas
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1.
Union vs. Camas looms in Week 9, as usual. We held this game out at No. 1 because it’s in Week 9, instead of Week 8. And depending on what happens in Week 8, this one could be huge. If Camas beats Skyview in Week 8, and Union avoids any stumbles, the Titans can head into Doc Harris Stadium still in the mix for 4A Greater St. Helens League title. But then, the Titans could also be the last team on Camas’ revenge tour of 2019, and it has not gone well for the likes of Lincoln, Bellevue and especially Sumner.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reach at 360-735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.
