Bracket Breakdown: WIAA 2A state football tournament quarterfinal previews, stat leaders, game picks

Lynden, North Kitsap set to square off in third consecutive postseason - with Lions winning previous two matchups

For the third time in as many postseasons, the Lynden Lions and North Kitsap Vikings will meet in a round of the WIAA Class 2A playoffs.

Two-time defending champion Lynden has gotten the better of North Kitsap winning in 2021's semifinal round and last year's state championship game.

* CLASS 2A WASHINGTON TOURNAMENT BRACKET

But while North Kitsap retained nearly every starter from its state runners-up squad, Lynden lost almost every starter from its state champion team in 2022.

Will the third time against Lynden be the charm for North Kitsap? Something has got to give Saturday afternoon in Poulsbo.

North Kitsap coach Jeff Weible said some of his players were excited when the bracket came out and saw they'd get a shot at Lynden if both teams took care of business in the opening round.

"They've kind of circled this date as an opportunity to get a little bit of payback, and I know they're super excited to play these guys again," Weible said. 

Lynden coach Blake VanDalen knows of the target on his team's back, painted by both North Kitsap and the rest of the state.

"Teams want to beat Lynden so bad that we don't have the luxury of ever (just) showing up," VanDalen said. "I believe (North Kitsap) is highly, highly motivated to beat us, but at the same time, that's no different from what we've faced all year. How can you not hate Lynden with all your guts if your last two seasons have ended with less than a minute to go in the game and Lynden has two gold balls?"

The Vikings will have home-field advantage this time around, something they didn't have in 2021 in Bellingham - or 2022 at the neutral site of Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.

After watching some early film, VanDalen said he saw a lot of similarities between his Lions and the Vikings.

"That makes sense why every year these games have come down to the last possession, who has the ball, can they get a stop, can we get a score, vice versa, whatever it is," VanDalen said. "I see no reason why it won't be exactly the same this year."

And even with the desire and extra motivation to take down the Lions, Weible said playing Lynden is always a good measuring stick for North Kitsap.

"They're obviously top dogs and have won 10 state championships," Weible said. "We have a ton of respect for them, but we do know they lost some really good football players from last year and we got the majority of our team back. We feel like we're right there with them."

Editor’s note: Here’s a game-by-game breakdown, including top individual performers, outlook and score predictions of this weekend’s 2023 WIAA Class 2A football quarterfinal matchups.

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NO. 8 CLARKSTON BANTAMS (8-2) vs. NO. 1 TUMWATER THUNDERBIRDS (11-0)

Photo by John O'Leary

1 p.m. Saturday at Tumwater District Stadium

Statistical leaders: For Clarkston – QB Carter Steinwand (159-248, 2,018 yards, 18 TDs; 72 carries, 417 yards, 12 TDs), RB J.J. Di Sarno (145 carries, 812 yards, eight TDs), WR Ryken Craber (58 catches, 1,018 yards, eight TDs) and LB Josh Hoffman (91 tackles, 10 TFL, three sacks). For Tumwater – QB Ethan Kastner (66-87, 1,253 yards, 21 TDs), RB Kooper Clark (75 carries, 893 yards, 16 TDs), RB Logan Cole (61 carries, 626 yards, 15 TDs), RB Jaylin Nixon (50 carries, 576 yards, five TDs), TE Jacob Dillon (18 catches, 442 yards, seven TDs) and LB Beckett Wall (54 tackles, nine TFL, three sacks) and DL Malijah Tucker (46 tackles, 17 TFL, six sacks).

What to watch for: Last week, Clarkston finally broke through for its first WIAA playoff win in more than three decades. Tumwater, meanwhile, steamrolled its way to a 70-12 victory over Port Angeles, putting itself in the state quarterfinals for a 25th time. Clarkston will have its hands full trying to stop the Thunderbirds' lethal Wing-T running game from that features more than one weapon. Steinwand has aired it out plenty this season, but Tumwater's defense hasn't given up more than 20 points in any game this season and will be the best he's faced by far.

Pick: Tumwater, 42-21

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NO. 5 LYNDEN LIONS (8-2) vs. NO. 4 NORTH KITSAP VIKINGS (10-1)

Photo by Vince Miller

3 p.m. Saturday at North Kitsap High School, Poulsbo

Statistical leaders: For Lynden – QB Brant Heppner (98-191, 1,572 yards, 19 TDs; 86 carries, 351 yards, 11 TDs), RB Max Assink (92 carries, 568 yards, four TDs), RB/LB Charlie Ayres (56 carries, 293 yards, five TDs; 60.5 tackles on defense), WR Cooper Moore (28 catches, 494 yards, three TDs) and WR Brady Elsner (31 catches, 382 yards, eight TDs). For North Kitsap – QB Cole Edwards (134-201, 1,850 yards, 20 TDs), RB Carter Dungy (162 carries, 1,030 yards, 18 TDs), RB Morgan Paul (26 carries, 238 yards, three TDs), WR/DB Logan Sloman (50 receptions, 897 yards, 15 TDs; 41 tackles, 13 PBUs, six INTs on defense).

What to watch for: It's time for North Kitsap and Lynden to tango once more. The Lions are looking to make it three consecutive years in which they put an end to the Vikings' season. The Lions will have to know where Sloman, a 2022 all-state performer, is at all times - on both sides of the ball. North Kitsap, however, will also have a challenge in how it wants to line up defensively. Lynden coach Blake VanDalen said Heppner (ankle), who was injured in the Anacortes game, is now fully recovered, which gives the Lions another dimension f he's able to run the ball effectively.

Pick: North Kitsap, 21-20

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NO. 7 ORTING CARDINALS (10-1) vs. NO. 2 ANACORTES SEAHAWKS (10-0)

Photo by Todd Milles

7 p.m. Friday at Anacortes High School

Statistical leaders: For Orting – QB Zack Gemar (57-90, 883 yards, 14 TDs) RB Carson McCall (73 carries, 578 yards, nine TDs; 383 receiving yards, two TDs), WR Aiden Mendenhall (nine catches, 170 yards, four TDs) and LB Russell Amadeo (59 tackles, two TFL). For Anacortes – QB Rex Larson (122-166, 1,763 yards, 20 TDs), RB/LB Brock Beaner (90 carries, 921 yards, 14 TDs; 188 receiving yards; 65 tackles, 11 TFL, six sacks, three FF, two INTs on defense), WR/LB Rylin Lang (36 catches, 461 yards, eight TDs; 66 tackles, seven TFL, three FF, one INT on defense), ATH Brady Beaner (433 rushing yards, 522 receiving yards, 11 TDs; 74 tackles, three TFL, two FF, nine PBUs on defense) and LB Tyler Olson (55 tackles, 11 TFL, two INTs).

What to watch for: Orting's offense gave Washougal fits out of the Wing-T last week, but the Cardinals' quarterfinal matchup with Anacortes will be a different challenge. With athletes all over on defense, the Seahawks are well-equipped to defend the run, especially with Northwest Conference first-teamer Brock Beaner at linebacker. Speaking of Beaner, he's one of the main cogs in the Seahawks' offense, along with Larson, Lang and Brady Beaner in the pass game. The Cardinals will have their work cut out for them trying to slow down the 2A Northwest Conference champions.

Pick: Anacortes, 38-14

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NO. 6 HIGHLINE PIRATES (10-1) vs. NO. 3 ENUMCLAW HORNETS (11-0)

Photo by Vince Miller

7 p.m. Friday at Enumclaw Expo Center (Pete's Pool)

Statistical leaders: For Highline – QB Ronan Rasmussen (75-113, 1,359 yards, 18 TDs), RB Jamaine Matthews Jr. (75 carries, 813 yards, 18 TDs), WR Marquawn McCraney (34 catches, 864 yards, 15 TDs) and LB Yannis Togi (58 tackles) and LB Rashad Carriere (51 tackles, nine sacks). For Enumclaw – QB Gunnar Trachte (102-152, 1,540 yards, 25 TDs), RB Tristan Donovan (116 carries, 821 yards, 12 TDs), RB Seamus Twohey (60 carries, 387 yards, 11 TDs), WR Karson Holt (45 catches, 553 yards, six TDs; 69 tackles, 15 TFL, eight sacks on defense) and LB Anthony Mills (83 tackles, one TFL) and DL Ryker Popke (86 tackles, 15 TFL).

What to watch for: One of the more intriguing quarterfinal matchups in the classification this weekend brings Highline to Enumclaw. State semifinalists last season, the Hornets have gotten this far with a pretty balanced attack on offense led by Trachte, and a lockdown defense. By far, the Pirates will be the most athletic squad Enumclaw has seen this season. With McCraney as the headliner, Highline has someone that can make a game-changing play on either side of the ball at any moment.

Pick: Highline, 35-31

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