Bracket Breakdown: WIAA 3A state football tournament quarterfinal previews, stat leaders, game picks

Two familiar cross-the-state heavy hitters go at it Saturday as fifth-seeded Kennewick and No. 4 seed Eastside Catholic revive their 2021 semifinal clash

If the Kennewick High School football team is going to bring home the school’s first Class 3A state title, coach Randy Affholter knows his Lions’ squad must embrace the role of road warriors.

The Lions (10-1) have had success of late in those state-playoff road games, but haven’t broken through just yet for the big prize.

* CLASS 3A WASHINGTON TOURNAMENT BRACKET

Affholter’s squad, the No. 5 seed, is going to need another Herculean effort away from the Tri-Cities when it travels to face No. 4 Eastside Catholic (8-2) in Saturday’s Memorial Stadium nightcap at 5 p.m.

Those solid road showings over the last four playoff seasons, dating back to 2019, have had a carryover effect. Kennewick has played 10 state playoff games during that span, going 7-3, including a 5-2 road mark.

The Lions have won three road playoff games over the past two seasons.

“It’s just something we’ve just done it now enough times,” Kennewick coach Randy Affholter said. “In 2019, we had to go over there twice. We beat Bethel in the (state) quarterfinals that year and lost in the semis (29-7) to O’Dea. It’s just something we’re used to. People aren’t going to give us a high seed because they don’t see us enough (in eastern Washington).

“That’s just the way it is. You can’t worry about it and the field’s the same wherever you play. We’ve just got to go over and play football.”

In 2022, the Lions traveled to Seattle for a first-round win over Rainier Beach (9-7) at Memorial Stadium and then came back over to face top seed Yelm and fell, 36-27.

Kennewick was on the road in 2021 for a 27-21 win over O’Dea in the state quarterfinals at Memorial and again the next week in the semis for a 14-7 triumph over Eastside Catholic on the same turf. The Lions fell one win short, losing to Bellevue 17-13 at in the WIAA championship game at Puyallup’s Sparks Stadium.

The Lions have three holdovers on their current squad from that 2021 title-game team, led by two-way regular David Wacenske, a receiver and linebacker. Also back are Dylin McIntyre, a tight end and defensive lineman, and Idaho commit Nathan Knapik, an offensive and defensive linemen.

“We have three kids who played for us when we made the final game in 2021,” said Affholter, who took over Kennewick in 2019 after 22 seasons of success at Ellensburg. “So, I mean they have the experience. They’ve been through it before. That’s going to be the difference. All these games are pressure-packed. It comes down to, ‘Can you handle these moments?’”

The travel for Kennewick just adds the extra element of planning and coordinating. This week’s commute covers 3 ½ hours.

“We’re just used to getting on the bus and going and playing,” Affholter said.

One trait that Affholter’s teams have always had was an ability to run the ball and stop the run. This year’s Lions are no different and that’s why their game travels so well.

“For me, being in the tournament (those) two things you have to be able to do all the time, and you have to do this because of the weather and the elements you play in,” Affholter said.

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 3A football quarterfinal matchups.

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NO. 6 BELLEVUE WOLVERINES (9-2) vs. NO. 3 ARLINGTON EAGLES (11-0)

Photo by Joshua Hart

1 p.m. Saturday at Arlington High School

Statistical leaders: For Bellevue – QB Lucas Razore (38-62, 813 yards, 14 TDs; nine carries, 41 yards, TD), RB Max Jones (112 carries, 924 yards, 14 TDs), RB Blake Teets (63 carries, 610 yards, eight TDs; three catches, 62 yards), RB Matthew Reed (43 carries, 402 yards, four TDs), RB Carson Rubin (64 carries, 523 yards, five TDs), RB Ryken Moon (37 carries, 363 yards, four TDs; five catches, 132 yards, two TDs), TE Hogan Hansen (10 catches, 215 yards, four TDs) and LB Leo Ryals (54.5 tackles, sack, TFL) and DB Moon (37 tackles, 4.5 TFL) and DL Hansen (28 tackles, two sacks, nine TFL). For Arlington - QB Leyton Martin (181-272, 2,526 yards, 35 TDs; 53 carries, 193 yards, six TDs), RB Caleb Reed (160 carries, 1,153 yards, 10 TDs), WR Jake Willis (45 catches, 835 yards, 12 TDs), WR Kaid Hunter (28 catches, 445 yards, six TDs), WR Stephen Balderas (35 catches, 398 yards, two TDs), WR Chase Deberry (19 catches, 291 yards, eight TDs) and LB Kobi Spady (112 tackles, 15 TFL, 1.5 sacks, two INT, two fumble recoveries, three defensive TDs).

What to watch for: Both teams appear to be peaking at the right time and it’s a shame there will have to be loser in this game, which has a chance to be a classic with playmakers all over the field. The Wolverines are getting healthy after a season of injuries as they purse the school’s 12th state title (it would be 14 but two were revoked because of state sanctions). The program is still relying heavily on its tough-to-stop Wing T running attack. Bellevue won the 2021 3A crown under coach Michael Kneip and the coach thinks this team - when healthy - could be better. Last week’s state-opening win for Arlington was the school’s first in the state playoffs since 2005 and just its second since 1982. The Eagles, who won state titles in 3A in 1979 and 1981, are balanced on offense and stout on defense.

Pick: Bellevue, 28-27.

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NO. 10 GARFIELD BULLDOGS (7-3) vs. NO. 2 O’DEA FIGHTING IRISH (10-0)

Photo by Vince Miller

2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Seattle

Statistical leaders: For Garfield – QB EJ Caminong (110-167, 1,560 yards, 13 TDs), RB Reylen Witherspoon (109 carries, 793 yards, 10 TDs), WR Rahshawn Clark (31 catches, 521 yards, seven TDs), WR Reggie Witherspoon III (30 catches, 382 yards, three TDs). For O’Dea – QB Antone Araujo (28-47, 523 yards, five TDs; 23 carries, 115 yards, three TDs), RB Jason Brown Jr. (121 carries, 1,660 yards, 34 TDs; two catches, 52 yards, TD), WR Kyan McDonald (eight catches, 190 yards, TD), TE Zander Turner (five catches, 78 yards, TD) and DL Paki Crawford (21 sacks).

What to watch for: The Irish handled Garfield at home, 49-13, back on Oct. 20 during 3A Metro League play. This time, the Bulldogs hope to offer more of a challenge after getting healthier. Brown Jr. (6,182 yards, 91 TDs in his career) has been making the most of each carry so far in the postseason - and last time the two teams met, he churned out 231 yards and four touchdowns. Unless Garfield stops him, it figures to be another long day. The Irish defense has been stout, giving up just 10.2 points per contest. The only way Garfield, which last reached the state semifinals in 2017, can hang around is with its big-play players - Clark and both Witherspoon brothers. O’Dea has the pedigree and game's best player, and moves on and reaches its sixth state semifinal in the past seven seasons.

Pick: O’Dea, 31-14.

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NO. 5 KENNEWICK LIONS (10-1) vs. NO. 4 EASTSIDE CATHOLIC CRUSADERS (8-2)

Photo by Vince Miller

5 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Seattle

Statistical leaders: For Kennewick (thru nine games) – QB Ambrose Driver (114-193, 1,672 yards, 25 TDs in 10 games), RB Alex Roberts (128 carries, 1,012 yards, 13 TDs), RB Canaan Hayes (76 carries, 470 yards, six TDs), WR David Wacenske (49 catches, 722 yards, 13 TDs), WR Kyler Witkowski (15 catches, 317 yards, four TDs), WR Robert Julima (three special-teams touchdowns) and DL Dylin McIntyre (13 TFL, 12 sacks) and DB Dane McClure (five INTs). For Eastside Catholic – QB Jake Tiryakioglu (90-140, 1,699 yards, 20 TDs; 25 carries, 133 yards), RB Jeremiah Burroughs (94 carries, 599 yards, seven TDs; six catches, 162 yards, TD), RB Nick Jones (56 carries, 291 yards, seven TDs), WR Asa Thompson (32 catches, 591 yards, nine TDs), WR Tyson Weaver (13 catches, 461 yards, four TDs), WR Jayden Reyes (24 catches, 289 yards, four TDs) and LB Cody Thumlert (52 tackles, four TFL, three sacks) and LB Wassie Lugolobi (49 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks). and DL AJ Tanupo (40 tackles, 7.5 TFL, sack).

What to watch for: In a rematch of the 2021 semifinals, both teams are super stingy on defense, grudgingly giving up yards on the ground in particular. This game figures to be a grind-it-out affair with one or two big plays swinging things. The Lions, who give up just 11.6 points per game, figure to have the edge offensively with playmakers Roberts and Wacenske. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Wacenske is a rare two-way starter who impacts the game on both sides of the ball. In a defensive struggle of a game, it is likely going to take one big play. In a coin-flip of a game, the Lions pull off the shocker and improve their playoff road record to 4-1 in the past three seasons.

Pick: Kennewick, 21-14.

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NO. 9 MOUNT TAHOMA THUNDERBIRDS (8-3) vs. NO. 1 YELM TORNADOS (11-0)

Photo by Todd Milles

7 p.m. Friday at Yelm High School

Statistical leaders: For Mount Tahoma – QB Tre Walker (88-142, 1,206 yards; 88 carries, 726 yards, nine TDs), RB Brison Bailey (115 carries, 1,165 yards, 16 TDs; eight catches, 118 yards), RB Felix Diaz (61 carries, 466 yards, seven TDs), WR DJ Ervin (31 catches, 479 yards, six TDs), WR Zane Cordero (19 catches, 323 yards, two TDs) and LB Jeremiah Anderson (77 tackles, 12 TFL, nine sacks, INT) and LB Dominique Ervin (84 tackles, 20 TFL, INT) and DB DJ Ervin (35 tackles, four INTs). For Yelm – QB Damian Aalona (129-188, 1,884 yards, 27 TDs), RB Brayden Platt (77 carries, 991 yards, 21 TDs; 76 tackles, 18 TFL, INT on defense), RB Anthony Kiamco (69 carries, 877 yards, six TDs; 13 catches, 171 yards, TD; four special-teams TDs and two defensive TDs), WR Marius Aalona (46 catches, 776 yards, 14 TDs), WR Jacob Ford (22 catches, 390 yards, seven TDs) and LB/DL Isaiah Patterson (80 tackles, 15 TFL), DL/TE Jacob Tracy (78 tackles, nine TFL, three sacks) and LB Onyx Carter (70 tackles, 10 TFL, five sacks).

What to watch for: The underdog Thunderbirds posted an impressive 21-7 road win over Ferndale in last week’s first round of state - and it was the school’s first state-playoff triumph in 43 years. Now, the 3A PCL champions get their shot at the defending state champions. In a game between two physical defensive fronts, especially in the linebacking corps, the big-game experience goes to the Tornados. This is the time of year when they ride the Oregon-bound workhorse Platt on both sides of the ball. Yelm has an innate ability to get opponents on its heels before leveling the knockout blow. This one could come early.

Pick: Yelm, 34-12.

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