Bracket Breakdown: WIAA 2B state football tournament semifinal previews, stat leaders, game picks

Once a wide-eyed inexperienced sophomore signal caller, Kayden Mozingo is now the leader of the offense Onalaska High School counts on

Onalaska High School football coach Mazen Saade isn’t bashful when talking about quarterback Kayden Mozingo.

"Kayden is one of my favorite kids in the whole world," said Saade, as he prepared for a Class 2B state semifinal matchup with No. 1-ranked Napavine on Saturday.

Mozingo ran for a school-record 451 yards and five touchdowns in a quarterfinal victory over Kalama. But Onalaska isn’t a program that dwells on individual performances. Those are for the history books.

* CLASS 2B WASHINGTON TOURNAMENT BRACKET

Instead, Saade and his coaching staff focus on growth — on, and off, the gridiron. Mozingo is a shining example. Once a fledgling sophomore eager to prove himself, the now-senior Mozingo was inspirational in last week’s 60-40 victory.

Thrust into the quarterback role two years ago, and surrounded by elite running backs who had experienced winning a state title — including older brother, Kolby — Mozingo learned on the fly.

"He didn’t know how to do it, and that made him nervous," Saade said. "To have to follow in those guys’ footsteps, he was constantly questioning himself."

In a 54-15 quarterfinal win over Lind-Ritzville/Sprague his sophomore year, Mozingo emerged as a leader. And the Loggers desperately needed it a year later. With just one senior on the roster, Mozingo guided Onalaska to the state quarterfinals, eventually losing 55-0 to Okanogan.

That loss didn’t sit well with Mozingo. So, when he realized most football players were foregoing spring sports, he organized speed and agility sessions throughout the offseason.

"Flipping tires and moving logs, and those sort of things," Saade explained.

All of the work was aimed at a singular goal: getting back to the state championship game. Now on the doorstep of completing the mission, Onalaska faces a herculean final hurdle. The defending state champion Tigers look unbeatable in the Class 2B ranks. But the fearless Loggers believe in their chances, and with Mozingo at the helm, it’s easy to see why.

"If there’s a kid I know I could call any time, any single day of the year, he would be there for me and my family. That’s more than the game of football, that’s life," Saade said. "So, when I tell you he’s a special kid, that’s what I mean."

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 2B semifinal matchups.

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NO. 3 NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN OF COLBERT CRUSADERS (11-0) vs. NO. 2 OKANOGAN BULLDOGS (11-0)

Photo courtesy of Northwest Christian athletics

4 p.m. Saturday at Apple Bowl, Wenatchee

Statistical leaders: For Northwest Christian — QB Titus Spuler (83-128, 1,500 yards, 32 TDs), RB Jaxson Hamilton (66 carries, 559 yards, nine TDs), WR Ryan Waters (47 carries, 479 yards, eight TDs; 25 catches, 406 yards, six TDs) and LB Wyatt Waterbly (43 tackles, 14 TFL) and DL Ben Bak (7.5 sacks), LB Sam Young (39 tackles, 12.5 TFL) and DL Joseph Spuler (13 TFL, 4.5 sacks) and DB Jacob Bell (three INTs, three return TDs). For Okanogan — QB Carter Kuchenbuch (29-60, 486 yards, nine TDs; 82 carries, 878 yards, 22 TDs), RB Steele Rico (93 carries, 602 yards, 11 TDs), RB David Huffstetler (84 carries, 718 yards, 11 TDs), WR Tanner Grooms (59 carries, 616 yards, nine TDs) and DL Kasey Erickson (43 tackles, 14 TFL, six sacks) and DB Tanner Grooms (five INTs).

What to watch for: Defense is the name of the game entering this semifinals clash, with both teams coming off shutout performances in the quarterfinals (Northwest Christian 41-0 over Toledo; Okanogan 38-0 over Goldendale). But the success stopping the football didn’t start once the WIAA playoffs came around for these two teams, which have combined for 10 shutouts this season. Neither team has allowed more than two scores all year, and the Bulldogs have allowed just one touchdown since September. Still, it’s hard to imagine any team slowing down the multi-pronged rushing attack of Okanogan right now. Led by Kuchenbuch and a trio of rushers with more than 500 yards on the season, the Bulldogs’ offense is a steamroller once it gets going.

Pick: Okanogan, 35-12.

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NO. 4 ONALASKA LOGGERS (9-2) vs. NO. 1 NAPAVINE TIGERS (10-1)

Photo by Joshua Hart

Noon Saturday at Tumwater District Stadium, Tumwater

Statistical leaders: For Onalaska — QB Kayden Mozingo (14-43, 353 yards, seven TDs; 177 carries, 2,103 yards, 29 TDs), RB Rodrigo Rodriguez (209 carries, 1,921 yards, 21 TDs) and DB Cooper Lawrence (seven INTs, two defensive TDs). For Napavine — QB Ashton Demarest (100-186, 1,797 yards, 25 TDs; 93 carries, 832 yards, 15 TDs), RB Cael Stanley (71 carries, 549 yards, 10 TDs), WR Karsen Denault (24 catches, 522 yards, nine TDs) and LB Grady Wilson (79 tackles, nine TFL) and DB James Grose (five INTs, 14 passes defended) and DL Caleb Von Pressentin (four sacks).

What to watch for: These two neighbors — just 10 miles apart — share plenty of history. And that past is mostly shaded orange-and-black. Napavine has topped Onalaska in 12 of the past 14 matchups, dating back to 2012, including a 58-14 victory in Week 2 this season. But the Loggers and their powerful ground game have only gotten better as the year progressed, evidenced in a 60-40 quarterfinal win over Kalama (more than 600 yards total). Meanwhile, the defending champions continue to be a model of consistency, making their 10th semifinal appearance in the past 16 years - and show no signs of slowing down. The Loggers will need their best performance of the season at the right time - and even then, Napavine may have too many weapons to stop.

Pick: Napavine, 42-21.

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