WIAA 2A football championship score, updates: Anacortes, Tumwater matchup of polar opposites

Both in scheme and tradition, Thunderbirds will try and run over upstart and determined first-timer Seahawks

Editor's note: This Class 2A preview package was written up by SBLive WA staff for the WIAA state program. Game predictions made by reporters Todd Milles, Hailey Palmer and Tri-Cities-based Evans Rankings' founder Matt Evans.

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Both ends of the high school football spectrum will be on display in the Class 2A championship at Husky Stadium on Saturday.

For Tumwater, it’s a chance to add to its legacy and get another gold ball in the trophy case. Anacortes, meanwhile, is looking to brush off some dust in the case for its first state championship trophy.

“Being able to play a perennial powerhouse in Tumwater just makes it a special matchup,” Anacortes coach Travis Anderson said.

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LIVE COVERAGE FROM HUSKY STADIUM:

SBLive Senior Editor Todd Milles is on the sideline at Husky Stadium in Seattle to bring you full coverage from the game, including live updates, video highlights, photos and a game story. You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network.

>> Follow live updates from Anacortes vs. Tumwater here <<

• LIVE WIAA FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

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Tumwater coach Willie Garrow gave credit to Anacortes and its efforts rebuilding the program.

“(Anacortes has) a great story, and it’s going to be a ton of fun,” Garrow said. “We’re excited about it and I’m happy for (Anacortes), too, and that community because high school football is better when we get teams who can do what they did in building a program back up and have that kind of success.”

Garrow knows his team will be in for a challenge with how electric the Seahawks are on offense, seemingly able to fire off a big play at any moment to a number of different players.

"They’re dynamic all over the place and really, really good players," Garrow said. “The other part of it is the way they’re able to distribute the football around. They have a variety of weapons that’s going to be a serious challenge to defend and try to keep out of the end zone."

Anderson knows his squad will have its hands full, as well, trying to slow down Tumwater’s run game out of the Wing-T, even though the Seahawks have faced that formation multiple times in the Northwest Conference.

“They’re always putting fresh bodies in at running back and are physical and big up front,” Anderson said. “They like to move formations around to get you out of alignment and it makes a lot to prepare for.”

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CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP PRIMER

Photo by John O'Leary

NO. 2 ANACORTES SEAHAWKS (12-0) vs. NO. 1 TUMWATER THUNDERBIRDS (13-0)

3 p.m. Saturday at Husky Stadium, Seattle

Coaches: Travis Anderson is in his first season at Anacortes (12-0 record). Willie Garrow is in his first season at Tumwater (14-0 record).

WIAA championship history: Anacortes is making its first appearance in a state title game. Tumwater won the Class 3A title in 1987 and 1989-90, Class 4A title in 1993 and Class 2A titles in 2010 and 2019.

Road to 2023 Gridiron Classic: Second-seeded Anacortes defeated No. 15 Rogers of Spokane in the first round (53-12), No. 7 Orting in the quarterfinals (42-0) and No. 3 Enumclaw in the semifinals (34-20). Top-seeded Tumwater defeated No. 16 Port Angeles in the first round (70-12), No. 8 Clarkston in the quarterfinals (42-6) and No. 4 North Kitsap in the semifinals (19-17).

Statistical leaders: For Anacortes – QB Rex Larson (159-209, 2,399 yards, 26 TDs), RB/LB Brock Beaner (117 carries, 1,075 yards, 17 TDs; 290 receiving yards; 65 tackles, 11 TFL, six sacks on defense), WR/LB Rylin Lang (47 catches, 627 yards, 12 TDs; 66 tackles, seven TFL on defense), ATH Brady Beaner (461 rushing yards, 699 receiving yards, 12 TDs; 74 tackles and nine pass breakups on defense) and LB Tyler Olson (55 tackles, 11 TFL, two INTs). For Tumwater – QB Ethan Kastner (75-103, 1,367 yards, 23 TDs), RB Kooper Clark (115 carries, 1,126 yards, 19 TDs), RB Logan Cole (63 carries, 638 yards, 15 TDs), RB Jaylin Nixon (56 carries, 619 yards, six TDs), TE Jacob Dillon (20 catches, 498 yards, seven TDs) and LB Beckett Wall (59 tackles, 12 TFL, six sacks).

Palmer's pick: Anacortes, 27-21.

Milles' pick: Tumwater, 24-22.

Evans' pick: Anacortes, 31-28.

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