Week 7 Washington high school football preview: 3 storylines, game picks and matchups to follow around the state

One of most storied leagues in state will settle its upper-divisional championship when Bellevue travels to Eastlake

Ryder Barrysmith is the new Eastlake quarterback after Landon Renfroe was injured in Week 1 of 2024. / Photo by Todd Milles

Fresh off upending reigning Class 2A champion Anacortes, Archbishop has no time to relax this week.

The Wildcats travel to perennial powerhouse Lynden on Friday night.

• WASHINGTON HS FOOTBALL SCHEDULES: FIND YOUR TEAM

That is just one of a handful of mid-October games in Washington high school football with league title implications.

Here is a quick recap of last week’s highlights, and a look forward to Week 7 storylines and games to follow:

---

Dalton Anderson is Roosevelt's undisputed backfield leader in 2024. / Photo by Todd Milles

REWIND SBLIVE’S WEEK 6 COVERAGE

Fri: (3A) Eastside Catholic 27, (3A) Roosevelt 26

OBSERVATIONS

* 4 games you should not have missed

* Week 6 primer

---

Easton Kolb is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in Class 2B at Mossyrock. / Photo courtesy of Easton Kolb

'COMEBACK CITY' STORY IN WEEK 6

After being a Class 1B contender the past couple of seasons, the Mossyrock Vikings are finding the transition back to 11-man football tougher than they expected.

But they finally registered their first Class 2B win Friday - a 42-37 win over Toutle Lake.

Quarterback Easton Kolb gave the Vikings their final lead on a 6-yard touchdown run with 2:15 remaining, and the defense got the pivotal stop it needed - on a night in which it didn't have many stands of resistance.

"It was a fun win," said Mossyrock coach Eric Ollikainen, who earned his second career 11-man coaching victory. He won his final game at Fort Vancouver.

"But I have also lost 10 years of my life (getting to this point)."

Every time the Vikings would take a lead, Toutle Lake would regain it in quick-strike order.

Fortunately, Mossyrock could lean on Kolb, who had 484 yards of total offense Friday, and answered every Ducks' response.

Although most of Ollikainen's background is in 11-man football, he admitted the change back to it in 2024 has had "a lot of adversity" - starting with how to navigate District, the deepest and most challenging district in the classification.

But the coach has had to be patient with his team because "the kids have played eight-man football for four, five or six years, so the learning process in trying to teach them has been tough. But we've been plugging away at it."

---

Moses Lake's Brady Jay, left, participates in Thurston County Team Camp in Tumwater / Photo by Todd Milles

TOP STORYLINES TO FOLLOW IN WEEK 7

Moses Lake, Easmont have 4A CBBN title in sights

Brett Jay was hired at Moses Lake in 2021, and a few months later, he led the Mavericks to the 4A CBBN title. But over the past two seasons, they have come up short, including a 35-8 loss to Eastmont in a for-all-the-marbles encounter at the end of the regular season that sent them into a playoff pigtail game. The likely league-title rematch is Friday night. "It's always fun to play Eastmont," Jay said.

Will 4A Wesco continue to be three-team race?

If Arlington wins, it sets up a winner-take-all 4A Wesco showdown with Lake Stevens. If Glacier Peak wins, it is still alive for a share of the league championship. What will prevail in this matchup - the Eagles' offensive fireworks of the Grizzlies' ball-control physicality? "They are very similar to Lake Stevens ... being dynamic on offense," Grizzlies coach Shane Keck. "And their kids play super hard."

Meridian trying to make waves in Whatcom County

The last time Meridian was a serious factor in the 1A Northwest Conference race was 2018 - its last league title. Since then, the Trojans have won just five league games (excluding COVID season) up until this fall. Now, Meridian meets league favorite Nooksack Valley for inside track to the No. 1 seed. Both teams showcase top tailbacks - Colton Lentz for the Pioneers and Landon Downey for Meridian. "It is a big game up here for us," Meridian coach Pat Ames said.

---

After starting a couple of 2023 playoff games, Dominic Driver is Kennewick's undisputed starting quarterback this fall. / Photo by Jamie Council

TOP THREE WEEK 7 GAMES ON TAP

3A No. 1 Bellevue Wolverines (5-0) at 4A No. 8 Eastlake Wolves (4-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Eastlake High School, Sammamish

Skinny: Wolves faced Wing-T earlier (Tumwater) and lost. Second time a charm?

Live streaming link: Eastlake YouTube channel.

SBLive Washington’s pick: Bellevue, 36-26.

—

3A No. 2 Kennewick Lions (6-0) at 4A No. 10 Chiawana Riverhawks (5-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Edgar Brown Stadium, Pasco

Skinny: Right now, two best - and most physical - teams in Mid-Columbia Conference go at it.

Live streaming link: None available.

SBLive Washington’s pick: Kennewick, 17-14.

---

2A No. 2 Archbishop Murphy Wildcats (6-0) at 2A No. 4 Lynden Lions (5-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Lynden High School

Skinny: For all the close-call finishes, Lions still in position to gain share of 2A Northwest title.

Live streaming link: NFHS Network

SBLive Washington’s pick: Archbishop Murphy, 33-28.

—