10/3/2023
Let’s take a look at where we stand in class 2A at the midway point of the High School football season. Ultimately 16 teams will advance to the 2A State football tournament. Last year the State Champions were the Lynden Lions now a 2-time defending champion and are certainly the team to beat again in 2022. The Lions defeated North Kitsap last season 31-24 in the Vikings 1st ever Championship game, WF West and Enumclaw both made it to the final 4.
Let’s take a look at the likely contenders at this point of the season. We take a look at the current standings and the RPI but remember the RPI is very early and is meant to be a full season measurement. We also have listed every league and their current standings below. Many leagues also crossover with each other to share their allocations to the state tournament and allow more schools to have a chance to qualify. We do not know how each league is set up so we are looking at all leagues with a general overview. Let’s get started!
Let’s begin with the tough CWAC league were represented by Ephrata and Othello last year. Othello made it to the quarterfinals but dropped to Enumclaw. Ephrata was knocked out by WF West in a tight one 29-28. The Tigers are the ones looking to get back and give it another shot with a 3-2 overall record but 2-0 in league play and an RPI ranking of 11. Prosser is also 2-0 nd 3-2 in 2nd place with an RPI of 25 while Ellensburg and Othello are both 2-1 in league play with the Huskies at 21 in the RPI and Ellensburg at 44 with an overall mark of 2-3.
Up next is the Evco 2A where a lot of folks were wondering if the long run out of Tumwater is over. Since 1974 there had been only 2 head coaches at Tumwater in Sid Otton and then T-Bird Alum Bill Beattie and amassed 6 State Titles. Last year the T-Birds knocked out in the 1st round by Sedro-Woolley 30-22 and Beattie then retired. So was this a case that the talent level had dropped and it was time for someone else to come in? William Garrow took the reins as the 1st non-T-Bird head coach in 47 years. Probably a fair question if this was the end of the dynasty of the old brewery town but coach Garrow says an emphatic no as Tumwater is 5-0. They have outscored their opponents 247-49 with their biggest win over North Kitsap on the road 34-14. The only knock on the Birds is their RPI is 9 and due to a weaker conference schedule they can do nothing about.
Speaking of the Evco conference, normally it is Tumwater, WF West and usually Black Hills with Shelton, Aberdeen, Centralia and Rochester as also rans. This year the surprising Rochester Warriors are 3-0 in league and 4-1 on the season with an RPI of 23 and the Aberdeen Bobcats just beat Prosser and are 3-0 in league and 4-1 1 overall with an RPI of 16. The Bobcats are looking to get back into the postseason for the first time since 1996. WF West is at 2-1 coming off a loss against Tumwater and the Bearcats can still make their run so do not count them out just yet. Looks like a scramble for 2nd, 3rd and 4th place.
In the Greater Spokane League West Valley of Spokane made the round of 16 last year but were knocked out by Anacortes 28-14. The Eagles are in position to make it back and take another swing. They are sitting on a 4-1 season record and 3-0 in league play with big wins over Shadle Park and Clarkston both tied for 2nd at 2-1 in conference play. West Valley has an RPI rank of 6 and Shadle Park is #7. Rogers (Spokane) is 1-1 in league play and 4-1 overall. Rogers is #12 in the RPI and certainly has a lane to make a run to the top of the league.
The Greater St. Helens 2A League was dominated a few years ago by back-to-back state champions Hockinson, then coming into this season the word was Washougal would be the ones to watch and Mark Morris from last year placed 2nd in league and were ousted in the crossover round. This year though those 3 are 3-6 in league play all with 1-2 league records. At the top of the standings stands Hudson’s Bay at 3-0 in league and 5-0 overall. Ridgefield and Woodland are both 3-2 and 2-1 in league while Columbia River is also 2-1 but 2-3 on the season. Hudson’s Bay checks in on the RPI at #10, Ridgefield is 19th, Woodland at 22 and C-R 36th. Feels like the GSHL is still wide open,
Highline leads the Kingco 2A after their 2 best seasons in school history. Highline got to the final 16 for the 1st time 2 years ago in 2021 knocked out in the 1st round and then last year got back and won their 1st ever state play-off game 30-27 over Washougal. Highline then got knocked out in the quarters by eventual state Champ Lynden. The Pirates are shooting for a 3rd straight season and are in great position to do so with a 3-0 league mark and 4-1 overall mark. Highline is at #14 in the RPI’s. Renton and Lindbergh are the Pirates nearest competition with each at 2-1 and 3-2.
In the NW 2A league is where the current 2-tie defending Champ Lynden resides. The Lions began the year by snapping their 24-game winning streak with a non-league loss to 3A Ferndale. They have since reeled off 4 straight wins and are 3-0 in league sitting at #3 in the RPI. Their most recent biggest rival in league is Anacortes and the Seahawks are #2 in the RPI with their 3-0 league record and 5-0 overall. These 2 will face off in Lynden on Oct 27 the final league game of the season. For any other team to try to get into the top 2 AB Murphy has the best chance with a 2-1 league record with their only loss to Anacortes. AB Murphy could get right back in it this week against Lynden. If the Wildcats lose they will join Sedro Woolley as a contender who will have lost to the top 2 and make it very unlikely to top either Anacortes or the Lions.
In the 2A Olympic league last year’s runners-up, North Kitsap and Bremerton both sit atop the league standings at 3-0 while the Vikings are 4-1 with their only stumble against Tumwater. North Kitsap trying to make another sprint to the title game. Bremerton is 5-0 but the Vikings are the #5 RPI team while Bremerton is #8. Better not forget about Port Angeles just yet sitting on a 2-1 league record and 3-2 for the season with an RPI ranking of 20.
The SPSL 2A couldn’t be more wide open with 7 teams still in the running topped by the current #1 RPI team Enumclaw who are 5-0 for the season and 4-0 in conference play. The Hornets made it to the semi-finals last year before getting knocked out by Lynden. But they are lining up behind them beginning with 2nd place Orting at 4-1 with that one loss to Enumclaw. Clover Park and Washington are both 3-2 with 3 more set-up behind them at 2-2 including Steilacoom, Franklin Pierce and Fife. Orting is the #4 RPI team and the other 5 are from 17-37 in the RPI’s.
Our final team to watch is the lone 2A team in the WESCO Polk division, Cedarcrest. Cedarcrest is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. They come from a dangerous position where they are forgotten about being in a 3A league where they are 1-0 and 4-1. Their only loss is to 3A Stadium currently in 2nd place in the PCL league. Could be a huge sleeper.
That is the quick look at all the 2A leagues and certainly a team not mentioned could still make a run. Do remember the standings are tabulated through the arbiter network which the officials enter the final score. Sometimes the scores are accidently entered incorrectly and not all the mistakes are noticed right away. The WIAA is encouraging each AD to check their scores and standings to make sure they are correct.
Also remember there is always a lot of hoot and hollerin’ about the RPI standings but these standings are meant to be a season long measurement so look for big changes and swings still to come, this is where they are right now based on the criteria fed into the computers that spit out the rankings.
Looks to us like there is a lot to be excited about for the stretch run of the football season so buckle up and enjoy the ride!
*Note the standings are as presented there may be some mistakes but the standings are part of the WIAA’s effort to launch a statewide standings, schedules and results website. It was launched this last summer and they continue to work on it but there are some mistakes that we have noticed and have passed on to the WIAA. Overall, it is a huge step in the right direction of trying to once and for collect all the basic information on one site.
Ephrata
Prosser
Ellensburg
Othello
Selah
East Valley (Yakima)
Grandview
Aberdeen
Tumwater
Rochester
W F West
Black Hills
Centralia
Shelton
West Valley (Spokane)
Clarkston
Shadle Park
Pullman
Rogers (Spokane)
North Central
East Valley (Spokane)
Hudson’s Bay
Columbia River
Ridgefield
Woodland
Mark Morris
Washougal
Hockinson
R A Long
Highline
Renton
Lindbergh
Sammamish
Interlake
Foster
Evergreen (Sea)| WIAA | League | Overall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Name | CL | RPI | W | L | T | W | L | T |
 Anacortes |
2A | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
 Lynden |
2A | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
 Archbishop Murphy |
2A | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
 Sedro-Woolley |
2A | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
 Sehome |
2A | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
 Squalicum |
2A | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
 Bellingham |
2A | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
 Burlington-Edison |
2A | 61 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
 Lakewood |
2A | 49 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
North Kitsap
Bremerton
Bainbridge
Port Angeles
Sequim
North Mason
Olympic
Kingston
Enumclaw
Orting
Clover Park
Washington
Franklin Pierce
Fife
Steilacoom
White River
Foss
Cedarcrest
Cascade (Everett)
Everett
Meadowdale
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