Neah Bay versus Lummi, round one.
The 1B heavyweights square off tonight, and it’s likely this won’t be their last meeting of 2012.
Last year, the two 1B powerhouses played each other three times.
Lummi won the first two matchups, but Neah Bay took the third, and most important game in the state playoffs en route to a state championship.
And with both teams returning most of their key players from 2011, they are expected to be forces in the state playoffs once again.
Neah Bay coach Tony McCaulley said the Red Devils are treating this game as if it were played in November.
“We prep for it almost like a playoff game,” McCaulley said.
In the latest Washington prep football poll from The Associated Press, Neah Bay is ranked No. 2 in 1B and Lummi is No. 3.
Neah Bay (4-0) comes into the game undefeated, and has hardly been tested so far.
They blasted the only team they played with a winning record, Wishkah Valley, 80-46.
Lummi (3-1) has one loss, but it came against bigger 2B LaConner in an 11-man game.
In their three 8-man games, the Blackhawks average 64 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils are scoring 66 points per game (minus the Muckleshoot forfeit).
After watching film on the Blackhawks, McCaulley said they look even better than last year because of the maturity of their returning players.
“I feel we’re better, too, for the same reason,” he said.
The game can be watched live at http://www.nw8man.com. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Klahowya
at Port Angeles
The Roughriders (0-2, 0-4) hope their first win will come in their homecoming game against the improved Eagles.
On the other side, Klahowya (0-2, 2-2) looks to continue its dominance over North Olympic Peninsula teams after beginning the season with wins over Port Townsend and Chimacum.
Clallam Bay
at Crescent
As if the Loggers’ (4-0) running attack wasn’t prolific enough with Eric Larson and Derek Findley, they have added 6-4, 265-pound Mike Zapien in the mix.
In his first game of the season, Zapien rumbled for 175 yards and three touchdowns against Rainier Christian last week.
Meanwhile, the Bruins (2-1) will attempt to rebound from their first setback of the season, a 16-14 loss to Quilcene last week.
Forks
at Montesano
This game has been moved to Stewart Field in Aberdeen after Montesano’s (0-1, 2-2) Jack Rottle Field burned down earlier this month.
Spartans coach Mark Feasel hopes the artificial turf at Stewart Field will allow Forks (0-1, 2-2) to effectively utilize its speed.
Vashon Island
at Port Townsend
The rebuilding Pirates haven’t fared nearly as well as the rebuilding Redskins (1-1, 2-2) in 2012.
A playoff team two years ago, Vashon Island is 0-4 this season (0-3 in the Nisqually League).
Among those losses was a 28-20 setback at Bellevue Christian, which lost to Port Townsend 67-39 last week.
Sequim at Olympic
The Wolves (0-2, 0-4) aren’t completely out of the Olympic League title chase, but they don’t have much wiggle room.
The good news is they might have already played their four most difficult games.
But that doesn’t mean today’s game will be easy.
The Trojans (1-1, 1-3) have already proven to be terrible hosts, sending Port Angeles home with a 29-7 loss last week.
Because Silverdale Stadium is home to various teams, kickoff for this game will be 5 p.m.
Chimacum
at Life Christian
At Clover Park High School in Lakewood.
After facing undefeated Cedar Park Christian (No. 7 in 1A) last week, the Cowboys get winless Life Christian Academy (0-1, 0-4).
Loaded with underclassmen and first-year starters, the Eagles have struggled in 2012, losing their four games by an average of 25.5 points.
This week they’ll face a Chimacum (0-1, 1-3) team that is short on numbers but packed with experience.
Rainier Christian
at Quilcene
Coming off their first win of the season, the Rangers (1-3) have a good shot at a winning streak.
Then again, last week the 0-4 Mustangs challenged Crescent for almost three full quarters last week before losing 50-26.
