By Dannie Oliveaux and John Leggett | The Courier-Herald
DO: Our first week of picks was great, with Mr. Leggett’s call on Enumclaw’s win over Wilson. White River stepped up and stumped the old prognosticators with a big win over Franklin Pierce at home. Everything else was as predicted. Watching the UW-LSU game was exciting at Husky Stadium, but it’s not Tiger Stadium – in my mind. Last week 4-2, overall 4-2
JL: All modesty aside – did I call the Enumclaw Hornet victory or what? Right down to the field goal that won the game for EHS, with 10 seconds left. It’s a harbinger of things to come my friends, because knock on wood barring injuries EHS is the genuine article. With apologies to coach Ken Fagan of White River, I blew that call big time. I thought Franklin Pierce was the quick starting team that almost never loses its first game of the year, but my esteemed colleague, informs me otherwise. What ever the case may be Cardinal coach Howard Lutton has been around since dinosaurs roamed the Midway area and there just isn’t much that he hasn’t encountered as the dean of South Puget Sound League 3A football coaches, so don’t count the Redbirds out just yet. Last week 5-1, overall 5-1
Bonney Lake at Auburn Mountainview
DO: The Panthers showed flashes of how they have adopted to the new spread offense and the defense was solid at times against a respected Lake squad. This week, coach Chad Barrett will take his show – featuring QB Cole Schuler, RB Aaron Quevado and WRs Austin Marshall and Lucus Bright – on the road and get a win. BONNEY LAKE
JL: I see Bonney Lake dropping this one, because one of the Lions that is returning for his senior campaign at QB is Cody McNeill, a six footer, who isn’t afraid to tuck the ball under his arm and run if no one is opened. Also he has a protective wall blocking for him and his running backs that is predominantly occupied by juniors and seniors. Sometimes experience counts for a lot especially when it is at the skill positions and McNeill shares the backfield with senior RB Vince Wagner. AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW
White River at Sumner
DO: Sumner is coming off a tough 33-0 loss to Peninsula which the offense gaining under 150 yards. The Hornets are coming off an impressive win over Franklin Pierce with a rushing attack. Could be a close one, but it’s the Spartans home opener. SUMNER
JL: This one is a very tough call, but with the Spartans owning the home field advantage I fell like the edge has to go to them. SUMNER
Enumclaw at Franklin Pierce
DO: The Hornets racked up more than 350 yards offensively against 4A Wilson. Should be an easy game for the Maroon and Gold. ENUMCLAW
JL: The Cardinal cage is an insane place to play and this is going to be played on a Saturday on top of everything else. If Hornet QB maintains his composure the way he did against the 4A Wilson last week, alternating the distribution of the pigskin between handing off to his capable runnings back and tossing it to his trio of excellent receivers, EHS should be 2-0 at game’s end as it comes away with the W. ENUMCLAW
Bellevue (WA) and Katy (TX)
DO: It The Clash of Champions II at Rhodes Stadium in Katy, Texas. Both team are coming off state championship seasons – Bellevue in 3A and Katy in 5A-Division II. Bellevue has won six state titles in eight years. The Texas school won back-to-back state crowns and has played for the state title in four of the past six years. Since I know a thing or two about Texas football, I’ll pick a proven winner. KATY
JL: I don’t like two things about Bellevue. For one thing they should be a 4A school and for another all that money floating around at hot tub high (obscene head coaches salary) just doesn’t seem legit to me. You’all better believe you don’t mess with Texas, you bunch of silver spooners. KATY
Idaho at Washington
DO: After watching the Huskies lose to LSU first hand, I can say UW is much improved. The defense looked great and Locker and Company proved they can move the ball. The Vandals, coming off a rare win, become the first casualty in the Sarkasian era. WASHINGTON
JL: Being a 1979 Wazzu grad I had some good times in Moscow, home of the U of I Vandals – mostly bring Coors back across the stateline by the truck full and selling it for five times the price. But alas the game is in Montlake not Moscow, so the Dawgs might pull this one out of the bag not that they have gotten past their unlucky 13th loss in a row. They played with a lot of heart against my Bayou Boys last weekend. Giving the nod to the Huskies. WASHINGTON
Washington State vs. Hawaii (Seattle)
DO: The Rainbow Warriors are known for their explosive spread passing attach, but they escaped with a 25-20 win over Central Arkansas University. Something tells me the Cougars will win this matchup in Seattle. WASHINGTON STATE
JL: Now that their slinging senior quarterback moved on to the Washington Redskins a couple years back, Warriors seemed to lose some of their steam. I am going to with the Pac-10 club in this one, because there are a lot more Cougars on this side of the mountains than people think. All of that pre-functioning and tailgating prior to their heading off to Qwest Field for the annual Cougar Gridiron Classic should loosen up those old Cougs’ tonsils a little. WASHINGTON STATE
St. Louis Rams at Seahawks
DO: The boys in Seattle should have an impressive performance against the lowly Rams in a NFC West contest. Key to the offense is keeping everyone away from the injury bug. New players added to the squad should give Jim Mora his first win as head coach. SEATTLE
JL: St. Louis is the doormat in front of the cellar door in the NFC West. If the porous Seahawk offensive line can provide Matt Hasselbeck enough time to check down on his reads on his bevy of excellent targets (John Carlson, Deion Branch, O’Dea High grad Nate Burlson and of course Whose Your Momma.) The Seahawks should win handily. SEATTLE
