CLASS 4A PLAYOFFS
No. 7 Bothell (7-3) at No. 8 Curtis (9-1)
7 p.m. Saturday at Viking Field

The lowdown: Bothell has advanced to the past two 4A state title games, losing 21-4 games to Oak Harbor (2006) and Lewis and Clark (2007). The Cougars have won their past four matchups against WCD opponents. Curtis hasn't won a 4A opener since 2004.
Why the Cougars will win: Don't let the record fool you, all three defeats have come to ranked opponents, including to 3A No. 1 Bellevue (38-19) and 4A No. 1 Skyline (16-12). After QB Johnny Hekker graduated last season, Bothell has become more run-oriented in a two-back set, led by RB Patrick Ottorbech (122 carries, 915 yards, 14 TDs), the KingCo 4A Conference rushing leader.
Why the Vikings will win: A lot has been made about the points Curtis has piled up. But what pushed the SPSL South champion through in last week's 14-7 win over Mariner was the defense and special teams, each scoring a TD. That makes seven scores from those units this season, second-best to Federal Way's eight. RB Richard Southern (128 carries, 1,169 yards, 23 TDs) is a game-changer.
News Tribune pick: You can't replace postseason experience, and the rigors of a tough schedule. Bothell has the edge in both.
Bothell 25, Curtis 21

CLASS 4A PLAYOFFS
Woodinville (9-1) at No. 3 Auburn (10-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday at Auburn's Memorial Stadium

The lowdown: Auburn has dropped two of its past three first-round games. One of them was a 14-7 road loss to Woodinville in 2005. The Trojans have not lost in their home stadium since 2003, a span of 32 games.
Why the Falcons will win: My, how the roles have switched. Two years ago, Woodinville was the bigger, stronger team. But now the Falcons are intent on getting to the outside and utilize their speed in their spread-option attack, paced by RBs Jordan Todesco (134 carries, 846 yards, six TDs) and Matt Brumfield (55 carries, 253 yards, 10 TDs), and QB Tim Ip (1,652 total yards, 12 TDs) can run and pass.
Why the Trojans will win: They're like "Tango and Cash" – two inseparable forces – and coach Gordon Elliott will rely heavily on RBs Jeff Gouveia (128 carries, 1,090 yards, SPSL-best 28 TDs) and Chris Young (109 carries, 999 yards, seven TDs) on both sides. Gouveia (MLB) and Young (FS) will need to direct traffic and make sure to contain the edges.
News Tribune pick: Auburn's size and power should wear the Falcons down, earning payback.
Auburn 23, Woodinville 17

CLASS 3A PLAYOFFS
No. 9 O'Dea (8-2) at No. 3 Lakes (10-0)
7:30 p.m. today at Harry E. Lang Stadium

The lowdown: The only time these two programs met in the postseason was the 2000 3A semifinals, won 14-13 by the Lancers. Lakes hasn't won a first-round game since 2005, including a loss to Skyline last season. The Spartans beat O'Dea in last year's 3A title game.
Why the Irish will win: "Finish" is the team's motto after the disappointing loss to Skyline in last season's 3A title game, and O'Dea has the horses to do it. Six running backs average 6.0 ypc or better, with FB Zach Fogerson (41 carries, 281 yards, three TDs), a UW commitment, the featured runner. He's healthy after battling various injuries during the season. LB Allen Mooney (knee) is out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Why the Lancers will win: O'Dea might be bigger up front, but Lakes is certainly more athletic, which might be the difference in opening lanes for RBs Teddy Cotton (122 carries, 969 yards, 13 TDs), Willis Wilson (82 carries, 667 yards, six TDs) and John Taufa (41 carries, 494 yards, eight TDs). Cotton is aiming to become the team's first 1,000-yard rusher since Dominick Davis in 2006.
News Tribune pick: Both programs are run-oriented, highly-disciplined and about as healthy as they've been all season.
Lakes 30, O'Dea 24

CLASS 1A PLAYOFFS
No. 5 Orting (10-1) at No. 8 Castle Rock (8-2)
1 p.m. Saturday at Rocket Stadium

The lowdown: Generally, the Rockets have had their way with Nisqually opponents in the state tournament (8-4 record), but the only time these two teams met was the 1976, won 42-6 by Orting. Castle Rock won the 1988 1A title.
Why the Cardinals will win: They've had to put in extra work this week, beating Lynden Christian, 38-7, in a play-in game. Combined with Vashon's win, Orting captured the Nisqually's No. 3 seed. Establishing the run with RBs Grant Angle (132 carries, 1,044 yards, 12 TDs) and Braden Cordes (66 carries, 643 yards, 14 TDs) should keep Castle Rock's over-aggressive defense honest.
Why the Rockets will win: LB Zach Gehring is one of the best small-school players in the state, and is the leader of a defense that has forced 32 turnovers (plus-27 turnover ratio). On offense, Castle Rock moves him around in its I-formation, and he's the team's leading pass target at tight end (24 catches, 440 yards, 10 total TDs). RB Chris Tinney (142 carries, 1,118 yards, 15 TDs) should test the middle of Orting's defense.
News Tribune pick: The Cardinals have better playmakers, but their turnover propensity won't play well against a team that controls the football.
Castle Rock 24, Orting 19

State Game of the Week
Jackson (9-1) at No. 4 Ferris (9-1)
1 p.m. Saturday at Joe Albi Stadium, Spokane
The Timberwolves, the last remaining team from WesCo 4A, will make the trek east to take on the Saxons. Jackson, which had two goal-line stands in last week’s 16-10 win over Tahoma, has the defense to hang with the Greater Spokane League champions. Ferris has the benefit of not having to take a cross-state bus ride and that could be the difference.
News Tribune pick: Ferris 24, Jackson 17

5 Things to watch for this weekend

1. A pair of Narrows League teams is meeting for the first time this season when Central Kitsap travels to Olympia on Saturday. The Bears’ defense will have their hands full with running back Howard McDonald, who rushed for 396 yards and five touchdowns last week.

2. Forgive the Rogers and Skyview football team if they make a few early mistakes on Saturday and just blame it on postseason jitters. The teams have a combined for one state playoff appearance – the Storm went in 2006 – in the last decade.

3. Of the four teams the SPSL 3A sent to the postseason, Lakes is the last team standing. Was it a down year for the league or just bad luck? We’ll know for sure when the third-ranked Lancers host tradition-rich and ninth-ranked O’Dea tonight.

4. The Evergreen Conference proved again that it is the dominant league in its district. Three EvCo teams won crossover games, including fourth-seeded Black Hills, which stunned top-seeded Woodland. Can the Wolves, Centralia and Tumwater keep it going?

5. Peering into the future, if fifth-ranked Orting and No. 4 Cascade Christian each win this week, the Cougars will host the Cardinals in the quarterfinals. It was just two weeks ago that Cascade Christian beat Orting 28-6.

If you want quarterly scoring updates from football playoff games, sign up at Twitter to follow "tntsports." Or check this blog on Friday and Saturday nights.

Narrows League
Player of the Year: Tianna Brockway, Sr., Stadium
Co-Coaches of the Year: Michael Krug, South Kitsap; John Baretta, Stadium
First Team
Goalkeepers
Ciarra Pederson, 12, Bellarmine
Rachel Green, 12, Olympia
Defense
Kaitlyn Pavlovich, 11, Bellarmine
Kayla Russ, 12, Bellarmine
Sarah Katterhagen,11, Bellarmine
Lindsay Emery, 12, Gig Harbor
Jill Lahmann, 12, Olympia
Allyssa Nystrom, 12, South Kitsap
Rachel McMahon, 11, Stadium
Sierra Wang, 12, Stadium
Midfield
Claire Yearian, 12, Bellarmine
Hannah Anderson, 11, Central Kitsap
Kelsey Fuik, 12, Olympia
Marina Austin, 12, Olympia
Christina Bodie, 11, South Kitsap
Tianna Brockway, 12, Stadium
Morgan Swanson, 11, Stadium
Forward
Stephanie Hamilton, 9, Bellarmine
Josie Graybeal, 11, Gig Harbor
Monica Araujo, 11, Lincoln
Sammi Thompson, 11, Olympia
Chelsea Jennings, 12, Stadium
Second Team
Goalkeeper
Holly Sieler, 11, South Kitsap
Defense
Sarah Hedglin, 10, Bellarmine
Allie Washburn, 12, Central Kitsap
Sarah Macdonald, 12, Gig Harbor
Lizzy Unterbrink, 11, Gig Harbor
Deidra Woodward, 10, Olympia
Erin Ranney, 12, Shelton
Brianna Waldron, 11, South Kitsap
Riley Dopps, 10, South Kitsap
Lacee Scott, 10, Stadium
Midfield
Marissa Golesh, 12, Bellarmine
Lauren Bonck, 12, Bellarmine
Rebekah Daniel, 11, Central Kitsap
Kirsten Anthony, 10, Central Kitsap
Brittany Schroeder, 12, Gig Harbor
Hanna Massee, 10, Gig Harbor
Forward
Emma Ostergren, 10, Gig Harbor
Torie Fairweather, 12, South Kitsap
Taylor Swanson, 11, Bellarmine
Lindsey Felt, 9, Stadium
Honorable Mention
Kelly Beck, Midfield, 9, Bellarmine
Jaymie Boekenoogen, GK, 10, Central Kitsap
Marissa Byron, Defense, 10, Central Kitsap
Rebekah Kitchen, Defense, 12, Central Kitsap
Molly Edde, Defense, 11, Central Kitsap
Janell Jordan, Midfield, 11, Foss
Sabrina Cleveland, Defense, 12, Foss
Nikki Harvey, Defense, 12, Foss
Cat Smith, Forward, 11, Gig Harbor
Olivia Godt, 11, Gig Harbor
DJ AndersonVint, Defense, 12, Gig Harbor
Nicole Laughlin, Midfield, 11, Gig Harbor
Paris Stephens,GK, 12, Lincoln
Cristal Villagomez, Lincoln, 9, Lincoln
Halee Boni, GK, 12, Mt. Tahoma
Alisha Reed, Defense, 10, Mt. Tahoma
Ashley Denbrock, Forward, 12, Mt. Tahoma
Lexi Fesenbek, 9, Olympia
Amanda Houser, 12, Olympia
Megan Lund, Midfield, 11, Shelton
Tanja Kuhnke, Midfield, 12, Shelton
Crystal Polen, 12, South Kitsap
Bridget Grant, Defense, 12, Stadium
Nicole Robert, Midfield, 10, Stadium
Ciara Lozier, Midfield, 10, Stadium
Sam Branham, Defense, 9, Wilson
Sam Willey, Defense, 12, Wilson
Alex Washburn, Midfield, 12, Wilson
Angela Celedon, Forward, 9, Wilson
Sarah Gamache, Forward, 10, Wilson

SPSL 3A

MVP: Megan McBride, Auburn Mountainview, setter, Sr.; Jocelyn Levig, Sumner, outside, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Mike Fitzpatrick, Sumner; Momi Bowles, Auburn Mountainview

First Team
Jocelyn Levig, Sumner, O, Senior
Megan McBride, Auburn Mountainview, S, Senior
Deedra Foss, Lakes, S, Junior
Caryn Westrick, Bonney Lake, S, Senior
Amanda Dills, Sumner, O, Senior
Gabbi Sisco, Enumclaw, S, Senior
Alli Hills, Bonney Lake, O, Junior
Karly Edwards, Bonney Lake, Lib, Junior

Second Team
Tara Patton, Auburn Mountainview, M, Senior
Brenna Anderson, Franklin Pierce, M, Senior
Kaitlin Henke, White River, O, Senior
Tricia Patton, Auburn Mountainview, O, Junior
Myra Questel, Lakes, O, Junior
Alex Odren, Auburn Mountainview, Lib, Sophomore
Kailey Smith, Sumner, S, Junior
Tori Foss, Lakes, Lib, Junior

Honorable Mention
Hilary Brehm, Bonney Lake
Kelsey Tyler, White River
Kayla Erickson, Peninsula
Jordon Stewart, Peninsula
Krystle Hansen, Auburn Mountainview
Carly Crane, Peninsula
Brianna Morrison, Lakes
Carley McCutchen, White River
Britney Price, Enumclaw
Lisa Schouten, Sumner

Western Cascade Conference
MVP: Brenna Peterson, Capital
Coach of the year: Krista Manke, Timberline
First team
Taylor Stoeckle, North Thurston
Kristyn Ross, Capital
Brittany Lawrence, Capital
Fei Oloi, Timberline
Sam Dominiak, Timberline
Second team
Kelly Joiner, North Thurston
Kelsie Alexander, North Thurston
Tess Peckler, Capital
Gatalina Schuster, Timberline
Sarah Nelson, Timberline
Honorable mention
Taylor Hadden, North Thurston
Ashley Bent, Timberline
Alysha McCloud, Yelm

Evergreen Conference
MVP: Amanda Warner, OH, Tumwater
Coach of the Year: Tana Croft, Tumwater
First Team
Kailah Lenz, MB, Black Hills
Alex Sele, MH, Tumwater
Taylor Aschenbrenner, S, Black Hills
Jonika McMillan, OH, Centralia
Hillary Lutz, MB, Black Hills
Cara Olden, MH, Tumwater
Katrina McClaflin, Libero, Tumwater
Second Team
Sara Cearley, RH/S, Tumwater
Tyana Andrews, MB/S, Centralia
Halee Hernandez, S, River Ridge
Rachel Warick, OH, Black Hills
Brandi Thomas, MB, Elma
Mickey Walsh, MH, Aberdeen
Lara McElvain, Libero, Centralia
Honorable Mention
Aberdeen: Gurleen Cheema
Black Hills: Telise Fullington
Hoquiam: Bailey Spurgeon, Morgan Madison
River Ridge: Jennifer Cole, Brooke Wilson
Tumwater: Brittany Sweet
Chehalis: Tiffany Haberstroh, Jamie Nikander