Power Rankings: Bellevue gears up for a big test against Liberty, retains No. 1 spot
By Joel Willits
Bellevue Reporter
KingCo 3A Power Rankings
1. Bellevue Wolverines (7-0, 4-0 KingCo 3A)
Bellevue’s Will Fields scored three rushing touchdowns and Jamal Atofau added two to help the Wolverines roll over Juanita. Bellevue looks every bit the part of the best 3A team in the state. It says something when your best player (Peter Nguyen) doesn’t even play a down in a 42-7 victory. They’ll face their toughest league test of the season in Liberty this Friday.
Last week’s rank: 1
Last week: 42-7 win at Juanita
Next up: vs. Liberty
2. Liberty Patriots (6-1, 4-0)
Liberty will need to play perfect in order to knock off Bellevue at Wolverine Stadium. They’ll also need a big game from their senior running back Greg Ericksen, a big back who scored three times last week against Interlake. In seven games this season, Ericksen has rolled to 501 yards and nine scores. He’ll face a tough test in Bellevue’s defense.
Last week’s rank: 2
Last week: 40-12 win vs. Interlake
Next up: at Bellevue
3. Mount Si Wildcats (4-3, 3-1)
I’ve been saying for the last month to anyone that would listen that Mount Si might be the best team in the state with a losing record. Well, with last Friday’s dismantling of Sammamish, the Wildcats are officially over .500 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Their key player? Quarterback and defensive back Tyson Riley, a rugged player who scored on both sides of the ball in the big win over the Totems.
Last week’s rank: 4
Last week: 43-0 win at Sammamish
Next up: vs. Juanita
4. Juanita Rebels (4-3, 2-2)
Perhaps the biggest sign of Bellevue’s dominance was how easily they handled Juanita, a team who looked to be clicking on all cylinders after its Oct. 10 win at Interlake. But no team can give up 28 first half points and 42 in the first half and expect to win. Rebels better shore up their defense before they travel to Snoqualmie this Friday.
Last week’s rank: 3
Last week: 42-7 loss at Bellevue
Next up: at Mount Si
5. Interlake Saints (4-3, 2-3)
After starting the season 4-1, the Saints have lost two in a row. The problem? A combination of offensive ineffectiveness and defensive struggles. Every now and then, the Saints come up with a huge offensive play (such as Dylan Amell’s 65-yard touchdown reception in Friday’s loss), but its ineffective play is leaving the Interlake defense on the field for far too long. It’s tough to win games like that.
Last week’s rank: 5
Last week: 40-12 loss at Liberty
Next up: vs. Mount Rainier
6. Mercer Island Islanders (2-5, 0-4)
Islanders picked up their second win of the season by blowing out an undermanned Ingraham squad. Want to see the most evenly matched game of the season? Check out MI’s game vs. Sammamish this Friday. That’s not necessarily a good thing.
Last week’s rank: 6
Last week: 48-0 win vs. Ingraham
Next up: vs. Sammamish
7. Sammamish Totems (0-7, 0-5)
Sammamish’s best chance for a win this season comes Friday at Mercer Island. Totems have been outscored 308-68. The least amount of points Sammamish has given up in a game has been 34.
Last week’s rank: 7
Last week: 43-0 loss vs. Mount Si
Next up: at Mercer Island
KingCo 4A Power Rankings
1. Skyline Spartans (7-0, 4-0 KingCo 4A)
Everyone thought this would be the week the Spartans were knocked off their perch. It didn’t happen. Skyline stormed into Issaquah and handed the Eagles a 38-0 spanking. In the last five games, the Spartans have only given up two points total. This season, they’ve outscored opponents 296-8. The win over Issaquah also clinched Skyline’s spot in the KingCo 4A Championship game.
Last week’s rank: 1
Last week: 38-0 win at Issaquah
Next up: vs. Redmond
2. Issaquah Eagles (6-1, 3-1)
Despite the thumping from Skyline, Issaquah is still the second-best team in KingCo 4A. Running back Grant Gellatly has been magnificent and the offensive and defensive lines have been dominant. Expect the Eagles to be a state contender.
Last week’s rank: 2
Last week: 38-0 loss vs. Skyline
Next up: at Newport
3. Bothell Cougars (5-2, 4-0)
The Cougars have already clinched a date with Skyline in the KingCo 4A Championship game and continued to roll with a 19-0 win over a good Inglemoor squad. All three scores in that win were passes from quarterback Mitchell Mueller to Perry Conricode.
Last week’s rank: 3
Last week: 19-0 win vs. Inglemoor
Next up: at Roosevelt
4. Woodinville Falcons (6-1, 3-1)
Falcons pick up right where they left off before disappointing loss to Bothell with huge win over Lake Washington. With a struggling Ballard its final game, Woodinville better not look past the Beavers.
Last week’s rank: 4
Last week: 47-14 win at Lake Washington
Next up: vs. Ballard
5. Eastlake Wolves (4-3, 2-2)
After receiving a beat-down from Skyline, Wolves give one of their own to Newport. Five different players scored touchdowns for Eastlake in that game.
Last week’s rank: 6
Last week: 42-13 win vs. Newport
Next up: at Garfield
6. Inglemoor Vikings (4-3, 2-2)
Loss to Bothell knocks Vikings out of conference title race. With Woodinville owning tiebreaking win over Inglemoor, Vikings have to hope Falcons stumble vs. Ballard.
Last week’s rank: 7
Last week: 19-0 loss at Bothell
Next up: at Lake Washington
7. Newport Knights (4-3, 2-2)
Loss to Eastlake has grave playoff complications. If division’s top three (Skyline, Issaquah, Eastlake) all remain undefeated, and Newport keeps pace, the best the Knights could finish is in the fourth and final playoff spot. Unless, that is, the Knights can somehow manage to upset Issaquah.
Last week’s rank: 5
Last week: 42-13 loss at Eastlake
Next up: vs. Issaquah
8. Roosevelt Roughriders (5-2, 2-2)
Roughriders finish with Bothell this week and are guaranteed a playoff berth.
Last week’s rank: 8
Last week: 22-10 win vs. Ballard
Next up: Bothell
9. Redmond Mustangs (1-6, 1-3)
Redmond finally gets on the board with 49-7 win over Garfield. Makes you wonder what Redmond’s season might have turned out like if the Mustang’s hadn’t given away the opening game against Prosser.
Last week’s rank: 11
Last week: 49-7 win vs. Garfield
Next up: at Skyline
10. Lake Washington Kangaroos (1-6, 1-3)
After 23-6 victory over basement-dwelling Ballard, Kangs sent back to losing ways by Woodinville.
Last week’s rank: 9
Last week: 47-14 loss vs. Woodinville
Next up: vs. Inglemoor
11. Garfield Bulldogs (0-7, 0-4)
At least the Bulldogs can say they play in the tougher of the two KingCo 4A divisions.
Last week’s rank: 10
Last week: 49-7 loss at Redmond
Next up: at Eastlake
12. Ballard Beavers (0-7, 0-4)
Not too much to be said about the Beavers, who scored 19 in their highest output of the season one month ago.
Last week’s rank: 12
Last week: 22-10 loss at Roosevelt
Next up: at Woodinville
Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-5045 or at jwillits@bellevuereporter.com.
