By Ryan Sparks and Hasani Grayson

Grays Harbor News Group

Montesano at Elma

The 2018 version of the East County Civil War is an intriguing one on several fronts. Story lines abound for this longstanding, heated rivalry game.

First, there’s the streak. Monte has dominated the series over the past decade-plus, winning 12 games in a row, a winning streak that dates back to 2006, when the current crop of players were in early grade school. The Bulldogs have allowed no more than 14 points to Elma since 2007 and have won by 30 points or more in eight of the past nine seasons.

Monte (6-2, 3-1 Evergreen 1A) enters this season’s contest coming off an unexpected bye week, as it picked up a win against Tenino, which forfeited Friday’s scheduled game due to a lack of healthy players, giving a Monte team that has been missing some key starters — including leading rusher and offensive playmaker Teegan Zillyett — extra time to heal and prepare for the Eagles.

The time has allowed Monte to get back to full strength, as Zillyett and receiver Jordan King will both be back in the lineup for Friday’s game, giving the Bulldogs their full slate of offensive weapons to choose from.

Before last week’s forfeit win, Monte suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since 2015. The Bulldogs dropped a non-league matchup to 2A Woodland followed by a 37-25 loss to Hoquiam, one that eventually eliminated them from league-title contention.

The local rumor mill also has it that with a game off on Friday, several Monte coaches and players were seen at Elma’s victory over Forks on Friday, scouting their next opponent.

With extra time to heal and additional prep time for Monte head coach Terry Jensen and his staff to draw up a game plan, one can bet the Bulldogs will enter the rivalry game well-rested and plenty prepared.

And they’ll have to be, as the Bulldogs will be facing an Elma team that has had a fantastic season entering the final game on the schedule.

If not for a blocked field-goal attempt, Elma (7-1, 3-1) could very well be playing this game for a league title, having suffered its only loss to Hoquiam by a score of 14-13 on Oct. 5.

Aside from that lone blemish on its record, the Eagles have been nothing short of impressive, averaging more than 40 points per game while rushing for over 2,400 yards this season, over 312 per game.

Most of that yardage has come from senior running back and co-captain Taitum Brumfield, who has rushed for 1,063 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

Elma’s defense, led by junior outside linebacker Isaiah O’Farrell’s 55 tackles (6.9 per game), has been opportunistic, with 12 interceptions and 24.5 sacks this season. Brady Shriver has been a ball hawk for Elma, with three picks and four fumble recoveries this season.

Elma defensive back Cody Vollan had 5.5 tackles (two for a loss) and two interceptions to lead the Eagles in a 35-10 win over Forks last week. The junior was honored with The Daily World’s ‘Game Ball’ for defense for his efforts. (Photo by Sue Michalak)

But Monte has its fair share of offensive weapons as well, namely Zillyett and quarterback Shaydon Farmer. Zillyett passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark this season before an injury caused him to miss the Hoquiam game, and Farmer has been accurate and consistent in Monte’s wins this season.

While Monte took its lumps on the defensive end in its two losses, the big-play potential that has been a staple of its offense has also shown itself on the defensive end, with defensive back Sam Winter having pick-6 touchdowns in two consecutive games this season.

With Hoquiam wrapping up the league title, Monte and Elma will be playing for playoff seeding as both are locked into the last two of the 1A Evergreen league’s playoff spots. The winner will get the No. 2 seed, while the loser drops to the league’s third-place position.

With so much at stake and Elma having its best season in recent memory, head coach Ron Clark and the Eagles are primed to put the long losing streak behind them.

But Monte is no team to take lightly, and with the extra time to rest and strategize, the Bulldogs are as dangerous as ever.

“As far as the bye is concerned, normally we would want to play, but maybe it is a blessing in disguise,” Jensen said. “The extra time was good to get back and focus on fundamentals, plus to heal, and added time to prepare for this week.”

The two teams square off at 7 p.m. on Friday in Montesano.

Ilwaco at PWV

Both teams have stamped their tickets to the postseason but the league title will still be up for grabs on Friday night.

Pe Ell Willapa Valley (6-2, 5-0 Pacific 2B) has kept its record spotless in its run through the league but will face a tough opponent when the Vikings host the Fishermen (5-2, 4-1).

Ilwaco’s lone loss in the Pacific 2B came to Raymond last week when they fell to the Gulls 37-20 after failing to contain the Seagulls’ run game.

If Ilwaco pulls out the victory, this will leave Ilwaco, Raymond and PWV all deadlocked at 5-1.

In this case the action on the gridiron would have to be settled with a three-way coin flip to determine seeding.

The Titans and Fishermen will try to deciding things on the field and avoid the random fate of a coin toss with a game that is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday in Menlo.

Ocosta at Chief Leschi

It’s win or go home for both teams in Friday’s matchup between Chief Leschi and Ocosta.

Ocosta (4-3, 2-3 Coastal 2B) is coming off of a disappointing loss to Pe Ell-Willapa Valley but still has a chance to get the fourth and final playoff seed if they get past the Warriors (2-6, 2-3).

The Warriors have wins against North Beach and South Bend, both of whom are winless in league. Chief Leschi has had trouble with the rest of the league, getting blown out by Raymond 64-16 in week five and forfeiting a game against PWV the following week due to injuries.

Offense has been hard to come by for the Warriors this season as they’ve scored more than 28 points once in a 58-50 loss Concrete in the season-opener.

Ocosta will try to get its offense going after it scored one touchdown in the PWV loss. The two teams should have some familiarity with each other as they squared off in what counted as a non-league game where the Wildcats trounced the Warriors 50-8 earlier this season.

The two teams will meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Chief Leschi High School.

Raymond at Vashon Island

Raymond running back Patrick Edwards rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns in the Seagulls win over Ilwaco last week. Edwards was honored with The Daily World’s ‘Game Ball’ for offense, the second time he’s won the honor this season. (Photo by Larry Bale)

With a spot in the postseason already secured, Raymond will look forward to playing a non-league matchup with Vashon Island on Friday.

Depending on the result of the Ilwaco versus Pe Ell-Willapa Valley game and possibly a coin flip (see above: Ilwaco at PWV), Raymond could end up as the top, second or third seed.

The Seagulls (5-3, 5-1 Pacific 2B) defeated Ilwaco last week and will now play a 1A team that has struggled in its own league.

The Pirates (2-7, 1-4 Nisqually) have been shutout three times this season and been held to single digits on two other occasions.

Vashon Island came away with its first win of the season with a 22-13 win over winless Chimacum last week.

The game is set to start at 6 p.m. at Vashon Island High School.

Hoquiam at Forks

With the league title locked up, the only thing on the line against Forks will be an undefeated season.

Forks (5-3, 1-2 Evergreen 1A) will be out of a spot in the state tournament regardless of the result in its matchup with Hoquiam and the result of Montesano-Elma game.

Forks has previously lost to both Elma and Monte with its lone league win coming against Tenino on Oct. 5.

In what could be considered a tune-up game before the state tournament, Hoquiam will look to duplicate last week’s success.

The Grizzlies (8-0, 3-0) beat previously undefeated Sequim, 42-35, in a non-league matchup in their last game.

Hoquiam will hit the road to face the Spartans on Friday night in Forks with kick off scheduled for 7 p.m.

Aberdeen at WF West

Aberdeen heads into the final game of the season playing for pride against WF West.

With last week’s loss to Rochester, the Bobcats (1-7, 1-3 Evergreen 2A) were eliminated from postseason contention and will face a tough Bearcats team that should be feeling confident after cruising by Centralia, 42-12.

The Bearcats (4-4, 2-2) have clinched their playoff spot as they are locked into third place in league.

Aberdeen will take on WF West on the road looking to end its season on a high note when the two teams face off in Chehalis at 7 p.m.

Other games

Taholah at Washington School for the Deaf, Thursday, 3 p.m.

South Bend at North Beach, Friday, 7 p.m.

Oakville at Wishkah Valley, Saturday, 1 p.m.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article contained incorrect information. Raymond plays at Vashon Island on Friday.