Week 3 what to watch: One is the most anticipated Tri-Cities matchups of 2021
Friday night’s Kamiakin at Chiawana football game at Edgar Brown Stadium has all the looks of a juggernaut-making contest.
In fact, in this shortened season of high school football, there are really two games to keep your eyes on: This one, and the Kamiakin-Kennewick matchup March 30.
Unfortunately, Chiawana and Kennewick don’t play each other.
This Kamiakin at Chiawana matchup (kickoff at 7 p.m., Friday) features a high-flying Braves offense going up against a very stout Riverhawks defense.
Kamiakin features running back Tuna Altahir, who rushed for 186 yards last week against Walla Walla; receivers Woodley Downard and Messiah Jones, who like Altahir are headed to Eastern Washington University next fall; and two outstanding quarterbacks in Henry Mercado and Payton Graham.
Chiawana will counter with linebackers Jerry Alonso and Cameron Breier (who will play football at Air Force), as well as defensive back Aiden Mason. Senior Kobe Young — who has Division I offers in both football and basketball — looked outstanding in Week 1 as a defensive end against Hanford.
But let’s be honest: Kamiakin’s defense and Chiawana’s offensive units are pretty impressive too.
Yes, the Riverhawks offense struggled last week in a 13-0 win over Pasco. But Chiawana QB JP Zamora, just a junior, has already verbally committed to Pac-12 school Utah.
And Breier has been the feature back for the Riverhawks, while WR Jalen Webber caught three TD passes against Hanford in Week 1.
Defensively, Kamiakin linebackers EJ Hawkins and Luis Salgado are exciting to watch, and Kyler Bacon shores up the secondary, while Gilbert Marquez does a great job creating havoc on the defensive line.
This will be the best game of the night.
And while only 200 people, including players, can only be in Edgar Brown Stadium, take heart: this game will be televised on SWX.
Other games
All games are 7 p.m. Friday unless noted otherwise:
HANFORD (0-2) at KENNEWICK (2-0): Nick Baker’s visiting Falcons finally got their offense going in the middle of their game last week against Hermiston, after spotting the Bulldogs a 20-0 lead.
Easton Wise-Hyde and the Falcons offense will have to be ready from the start against this frenzied but disciplined Lions defense, led by linebacker Josiah Barajas.
Even with a cast on his arm, Kennewick junior Myles Mayovsky is dangerous on both sides of the ball.
SOUTHRIDGE (0-2) at RICHLAND (0-2): One team gets its first victory of the season in this MCC game at Fran Rish Stadium.
Max Martin gave the Suns some life at quarterback last week against Selah, while the Bombers need to find a way to get receiver Ben Fewel a little more involved in the offense.
WALLA WALLA (1-1) at HERMISTON (1-0): Host Bulldogs got a chance to see what Chase Elliott could do for a full game in their 35-28 road win last week at Hanford.
Elliott was lost for the season in 2019 in the first quarter of the first game against Pasco. This time around, the Hermiston junior had 368 total yards and was part of four touchdowns.
The visiting Blue Devils must counter with a strong effort from running back Jakob Humphrey.
EAST VALLEY-YAKIMA (1-2) at PASCO (0-2), 2 p.m., Saturday: The host Bulldogs and standout Des Licon step out of conference play to take on the 2A Red Devils. Pasco played good defense last week against Chiawana. Now it needs to get its offense rolling.
CLE ELUM/ROSLYN (2-0) at COLUMBIA-BURBANK (2-0): The visiting Warriors are off to a great start, but the Coyotes defense has yet to give up a single point.
DAYTON-WAITSBURG (1-1) at MABTON (0-2), 1 p.m., Saturday: Visiting Bulldogs-Cardinals looking for a bounce back game in the 2B EWAC after last week’s loss to Tri-Cities Prep.
ELLENSBURG (1-1) at PROSSER (3-1): In a normal year, this is the 2A CWAC game of the year. Host Mustangs look to pick things up after rare doubleheader last week, beating Grandview and losing to Tumwater.
LYLE/WISHRAM (1-1) at DESALES (1-1): Lucas Hicks — who scored three touchdowns last week against Touchet — looks to continue finding ways to the end zone for the host Irish in this 1B Southeast contest.’
MANSON (0-1) at WARDEN (1-0): The host Cougars, stepping out of the 2B EWAC, play their home opener.
OKANOGAN (0-0) at WAHLUKE (0-1), 2 p.m., Saturday: This will be the visiting Bulldogs’ first game of the season, while the host Warriors are coming off a 28-0 loss to Ehprata.
OTHELLO (1-1) vs. SHADLE PARK (2-0), 1 p.m., Saturday, Union Stadium: The teams meet at the brand new stadium built at Mt. Spokane. Visiting Huskies have to find a way to stop the Highlanders’ all-everything player, Ryan Schmidt.
RIVER VIEW (1-1) vs. TRI-CITIES PREP (1-1), 6 p.m., Saturday, Chiawana High School: Visiting Panthers got blasted 47-0 last week by Columbia-Burbank; host Jags lost their starting quarterback to a broken ankle last week and had to go to Wildcat formation.
ROYAL (1-0) at EPHRATA (1-0): Host Tigers had a good opener, blanking Wahluke 28-0. But visiting Knights are something else: they trounced 4A Eastmont 50-10 last week. Knights are the defending 1A state champions.
SELAH (2-1) at GRANDVIEW (1-2): Host Greyhounds defense must find a way to stop Vikings’ high-octane offensive duo in quarterback Heath Yochum and running back Rollin Levon in this 2A CWAC matchup.
SUNNYSIDE (1-0) at EISENHOWER (1-0): Another Big Nine Conference matchup, the visiting Grizzlies – with quarterback Logan Rodriguez – look to have another high-powered offense this season after putting 48 on the board last week against West Valley.
TOUCHET (1-2) at SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN (1-1): 3 p.m., Friday: Host SSC put 90 points on Yakama Tribal last week. Could be some more offensive fireworks between these two Southeast 1B teams.
YAKAMA TRIBAL (0-2) at LIBERTY CHRISTIAN (3-0), 1 p.m., Saturday: The host Patriots boast one of the top 8-man offensive units in the state. Sophomore QB Keegan Bishop and senior WR Aiden Lesser have been rolling of the yardage and touchdowns this season.
This story was originally published March 11, 2021 at 2:40 PM.