HS Blitz Week 8: The final push before the playoffs

Each week during high school football season KATU sports photographer Mike "Rossy" Rosborough previews the upcoming action on High School Blitz, which airs Friday nights at 11:35 p.m. Here's Rossy's look ahead at week 8:

This week’s Blitz is a look at the final regular season games for all football teams. At this point, all of the teams are basically playing to determine who gets to be at home for the play-in round of the current system of playoffs. We have made our coverage choices to give fans the best picture of postseason possibilities, so here we go…

The biggest game is Southridge versus Aloha for the top spot in the Metro race. The host Warriors (7-1, 3-1), a little beaten up and humbled by last week’s loss to Jesuit, have a chance at some payback with the Skyhawks (5-3, 4-0). With a win they create a three-way tie for first along with Jesuit and Southridge, a loss drops them to third and gives the Skyhawks the outright title. Look for Southridge to slow down Thomas Tyner enough to let them outscore Aloha with their rejuvenated passing game.

We will also send a body to the Jesuit game at Beaverton because it’s such a great rivalry. The schools are only a few miles apart and the Beavers could catch the Crusaders looking ahead and be ripe for an upset. It’s not likely but in these games you never know.

Tigard has the Pacific locked up, but the order of finish for the next four teams will be decided Friday night. Century (6-2, 4-2) hosts McMinnville ( 5-3, 4-2) at Hillsboro stadium with the victor having  the inside track to third, maybe even second if Tualatin (7-1, 5-1) should lose to Glencoe (5-3, 3-3) at Hare Field. The Timberwolves have their offense in high gear at the right time, or the wrong time for the Grizzlies chances at an automatic qualifying berth. Expectations are that Tualatin holds onto second place with Century in third, everyone else hits the road.

The top four teams in the Greater St. Helens league mix it up one more time to establish their own playoff order this week. First place Camas (7-0, 3-0) meets Battleground (5-2, 1-2) at Doc Harris and are favored to win out and finish undefeated in their first season at the 4A level. The battle for second and third takes place at the Kiggins Bowl where Union (5-2, 2-1) and Skyview (5-2, 2-1) tee it up at 8 p.m. in a show of passing offenses that should be a lot of fun to watch.

Lake Oswego (8-0, 4-0), defending 6A champs, travel to Oregon City (5-3, 3-1) for the chance at their 48th consecutive Three Rivers League win and an undefeated season. The Lakers get it done on defense and should be able to hold down the Pioneers’ Mitchell Thompson, who is having a fine season with 1,900+ rushing yards for third in state. Let me share this stat with you: LO has allowed 90 points in eight games, OC’s number is 287. ‘Nuff said.

Our Game of the Week crew takes in the 5A PIL game between Wilson (7-1, 5-0) and Cleveland (4-4, 3-2) as the Trojans look to polish off the Warriors to lock up the top qualifying slot for the postseason. Cleveland wants to win and host a playoff game, which could happen if they lose, and they will lose to Wilson’s strong offense if form follows. Still, you never know who will show up with these young teams and that’s why we go to these games. The fun is in not knowing.

Grant (4-4) and Lincoln (2-6) meet in their only league game – Special District #1 – has two teams, when they kickoff at Lincoln’s field.  The Generals are stocked with athletes on both sides of the ball and could play spoiler in the playoffs but they have to keep those pass happy Cardinals out of the end zone or they will be spoiled and on the road as a visiting play-in team.

A couple  of 5A games round out the schedule. #1 Sherwood (8-0, 6-0) takes their powerful running game to Rex Putnam (4-4, 4-2), looking to unseat the Kingsmen and head into November undefeated and looking like the team to beat. New to 5A, Redmond (8-0, 3-0) travels to Roosevelt (6-2, 5-1) for a playoff preview that means nothing otherwise.

So join us for Friday night’s Blitz at 11:30 after the news and get our take on the upcoming November playoffs and who will be playing. See you then!