Week 12 preview - Nov. 22

Game of the Week

Naselle vs. Willapa Valley, Noon, Saturday, at Tumwater High School, Quarterfinal round 2B state playoffs
If there was any question as to how far the Naselle Comets football team has come this year, last week's first round playoff game was the answer. Nearly duplicating the dominating score they hung on the Saints in the opening round of the state playoffs last season, the Comets put on a dominant performance in Bellevue last Saturday beating Seattle Lutheran 34-7 to advance to the quarterfinals this Saturday.
Meeting the Comets on the field at Tumwater High Stadium will be a familiar foe, the Willapa Valley Vikings — the only Pacific League team to have beaten the Comets over the last two seasons (last year winning 6-0 on the Comets home field and this year winning 21-6 at home). The Vikings also come into this game undefeated on the season, 11-0. In fact, the Vikings have played only one close game all year, winning 22-19 over North Beach — a team the Comets beat in the final seconds a month ago. To say that the Vikings have been dominant is too obvious — they average 32 PPG while giving up a mere 9 PPG.
But the Comets that come into Saturdays match-up are not the same team that played the Vikings the first week of October and gave up 5 turnovers en route to the loss. The Comets have been on a tear for the last four weeks, first knocking off two league foes in the final minutes to secure a playoff spot, and then easily handling their last two opponents by a combined score of 69-7. Over the last four weeks (all wins) the Comets are averaging 32 PPG while giving up only 16 PPG. 

Last year when the team made it to the quarterfinals — matching the schools' furthest advancement in the state playoffs — the offense was dictated almost solely by their quarterback, who was shut down by Life Christian, bringing the Comets offense to a grinding halt. This time around the offense goes through so many different weapons that shutting down just one player won't do it. That, plus an outstanding effort on defense will give the Comets a excellent shot at advancing to the semifinal round, one game away from a state championship game. 

It won't be easy, and if the Comets win it will likely be a close game, so they can definitely use all the fan support they can get in Tumwater this Saturday. Last week Naselle fans easily outnumbered those supporting the Seattle Lutheran team who traveled only a half hour to the game (NHS fans traveled over three hours each way!) This week the drive is a little shorter (only two hours) which gives all the more reason to bring a few more rooters this time around!

Be sure to check back on Sunday for a photo gallery from the game, plus player blog posts and a game recap

Driving directions to Tumwater High School

• Leave the Peninsula on US-101 and continue on past Raymond
• Turn RIGHT onto WA-107 towards Montesano
• Merge right onto US-12 and continue on toward Oympia for 37 miles
• Merge onto I-5 South toward Portland and travel 1.4 miles
• Take the TROSPER RD. EXIT 102 toward Black Lake
• Turn LEFT onto TROSPER RD SW
• Turn RIGHT onto CAPITOL BLVD SW and travel 1 mile
• Turn RIGHT onto ISREAL RD SW and travel a half mile.
• End at Tumwater High School, 700 Isreal Rd. SW

Estimated drive time 2 hours 12 minutes - 112 total miles