** Ben Evensen is a Mount Si High School senior and an aspiring sportswriter. Look for his game analysis before each Mount Si football game throughout the 2013 season. **
My prediction for the Issaquah game may have been a little off, but late game heroics brought Mount Si to a big 28-20 win over the Eagles, with the Wildcats picking up win number two.
Quarterback Nick Mitchell continued to put up impressive numbers, throwing for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns. Two of those touchdown catches came from Beau Shain, who continues his impressive start to the season.
Shain’s efforts were not just on the offensive side of the ball, though. He had a late 4th quarter interception, leading to a Mount Si touchdown that put the Wildcats up 28-20. Shain also made a huge fumble recovery just a few plays later that sealed the team’s second victory of the young season.
This week Mount Si is on the road once again, taking on conference-foe Juanita High School. The Wildcats poured it on the Rebels last year with a huge 60-6 win. Juanita was actually the first team to put up points on Mount Si at that point last season.
While there were only two strong teams in KingCo 3A last year (Bellevue and Mount Si), Juanita has been revamped by younger talent, now making it a serious threat to Mount Sit as the second best team in the conference. Bellevue is still undoubtedly the best.
Most of the Rebel’s talent comes from underclassman. On the offensive side, sophomore QB Tavin Montgomery is a threat with his arm and feet. Juanita’s defensive line is also one of the best in the state, highlighted by junior, Thomas Toki, and sophomore, Paul Finau.
Juanita is 2-0 so far this season, with wins over Inglemoor and Monroe High Schools. But this game will be the biggest test of the season thus far for both schools.
You have to worry about Mount Si’s defense and how well they can contain Montgomery. The defense has been exposed at times, especially against the run, and cannot rely on late game heroics and lucky bounces again. The defense will need to be dominant for Mount Si to pull out the win.
Offensively, the Wildcats will most likely exclusively rely on the passing game. So far Mount Si’s receivers have greatly exceeded expectations, helping Mitchell put up huge numbers through the air. But this will be one of the toughest group of defensive backs Mitchell will face this year, with Terin Adams and Makiah Gilmer patrolling the secondary for Juanita.
This should be a very, very close game. Juanita has slightly better talent than Mount Si, but the Wildcats have more experience.
Almost all Mount Si starters had an impact on the team’s deep playoff run last season. That experience will be invaluable for the Wildcats in a tight game. Expect the score to be high, and don’t be shocked to see Mount Si come up short, but I’ll give Mount Si the slight edge here solely based on big game experience.
It won’t be long though, before this Juanita team will take Mount Si’s place as the team to challenge Bellevue for the KingCo title. But for now, Mount Si should pull out the narrow win.
Prediction: Mount Si 37 Juanita 35
