Granite Falls seeks home playoff game after six straight wins

Light rain turned into a downpour at Granite Falls High School on Wednesday, obscuring the view of the football team running drills from the sideline. Despite the weather, the Tigers see a clear path forward as they prepare to defend their Emerald Sound 1A title against King's on Friday.

Coach Brandon Davis said the team has established a new standard, moving away from simply getting by and aiming for playoff runs. A win on Friday would position the Tigers to host a winner-to-state game in Week 10. Davis described the goal as potentially hosting a postseason game for the first time in 30 to 40 years.

The program's transformation began with a five-day trip to Hawaii in September, funded by the school's athletic department, the booster club, and the Kaylee Scholarship Association. The team played Nanakuli High School on Oahu and visited Pearl Harbor, a luau, and local beaches. Davis noted that many players had never left the state or flown in an airplane before the trip.

The Tigers lost that opener 41-10 and followed it with a road loss to Toledo, starting the season 0-2. However, they have won six consecutive games since then, including victories over South Whidbey and Cedar Park Christian. Over that six-game span, the team scored 226 points while allowing only 47.

Senior linebacker Landon Gwinner said the trip fostered a family experience that helped the team bond during adversity. The defense also adopted a 'bend don't break' mentality to correct poor body language after early losses. This shift was evident in a 26-0 win against Lakeside on Sept. 25, where the Tigers held the ranked opponent scoreless after stopping their first drive.

Running back Beau Everson credited the offensive line and wide receivers for creating space and allowing the offense to operate at will. The team also carries big-game experience from last year, when they came back from a 14-0 deficit to beat King's 20-14 and break the Knights' six-year conference streak.

Granite Falls is ranked No. 8 in the 1A RPI Rankings, while King's sits at No. 14. A victory would improve the Tigers' chances of hosting the Week 10 matchup. A win in that game would send the team to the 1A State tournament for the first time since 2021 and only the second time since 1990.