Hazen Football Preview: Capital Cougars

Who – Hazen Highlanders (7-2) vs. Capital Cougars (7-3)

What – First Round Class 3A playoffs

When – Saturday Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

Where – Ingersoll Stadium in Olympia

Ticket Prices – General Admission $8, Students w/ASB $6, Elementary under 12 $6, Seniors (62+) $6.

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Next - Winner will advance to 2nd round/quarterfinals to play winner of Mount Si/O'Dea.   3A Brackets

MaxPreps.com rankings  – Hazen is ranked 106 in the state (4731 nationally); Capital is ranked 58 in the state (2799 nationally).

Hazen returns to Ingersoll Stadium in Olympia nearly 20 years after the Highlanders upset two-time defending champion Tumwater 21-20 to advance to the 2A state semi-finals. Can the spirits return to help Hazen against Capital? Maybe? This is the first time since 1993 Hazen has made the state playoffs, overall they are 5-3.

Hazen has outscored its opponents 245-185, with most points scored in the second half. Hazen is a rushing team with 1889 yards rushing to 562 yards passing.

Players to watch

Tray Brown 107 carries for 587 yards and 18 TDs

Frankie Johnson 33 carries for 413 yards and 1 TD

Cody Taylor 86 carries for 708 yards and 6 TDs

Kyle Nelson leads the team in tackles with 140.5

Jordan Tillman leads the team in sacks with 4.5

2011 Season

9/3 Hazen 35, Blaine 32

9/9 Hazen 17, Cedarcrest 14

9/17 Kennedy Catholic 28, Hazen 0

9/23 Lindbergh 22, Hazen 20

9/30 Hazen 41, Evergreen 19

10/6 Hazen 54, Highline 35

10/13 Hazen 21, Foster 13

10/28 Hazen 21, Renton 7

11/5 Hazen 36, Franklin 15

Hazen’s playoff history:

11/15/1991 – beat Sedro Woolley 27-13

11/22/1991 – beat Tumwater 21-20

11/29/1991 – lost to O’Dea 41-10 (semi-finals at Tacoma Dome)

11/14/1992 – beat Prairie 24-7

11/21/1992 – beat Peninsula 16-14

11/27/1992 – lost to O’Dea 45-10 (semi-finals at Tacoma Dome)

11/13/1993 – beat Meadowdale 42-14

11/19/1993 – lost to Gig Harbor 34-0

Capital Cougars

The Cougars started the season 0-3 and have won seven straight and enter their fifth consecutive year in the 3A playoffs. Capital lost to Kamiakin in last year’s semi-finals.  Overall Capital is 26-16 in the playoffs including two state titles

The biggest threat for Hazen will be to stop junior running back (#11) Kai Van Sickle who was out a month with a concussion. Sickle has broken the school’s rushing record in back to back games including Saturday where he rushed for 380 yards on 30 carries and scored four touchdowns in the Cougars 35-6 win over West Seattle.

The rest of the team is young including sophomore quarterback Derrick Becker.

2011 Schedule

9/1 O’Dea 28, Capital 14

9/9 Olympia 10, Capital 7

9/16 Lakes 57, Capital 7

9/23 Capital 27, Enumclaw 7

9/30 Capital 29, Yelm 6

10/7 Capital 43, Foss 0

10/14 Capital 42, Wilson 14

10/21 Capital 21, Timberline 13

10/28 Capital 49, Lincoln 28

11/5 Capital 35, West Seattle 6