Could SCAC rivals Royal and Cashmere be destined for another late postseason matchup?

The polls and computer rankings seem to think there’s a pretty good chance of that. The Knights, who have won 54 straight games, are again atop the Class 1A rankings, whether that be the VaristyWA top 10s which were released Monday, the WIAA’s RPI or the Evans Rankings pulled together by Matt Evans of the Tri-Cities.

The Bulldogs are No. 3 in  VarsityWA poll behind the Knights and 2025 semifinalist Lynden Christian. They’re No. 4 in the WIAA RPI with unbeaten Rochester and Nooksack Valley following Royal.

In the Evans Rankings, however, Cashmere is No. In the 12-team bracket, the top four teams are given byes into the quarterfinals.

The Knights seem a lock to have the No. 1 seed, and the Bulldogs, who like Royal have a favorable schedule in Weeks 7-9, stand a good chance of receiving a bye should they win in Week 10.

If the Bulldogs were the No. 4, and advanced past the quarterfinals, they could very well meet the Knights in the semifinals for the second time in three years. A second or third seed, however, and a rematch in the state championship is possible.

A No. 2 seed also gives Cashmere the right to host a semifinal. Last fall, the Bulldogs hosted third-seeded Mount Baker at Wenatchee’s Apple Bowl.

Elsewhere in the VarsityWA top 10s, Moses Lake is No. 7 in 4A, while Chiawana is ninth, and Eastmont is just on the outside. The Mavericks host the Wildcats on Oct. 23.

Kennewick is No. 7 in 3A, with Southridge – the last team with an unbeaten Mid-Columbia Conference – just missed the top 10.

Prosser remains fourth in 2A, with Selah eighth. The Mustangs host the fellow unbeaten Vikings on Oct. 23, after defending CWAC champion East Valley, 6-0 but unranked, visits Art Fiker Stadium.

In the all-classifications top 25 from VarsityWA, Royal is again 11th, MCC rivals Kennewick and Chiawanna are 20th and 21strespectively, while Prosser rounds out the rankings.

Eisenhower’s Finn Hopkins, who rushed for four touchdowns and caught another score, is up for the VarsityWA Athlete of the Week. Readers can vote here.