ZILLAH – Days before the Washington State Football Coaches announced the 24-team play-in field for Class 1A, Zillah coach Ryan Watson was certain his Leopards would be paired with Montesano,  team from the Evergreen League that seemed better than its 4-5 record.

Well, he was right. Zillah, seeded seventh, was matched with the No. 18 Montesano.

But don’t worry, coach, your Leopards were more than up to the challenge.

Zillah rolled to a 51-7 victory Saturday afternoon to advance the 1A state tournament. The Leopards stand a good shot of hosting a first-round game in the 12-team bracket.

Elsewhere, CBBN champion defeated Kentwood, 47-26, to advance to the 4A playoffs, where the Mavericks will be joined by Richland, which continued its late-season push by winning at Mount Si, 28-12.

Walla Walla fell short of the 3A state playoffs, falling to Stanwood, 70-22.

At Andy Collins Memorial Field, junior quarterback Beau Donahoe completed 11 of 17 passes for 204 yards, and touchdown passes to Jace Salme, Landon Matlack and Johnny Rodriguez, and also ran for a score.

“Beau was dialed in,” Watson said.

Fellow 11th-grader Maverick Myers, in his second game back from injury, ran for 180 yards on 17 carries, and rushed for a pair of touchdowns, including a 90-yard jaunt.

“Maverick has been welcomed back gladly,” said Watson, noting that Myers felt snubbed making third-team all-SCAC. “He ran mad today.”

Brayden Russell, another junior, also returned to the lineup from injury and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Leopards have won five straight games, outscoring opponents 233-29 during the winning streak.

Zillah becomes the third SCAC team to advance to the 1A state playoffs, joining six-time defending state champion Royal and 2025 runner-up Cashmere. The Knights and Bulldogs were seeded first and second, respectively, in the play-in round.

The Leopards (8-2) return to the state playoffs after falling in the play-in round last year. The Leopards had advanced to the state playoffs in nine of the 10 years before last fall.

CLASS 4A

NO. 8 MOSES LAKE 47, NO. 25 KENTWOOD 26: At Moses Lake, CBBN MVP Elijah Burns rushed for four touchdowns and caught a scoring pass to lead three-time conference champions to the state playoffs for the second straight year.

Junior quarterback Nolan Decubber, the conference Offensive MVP, tossed a pair of touchdown passes, while Isaac Legault caught a TD pass and Petrah Mackenzie ran for a score.

The Mavs also intercepted four Conqueror passes.

Moses Lake (9-1), a state quarterfinalist a year ago, would host a game if it is again seeded eighth or better when the WIAA reveals the brackets Sunday.

NO. 20 RICHLAND 28, NO. 13 MOUNT SI 12: At Mount Si, Micah Mayer carried the ball 37 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bombers (6-4) advanced to the state playoffs for the fourth straight year.

Jackson Woodard completed 14 of 27 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown pass to Justin Volmer, who finished with four receptions for 60 yards. Pierson Bryant added five grabs for 66 yards.

Andre Jackson had a pair of interceptions, and Richland picked off five Wildcat passes.

The victory was the Bombers’ second in four days. Richland rolled past Gonzaga Prep 52-21 on Tuesday to earn the spot in the play-in.

CLASS 3A

NO. 7 STANWOOD 70, NO. 26 WALLA WALLA 22: At Stanwood, the Spartans ended the Blue Devils (5-5) season at Barn Larson Stadium. Walla Walla had earned the Mid-Columbia Conference’s second 3A berth to the play-in round.