The week 10 postseason picture is officially set for local high school football teams as they compete to reach the 2026 WIAA state tournament, as Federal Way Mirror reported. Local programs Federal Way High School and Decatur High School are among several area teams entering elimination play with distinct matchups against regional opponents.
No. 5 Federal Way enters its postseason contest against No. 28 West Seattle carrying an 8-1 record. Federal Way has incorporated star transfers to bolster a young roster featuring sophomores across the field. While the team must navigate a demanding playoff landscape, they face a West Seattle squad that finished 5-4. West Seattle spent the season in the middle of the Metro League standings, highlighted by a close 22-15 win over Bishop Blanchet.
No. 29 Decatur prepares to face No. 4 Eastside Catholic after finishing the regular season at 7-2. Decatur secured its postseason opportunity by surviving a late-season challenge against Auburn Mountainview. The Gators earned a key regular season victory over White River to help lock in their playoff position, though a subsequent defeat against Federal Way altered their path. Their upcoming opponent, Eastside Catholic, enters the game with an 8-1 record as a state title contender, with their sole loss coming against O’Dea.
Other local and regional programs have also set their week 10 playoff schedules across the district:
No. 3 Enumclaw takes a 7-0 record into its game against No. 30 Capital, which sits at 5-4. Enumclaw finished the regular season as the only undefeated team in the North Puget Sound League, consistently holding positions in the top five of both the AP Poll and the WSFCA poll. Key playmakers for Enumclaw include Paxton Patterson, Kortland Patterson, and members of the Kuzaro family. Capital enters the contest on a three-game winning streak, capped by a 49-26 victory over Silas. The postseason game marks the first meeting between Enumclaw and Capital since 2011, when Capital won 27-7.
No. 13 Ferndale hosts No. 20 Liberty in another matchup. Liberty, holding a 7-3 record, advanced after winning an October 27 three-team tiebreaker against Inglemoor following an initial tiebreaker loss to Mercer Island. Liberty lost starting freshman quarterback Myles Motley to an injury, putting Colton Hollerbach under center. The Patriot defense has held all opponents except Interlake, who scored 27, to 21 points or fewer since week one. Ferndale enters at 7-2, having won four of its final five games, with its only losses coming to Glacier Peak and undefeated Stanwood.
No. 5 Kennedy Catholic will kick off against No. 28 Arlington at 7:00 p.m. at Auburn Memorial Stadium. Kennedy Catholic finished the regular season 8-1 after dropping its opening game to Bellevue before sweeping through league play, including a late pull-away win against Tahoma. Despite losing key player Derek Coleman-Brusa from the previous season, Kennedy's defense limited opponents to 7.7 points per game. Arlington enters the game at 3-6 after dropping three of its final four regular season contests.
No. 11 Tahoma plays No. 22 North Creek following a 7-2 regular season. Tahoma claimed second place in the NPSL by defeating Auburn Riverside, following a home loss to Kennedy Catholic and a close week two loss to Sumner. The Bears are seeking their first state quarterfinal appearance since 2007 and their first state tournament win since 2000. North Creek comes in at 6-3 after earning KingCo victories over Juanita and Lake Washington, alongside late-season losses to Woodinville and Bothell.
No. 8 Moses Lake hosts No. 25 Kentwood. Under head coach Quincey Davison, Kentwood holds a 5-4 record and previously held both Tahoma and Kennedy Catholic under 35 points. Moses Lake brings an 8-1 record into the game, having scored 40 or more points in every game since week two while holding four of its past five opponents to seven points or fewer.
