The Napavine (WA) varsity football team will face Columbia (Burbank, WA) in a neutral-site playoff game on Friday, November 15, 2024.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Washington High School Football
Who: Napavine (WA) vs Columbia (WA)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: on Friday, November 15, 2024.
“2024 Football Washington State Championships – 2B State Football”
Live stream: Watch on NFHS Network

A Breakdown of Columbia and Napavine’s 2024-2025 Basketball Seasons

As the 2024-2025 basketball season progresses, two teams from Washington’s Class 2B league, Columbia and Napavine, have had notably different performances. Columbia enters with a 5-4 record, while Napavine has an impressive 8-2 record. Let’s break down how each team has performed, their scoring dynamics, and what sets them apart as they move forward in the season.

Columbia’s Season in Review

With a balanced overall record of 5-4, Columbia has faced a mix of victories and setbacks this season. Their district performance has been strong, with a 3-1 record in league play, showcasing their dominance at home and competitive play away. Despite their overall winning percentage of .556, which is respectable, the team has struggled on the road with a 1-2 record.

Columbia’s offense has been inconsistent, averaging 24.3 points per game. A closer look at their scoring shows that the team’s strength comes late in the game, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they’ve averaged 21.5 points—over 80% of their overall scoring. Their slow start in the first three quarters, averaging just 7.0 points combined in the first three periods, may be a concern if they can’t find more consistency earlier in games.

Their ability to capitalize in crunch-time moments, though, makes them a team to watch in close games, especially in district matchups. Columbia’s ability to dominate in the district (with a .750 win percentage) has kept them competitive, and they will need to continue this trend to stay in the playoff race.

Napavine’s Strong Start

Napavine has been a powerhouse this season with an 8-2 overall record, including a perfect 5-0 in district play. Their offensive numbers are stellar, averaging 46.3 points per game, which is significantly higher than Columbia’s. A consistent scoring machine, Napavine’s biggest strength lies in their ability to rack up points early, particularly in the first half of games. They average 17.0 points in the first quarter alone, showing a fast start and relentless energy throughout the first two periods, where they score an average of 37.8 points in the first half.

Napavine’s dominance at home (4-0) and strong away performance (4-2) further highlights their balanced capabilities. With a district win percentage of 1.000, Napavine has been nearly untouchable in league play, which sets them apart as one of the favorites to make a deep playoff run.

However, one area for improvement might be their scoring consistency in the second half. While they typically control the first two quarters, their output drops to an average of just 9.8 points in the second half (including 6.3 points in the fourth quarter). This decrease could become a challenge in close games, particularly as they face tougher opponents in the postseason.

Team Comparisons

• Record Breakdown: Columbia’s 5-4 record, though solid, puts them at a disadvantage against Napavine’s dominant 8-2 showing. Columbia has a respectable league record but will need to improve their away performance to remain competitive.
• Scoring Dynamics: Columbia is known for explosive finishes, especially in the fourth quarter. Their ability to rally late in games gives them the potential to challenge top teams in tight matchups. Napavine, on the other hand, shows a more complete offensive game, consistently putting up points early and maintaining a strong offensive rhythm throughout most of the game.
• Home vs. Away: Both teams perform well at home, with Napavine still undefeated in home games and Columbia showing a solid 4-2 home record. Away games have been a challenge for Columbia, while Napavine has been slightly more successful in their away matchups.

Looking Ahead

With their current trajectories, Napavine is poised to remain a top contender in the district, especially with their unbeaten league record. Columbia, while competitive, will need to refine their early-game performance and develop more consistency in their scoring to make a serious push for the playoffs.

Both teams will continue to build momentum as they head into the latter half of the season. The contrasting styles of play between Columbia’s late-game heroics and Napavine’s offensive onslaught will make for an interesting district race. Keep an eye on both teams as the season progresses—Napavine for their dominance and Columbia for their potential upset ability.