
Win big this fall and Wolves (l to r) William Davidson, Zane Oldenstadt, and Logan Downes can close their CHS careers on a big stage. (Michelle Glass photo)
Washington state’s most important high school football games are getting a big stage.
For one year, at least.
After using a mix of sites in recent years, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has signed a one-year deal with the University of Washington.
That puts all six WIAA state title football games at Husky Stadium this fall.
“Gridiron Classic” goes down Dec. 1-2, with three games on both days.
Kickoff is set for 11 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM, with 1B, 1A, and 3A playing Friday, and 2B, 2A, and 4A taking the field Saturday.
For Coupeville fans, Saturday’s opener is the one where they hope to be front and center.
Moving all the title games back to one location is an embrace of the past.
When the Kingdome was still standing, teams aimed for an appearance at “Kingbowl” between 1977 and 1994.
The event moved to the Tacoma Dome in 1995, where it ran under the name “Gridiron Classic” until 2018.
At the time, the WIAA cited “rising costs and sagging attendance” for abandoning the joint.
Though, there was also considerable blowback from fans, coaches, and players after Tacoma Dome renovations wrecked sightlines for football in the building.
The WIAA went to a format of two games each at three Pierce County high schools after that, with tepid response from all concerned.
Now, in a one-year trial, it’s Husky Stadium or bust for championship-hungry gridiron teams.
After that, the WIAA will solicit bids for its next five-year cycle (2024-2028).