Kyle Chen and the Mountain View Thunder will be focused on taking on Prairie this week in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League. Mountain View and Prairie both lost league games last week. Photo by Mike Schultz

Thunder and Falcons play each other in crucial 3A GSHL battle

The Mountain View Thunder and Prairie Falcons have to feel like they are in survival mode.

They take on each other tonight in Battle Ground in a key Class 3A Greater St. Helens League game.

Both teams are 0-1 in league play, and it is expected that only two teams from the league will qualify for the playoffs.

Mountain View got to the 3-yard line in the closing seconds last week before a turnover doomed the Thunder against Evergreen in a six-point loss. Prairie, meanwhile, took Kelso down to the wire, as well, before falling 28-20.

The 2A GSHL continues its league play. First-place Washougal stands alone at 3-0 in league after taking down defending champion Ridgefield last week. This week, Washougal returns home to face Hudson’s Bay. Still plenty of football left in this league, but the Panthers are looking for a 4-0 league start.

In non-league games, an interesting matchup at McKenzie Stadium tonight with Evergreen hosting Camas. Interesting? Yes, it is. Not too many expected it to be a game of interest going into the season. Camas is the powerhouse 4A program for most of the last decade or so. Camas’ schedule has been crazy tough and the Papermakers are 2-3 overall. Evergreen, meanwhile, jumped out to a 5-0 start.

Not too many expect Evergreen to win this game, but that 5-0 mark demands attention.

Camas, even at 2-3, remains ranked in the top 10 in Class 4A by Cascadia Preps — based on the tough schedule. Evergreen is an honorable mention in the Class 3A rankings.

Skyview, meanwhile, is at No. 10 in the 4A rankings. The Storm host Kentwood at Kiggins Bowl on Friday.

Stanwood is ranked No. 7 in the 3A rankings and will take on Union at McKenzie Stadium.

Another intriguing non-league game this week is Saturday when La Center goes on the road to face Mount Baker. La Center is No. 10 in the weekly 1A rankings. Mount Baker is listed first as honorable mention.

Here is the region’s schedule for Week 6 of the high school football season:

Friday games

Camas vs. Evergreen, 4:30 p.m. at McKenzie Stadium
Stanwood vs. Union, 7 p.m. (or 20 minutes after first game) at McKenzie Stadium
Kentwood vs. Skyview, 7 p.m. at Kiggins Bowl
Heritage at Kelso, 7 p.m.
Mountain View vs. Prairie, 7 p.m. at District Stadium
Ridgefield vs. Mark Morris, 7 p.m. at Longview Memorial Stadium
Hudson’s Bay at Washougal, 7 p.m.
Hockinson at Columbia River, 7 p.m.
R.A. Long at Woodland, 7 p.m.
Seton Catholic at Castle Rock, 7 p.m.
King’s Way Christian at White Salmon, 7 p.m.