Seaside Prepares for Tough Test Against No.8 Tillamook

Seaside High School (3-7-1) hosts Tillamook (5-3-3) on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with the Seagulls seeking a win to strengthen their playoff chances and the Cheesemakers pursuing a Cowapa League title. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PDT in Seaside.

The matchup brings together the state's No. 27 Seagulls and No. 8 Cheesemakers in a rematch of last year's Cowapa League final. Seaside lost the teams' previous meeting 6-0, making defensive improvement central to its chances of reversing that result at home. Tillamook enters after a 3-3 tie against Banks and needs a victory to bolster its league title bid. The Cheesemakers also have a win over No. 4 Valley Catholic.

Containing Cannon Affolter will be a major part of Seaside's defensive challenge. Affolter scored a hat trick and added an assist in the previous meeting, contributing directly to four of Tillamook's six goals. Limiting Affolter's scoring chances without allowing room to create for teammates presents a key tactical test for the Seagulls, who must narrow the gap against an attack that produced six goals against them.

Juan Alanis gives Seaside a returning player to watch as he makes his league debut after dealing with a complication since preseason. The Seagulls have not had a healthy roster since the Bend tournament, where they beat Madras 3-0 and tied 5A Crook Country. Those results provide a reference point for what Seaside produced earlier in the season, while Alanis' return adds another option for the rematch.

Tuesday begins a stretch with little turnaround time between important opponents. After facing Tillamook, Seaside travels to Valley Catholic on Thursday, Oct. 22, for a 7 p.m. PDT match. For the Seagulls, the immediate task is to turn the home rematch into a result that keeps their pursuit of a state playoff berth moving forward.