Published: Friday, November 13, 2009
FOOTBALL FORECAST: Battle of unbeatens highlights first week of state-playoff action
Sportswriters love it when teams like Marysville-Pilchuck and Auburn meet. Rarely does the ball leave the quarterback's hand except when it's thrust into the grip of a running back.
There are few of those annoying, game-delaying incompletions. The clock runs. Deadline is met.
Of course, all such contests are decided at the line of scrimmage. The superior offensive line carries the day. Those speedster running backs aren't going anywhere if they can't get through or around the line.
M-P's line has been a cohesive group so far this season. Now, we'll see if it can handle third-ranked Auburn.
Here's a look at tonight's game and the rest of this week's playoff schedule:
Marysville-Pilchuck vs. Auburn
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Auburn Memorial Stadium
Records: Both teams are 10-0.
Last week: Despite losing leading rusher Chris Young to a suspension, Auburn rolled over Kamiak 42-7 in a 4A Quad-district playoff game. RB Austin Embody had a career-high 220 yards rushing and scored four TDs. Alphonse Wade ran for 148 yards and two TDs.
Eighth-ranked M-P amassed 389 rushing yards on 44 carries in a 49-24 Quad-district victory over Graham-Kapowsin. But M-P's top rusher, Austin Denton, who has run for more than 2,000 yards this season, injured an ankle.
On paper: Auburn has a solid reputation as a state playoff performer. Last season, while making its third straight state appearance, it lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Skyline. M-P not so much. Last year, the Tomahawks lost to Issaquah in their first postseason game. They got over the qualifying hump this year, but are making their first state appearance since 1989.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Auburn 28-21. Mike Cane picks Auburn 28-21. Tom Lafferty picks Auburn 24-22.
Issaquah vs. Jackson
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Records: Issaquah is 7-3, Jackson 10-0.
Last week: RB Grant Gellatly rushed for 150 yards and five TDs to lead Issaquah to a 42-10 4A Quad-district playoff win over Kentwood.
Taylor Mead ran for two TDs, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and returned an interception to the 1, setting up a TD plunge by Riley Carr in Jackson's 38-15 Quad-district victory over Eastlake.
On paper: Issaquah reached the state final last season, knocking off M-P en route to a 20-15 championship game loss to Skyline. Jackson couldn't get past the first round, losing to Ferris 24-7. But the fourth-ranked Timberwolves are in ascendancy while Issaquah may not be quite as good as it was last year.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Jackson 35-21. Mike Cane picks Issaquah 28-27. Tom Lafferty picks Jackson 14-7.
Columbia River vs. Meadowdale
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Edmonds Stadium
Records: Columbia River is 5-5, Meadowdale 10-0.
Last week: Columbia River QB Neil Daly threw for two TDs and ran for two more — all in the first quarter of a 41-18 3A Quad-district playoff win over Nathan Hale.
QB Danny McDonald was 17-for-24 for 237 yards and four TDs in Meadowdale's 45-20 Quad-district victory over Renton.
On paper: Both of these teams are perennial playoff squads. Columbia River has advanced eight of the past 11 years, reaching the quarterfinals last season. Meadowdale is making its third straight state appearance. The Mavericks lost in the first round last season to Capital. Perhaps the difference is Meadowdale is playing at home.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Meadowdale 28-27. Mike Cane picks Meadowdale 31-20. Tom Lafferty picks Meadowdale 28-10.
Glacier Peak vs. Timberline
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: South Sound Stadium
Records: Glacier Peak 8-2, Timberline 10-0.
Last week: RB Jordan Radcliffe rushed for 209 yards and Quinton Sison intercepted Kennedy Catholic QB Jason Thompson three times to lead Timberline to a 51-24 3A Quad-district playoff win.
Glacier Peak stopped Peninsula's two-point conversion try in the second overtime to preserve a 49-48 Quad-district victory. QB Zach Richter threw for 454 yards and six TDs.
On paper: Glacier Peak, in just its second year of existence, is making its first state playoff appearance. Timberline has been there seven times in 11 years, including last year when it lost in the first round to Union. The Grizzlies have won some thrillers, like last week's double-overtime victory. But their defense allows far too many points to have much success at the state level.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Timberline 45-42. Mike Cane picks Timberline 42-35. Tom Lafferty picks Timberline 42-21.
R.A. Long vs. Archbishop Murphy
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Goddard Stadium
Records: R.A. Long is 8-2, Murphy 9-1.
Last week: R.A. Long QB William Yordy threw a 38-yard TD pass to Dylan Hopkins with 3:21 to play to pull out a 16-14 3A Quad-district playoff win over Tumwater. It was the first playoff win in program history and R.A. Long will be making its first-ever state playoff appearance.
Seven backs combined for 369 rushing yards on 46 carries and the Murphy defense intercepted two passes and forced five punts in a 28-0 district playoff win over Mount Baker.
On paper: Murphy got to the semifinals last year and has been to 2A state five of the past six seasons. It took forfeitures for the use of an ineligible player to boot the Wildcats out of the tournament in 2007. They should go deep again.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Murphy 26-12. Mike Cane picks Murphy 27-14. Tom Lafferty picks Murphy 21-14.
Saturday's game
1A state playoff: Onalaska (9-1) at King's (7-3), 7 p.m.
Herald Prep Writer Mike Cane and KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty were 6-0 last week. Herald Prep Editor John McDonald was 5-1. Cane and Lafferty are 30-9 this season. McDonald is 29-10.
There are few of those annoying, game-delaying incompletions. The clock runs. Deadline is met.
Of course, all such contests are decided at the line of scrimmage. The superior offensive line carries the day. Those speedster running backs aren't going anywhere if they can't get through or around the line.
M-P's line has been a cohesive group so far this season. Now, we'll see if it can handle third-ranked Auburn.
Here's a look at tonight's game and the rest of this week's playoff schedule:
Marysville-Pilchuck vs. Auburn
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Auburn Memorial Stadium
Records: Both teams are 10-0.
Last week: Despite losing leading rusher Chris Young to a suspension, Auburn rolled over Kamiak 42-7 in a 4A Quad-district playoff game. RB Austin Embody had a career-high 220 yards rushing and scored four TDs. Alphonse Wade ran for 148 yards and two TDs.
Eighth-ranked M-P amassed 389 rushing yards on 44 carries in a 49-24 Quad-district victory over Graham-Kapowsin. But M-P's top rusher, Austin Denton, who has run for more than 2,000 yards this season, injured an ankle.
On paper: Auburn has a solid reputation as a state playoff performer. Last season, while making its third straight state appearance, it lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Skyline. M-P not so much. Last year, the Tomahawks lost to Issaquah in their first postseason game. They got over the qualifying hump this year, but are making their first state appearance since 1989.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Auburn 28-21. Mike Cane picks Auburn 28-21. Tom Lafferty picks Auburn 24-22.
Issaquah vs. Jackson
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Records: Issaquah is 7-3, Jackson 10-0.
Last week: RB Grant Gellatly rushed for 150 yards and five TDs to lead Issaquah to a 42-10 4A Quad-district playoff win over Kentwood.
Taylor Mead ran for two TDs, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and returned an interception to the 1, setting up a TD plunge by Riley Carr in Jackson's 38-15 Quad-district victory over Eastlake.
On paper: Issaquah reached the state final last season, knocking off M-P en route to a 20-15 championship game loss to Skyline. Jackson couldn't get past the first round, losing to Ferris 24-7. But the fourth-ranked Timberwolves are in ascendancy while Issaquah may not be quite as good as it was last year.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Jackson 35-21. Mike Cane picks Issaquah 28-27. Tom Lafferty picks Jackson 14-7.
Columbia River vs. Meadowdale
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Edmonds Stadium
Records: Columbia River is 5-5, Meadowdale 10-0.
Last week: Columbia River QB Neil Daly threw for two TDs and ran for two more — all in the first quarter of a 41-18 3A Quad-district playoff win over Nathan Hale.
QB Danny McDonald was 17-for-24 for 237 yards and four TDs in Meadowdale's 45-20 Quad-district victory over Renton.
On paper: Both of these teams are perennial playoff squads. Columbia River has advanced eight of the past 11 years, reaching the quarterfinals last season. Meadowdale is making its third straight state appearance. The Mavericks lost in the first round last season to Capital. Perhaps the difference is Meadowdale is playing at home.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Meadowdale 28-27. Mike Cane picks Meadowdale 31-20. Tom Lafferty picks Meadowdale 28-10.
Glacier Peak vs. Timberline
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: South Sound Stadium
Records: Glacier Peak 8-2, Timberline 10-0.
Last week: RB Jordan Radcliffe rushed for 209 yards and Quinton Sison intercepted Kennedy Catholic QB Jason Thompson three times to lead Timberline to a 51-24 3A Quad-district playoff win.
Glacier Peak stopped Peninsula's two-point conversion try in the second overtime to preserve a 49-48 Quad-district victory. QB Zach Richter threw for 454 yards and six TDs.
On paper: Glacier Peak, in just its second year of existence, is making its first state playoff appearance. Timberline has been there seven times in 11 years, including last year when it lost in the first round to Union. The Grizzlies have won some thrillers, like last week's double-overtime victory. But their defense allows far too many points to have much success at the state level.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Timberline 45-42. Mike Cane picks Timberline 42-35. Tom Lafferty picks Timberline 42-21.
R.A. Long vs. Archbishop Murphy
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Goddard Stadium
Records: R.A. Long is 8-2, Murphy 9-1.
Last week: R.A. Long QB William Yordy threw a 38-yard TD pass to Dylan Hopkins with 3:21 to play to pull out a 16-14 3A Quad-district playoff win over Tumwater. It was the first playoff win in program history and R.A. Long will be making its first-ever state playoff appearance.
Seven backs combined for 369 rushing yards on 46 carries and the Murphy defense intercepted two passes and forced five punts in a 28-0 district playoff win over Mount Baker.
On paper: Murphy got to the semifinals last year and has been to 2A state five of the past six seasons. It took forfeitures for the use of an ineligible player to boot the Wildcats out of the tournament in 2007. They should go deep again.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Murphy 26-12. Mike Cane picks Murphy 27-14. Tom Lafferty picks Murphy 21-14.
Saturday's game
1A state playoff: Onalaska (9-1) at King's (7-3), 7 p.m.
Herald Prep Writer Mike Cane and KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty were 6-0 last week. Herald Prep Editor John McDonald was 5-1. Cane and Lafferty are 30-9 this season. McDonald is 29-10.
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