Archbishop Murphy and Lakewood are off to two very different starts to the 2015 football season. The Wildcats are 2-0 and have outscored opponents 94-0 in their first two games. The Cougars are 0-2 and have been outscored 67-6.
As lopsided as things have been one way or the other so far, tonight’s game between the Wildcats and the Cougars figures to be anything but. Lakewood and Archbishop Murphy is the marquee game of the first night of the Cascade Conference schedule.
“This is the first week of championship football,” Archbishop Murphy head coach Jerry Jensen said. “This week it just happens to be Lakewood, so we’re focusing on Lakewood.”
After a rough start, Lakewood is focused on Lakewood, too.
“At this point, all we can really do is worry about ourselves,” Cougars head coach Dan Teeter said. “(We) watch plenty of film and look at the mistakes we’ve been having — and there has been plenty of them. We’ve been playing a lot of kids that haven’t had a lot of varsity experience. That’s part of losing 22 seniors from last year. We expected our first couple of games that we’re going to make mistakes and we certainly did, but we expect to improve a lot. We look at that as our preseason and this week our regular season begins.”
A year ago, the two teams entered their week three matchup in a similar position. Archbishop Murphy was coming off two impressive wins over Garfield and Kingston to start the season, while Lakewood was 0-2 after losses to Liberty and Lynden. The Cougars bounced back from the sluggish start to defeat the Wildcats 18-17 in a game that ultimately decided the No. 1 seed among 2A teams in the Cascade Conference.
Tonight’s game could have similar implications. Should the winner go on to secure the No. 1 2A seed as it did a year ago, it will have a more favorable matchup when the teams crossover to face Northwest Conference in the first week of the playoffs.
“Crossing over with the Northwest Conference is a difficult thing to do regardless and unless you’re the number one seed, you’ve got a really tough path,” Jensen said. “This game is vital in our chances regardless of conference (finish) with King’s being 1A. This is really the first championship game for us at the 2A level and it has huge playoff implications.”
Lakewood’s victory over Archbishop Murphy last season was their fourth in as many years, something the Wildcats are well aware of going into this year’s game.
“They were in the same spot last year coming into our game,” Jensen said. “(Lakewood head coach Dan) Teeter is going to have some wrinkles to personnel and some wrinkles to what they do, but ultimately they’re going to try to play physical football and we have to match their level on intensity and physicality.”
Games of the week
Archbishop Murphy at Lakewood
Where: Lakewood H.S.
When: 7 p.m.
Key Players: Archbishop Murphy – Anfernee Gurley, jr., RB/DB; Kerry Jackson, sr., RB/LB; Jesus Echevarria, jr., OL/DL; Jackson Yost, jr., OL/DL; Ben Hines, soph., RB/LB; Kyler Gordon, soph., WR/DB. Lakewood – Jordan Jira, sr., OL/DL; Sean Renfro, sr., OL/DL; Billy Main, jr., OL/DL; Bobak Hejazi, jr., HB/LB; David Le, jr., WR/KR/DB; Tyler Courtney, sr., RB/LB; Billy Main, jr., OL/DL; Sean Dawson, sr., RB/QB/LB.
Records: Archbishop Murphy 2-0. Lakewood 0-2.
Twitter: @heraldnetpreps
What you need to know: It’s the first league game for both teams, but will likely have major implications as to how the Cascade Conference plays out. Lakewood has the previous four meetings between the two teams.
Herald Pick: Archbishop Murphy
Mariner at Kamiak
Where: Goddard Stadium
When: 7 p.m.
Key Players: Mariner – Anthany Smith, jr., RB/DB; DeRhaun Mallett, sr., OL/DL; Brinder Kaile, sr., RB/DB. Kamiak – Donte Hamilton, sr., WR/DB; Taylor Heck, sr., WR/DB; Will Jones, sr., OL/LB; Matt Morton, sr., OL/DL; Nate Shubert, sr., WR/DB; Brock Merkley, sr., WR/DB; Connor Alexander, sr., QB/DB; Josh Binda, jr., RB/DB; Alex Indelicato, jr., RB/DB.
Records: Mariner 0-2. Kamiak 1-1.
Twitter: @krueger_david
What you need to know: Mariner first-year head coach Mark Stewart looks to pick up his first win of the season in the annual rivalry game between the two Mukilteo School District schools.
Herald Pick: Kamiak
Monroe at Snohomish
Where: Snohomish H.S.
When: 7 p.m.
Key Players: Monroe – Aiden Cain, sr., OL/DL; Dillon Fargo, sr., LB; JJ Jerome, jr., RB/OLB; Zach Zimmerman, jr., QB. Snohomish – Kobe McDaniel, sr., QB; Peyton Plucker, sr., Slot/LB; Josh Johnston, jr., WR/FS; Keegan Stich, soph., RB/LB; Wyatt Gardner, sr., OL/DL.
Records: Monroe 2-0. Snohomish 0-2.
Twitter: @heraldnetpreps
Webcast: www.stspn.com
Radio: KXA 1520
What you need to know: The Panthers are looking for their first win of the season against a Monroe team that has dominated its first two opponents under first-year head coach Michael Bumpus.
Herald Pick: Monroe
Meadowdale at Edmonds-Woodway
Where: Edmonds-Woodway H.S.
When: 5 p.m.
Key Players: Meadowdale – Tyler Ruby, sr., LB; C.J. Lewis, sr., OL/DL; Tyree Carson, sr., RB/DB; Kela Marshall, jr., RB/OLB; Drew Tingstad, jr., QB. Edmonds-Woodway – Spencer Schultz, sr., ILB; Isaac Jackson, sr., QB; Ali Gaye, jr., TE/DE; Tyler Rheinford, sr., RB/OLB; Logan Lambert, sr., OL/ILB; Abdoulie Jatta, jr., RB/DB.
Records: Meadowdale 0-2. Edmonds-Woodway 1-1.
Twitter: @aaronlommers
Webcast: www.soundlivesportsnetwork.com
What you need to know: The defending Wesco 3A South champion Mavericks look to avoid an 0-2 start to their league schedule against the Warriors.
Herald Pick: Edmonds-Woodway
O’Dea at Marysville Pilchuck
Where: Marysville Pilchuck H.S.
When: 7 p.m.
Key Players: O’Dea – Nathan West, sr., QB; Hunter Franco, Jr., RB/SS; Quinton Lewis, jr., WR/DB; Matt Malloy, sr., QB/S. Marysville Pilchuck – Erik Lind, sr., QB; Sam Watson, sr., OL; Tyler McDonald, sr., TE/LB; Daryl Cerdino, sr., RB/LB; Dylen Boomer, sr., LB/DB.
Records: O’Dea 2-0. Marysville Pilchuck 1-1.
Twitter: @heraldnetpreps
Radio: KRKO 1380
What you need to know: For the second straight season the Fighting Irish and Tomahawks meet in a matchup of two of the top 10 ranked teams in the Associated Press poll. O’Dea comes into the game ranked second, while Marysville Pilchuck is ranked ninth.
Herald Pick: O’Dea
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