COACHES POLL
The predicted order of finish as voted on by the league’s coaches. Included are total points, with first-place votes in parentheses.
1. Ferndale (6) — 36
2. Squalicum (1) — 29
3. Oak Harbor — 26
4. Arlington — 22
5. Marysville Pilchuck — 15
6. Stanwood — 13
7. Marysville Getchell — 6
NOTE: Coaches weren’t allowed to vote for their own teams.
FAVORITES
Ferndale and Squalicum. The former Northwest Conference powers dominated the Wesco 3A North last fall in their first season as football-only members. Aside from Squalicum’s title-clinching win over Ferndale, the two teams won the rest of their conference games by at least 17 points. Though both teams lost key players, Ferndale and Squalicum each will be eyeing a return trip to the state playoffs. Ferndale appears to be the slight favorite, as defending league champion Squalicum must replace its starting quarterback, two leading receivers and four first-team all-conference defenders.
CONTENDER
Oak Harbor. The Wildcats figure to be right in the mix with Ferndale and Squalicum in the battle for the Wesco 3A North crown. Oak Harbor loses bruising running back Princeton Lollar Jr. — the area’s third-leading rusher last season — and two-way standouts Sam Zook and D’Andre Bellamy, who anchored the offensive line and defense. But after combining for more than 1,400 yards rushing last fall, senior running backs Taeson Hardin and Tamarik Hollins-Passmore will take the reins of Oak Harbor’s Wing-T attack. The speedy duo will look to carry the Wildcats back to the state playoffs after they fell one win short each of the past two seasons.
STORYLINES TO WATCH
Can Oak Harbor claim ever-elusive league title?
The Wildcats have compiled a 27-6 conference record over the past six seasons, but have earned only one league title during that span — when they split the Wesco 3A North crown with Marysville Pilchuck in 2014. Oak Harbor’s primary competition for a championship this fall are Squalicum and Ferndale, a pair of former Northwest Conference powers who handed the Wildcats their only two conference losses last year. Oak Harbor lost those two games by a combined 44 points, falling to the Storm by 27 points and the Golden Eagles by 17. The Wildcats host both Squalicum and Ferndale this fall during a pivotal three-game midseason stretch.
Can Arlington climb into league’s upper echelon?
The Eagles suffered through some growing pains last season after returning just five starters from their 2015 conference-title team. Arlington had three single-digit losses last year, including a one-point loss to Oak Harbor and a four-point loss to Snohomish in a district play-in game. With more experience this fall, the Eagles look to turn some of those narrow defeats into victories and move into the upper echelon of the Wesco 3A North.
Can Squalicum and Ferndale maintain high-powered offenses?
Squalicum and Ferndale each averaged better than 40 points per game last season, but both teams must replace key players on offense. Squalicum lost starting quarterback Garrett Sorensen and leading receivers Ben Peterson and Damek Mitchell from an offense that averaged 50 points per game in conference play. Returning for the Storm is speedy running back Triston Smith, who rushed for 1,418 yards and 19 touchdowns and averaged 11.3 yards per carry. Ferndale graduated stars Ben Broselle and Justice Powell, leaving senior Cole Semu as the lone returnee from last year’s dynamic running-back trio that powered the Golden Eagles and their Wing-T rushing attack to 44 points per game in league play.
Wesco 3A North coaches poll and storylines.
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