It’s run vs. pass in Wesco North football showdown
Published 11:15 pm Thursday, October 9, 2008
Marysville-Pilchuck is perfect. Lake Stevens is one conversion stop from being the same.
Tonight they meet in a classic contest that will go a long way toward deciding the Wesco North football championship.
The two teams come at the showdown from opposite directions. M-P is a T-formation team with a bevy of successful running backs. Lake Stevens runs a spread offense with an over-achieving quarterback and a bevy of successful receivers.
So, it’ll be up to the superior defense to decide the issue.
Here’s a look at the Marysville-Pilchuck at Lake Stevens game and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Marysville-Pilchuck at Lake Stevens
When/where: 7 p.m. tonight at Lake Stevens Stadium
Records: M-P is 3-0 in the Wesco North, 5-0 overall. Lake Stevens is 2-0, 4-1.
Quick slant: M-P running back Austin Denton leads the Wesco North with 897 rushing yards. Lake Stevens quarterback Nick Baker has 1,585 passing yards and the Vikings have the North’s top two receivers in Colton Tupen (466 yards) and Trevor Riecks (449 yards). Lake Stevens’ leading rusher, Bo Dickinson, is doubtful, having missed the past two games with a back injury. He did return to practice this week, however. M-P has seen the spread offense before, managing wins over Arlington and Glacier Peak. But they haven’t seen it engineered by Baker.
Mike Cane’s pick: Lake Stevens 31-23
John McDonald’s pick: M-P 35-34
Tom Lafferty’s pick: M-P 21-20
Ferndale at Everett
When/where: 5 p.m. today at Everett Memorial Stadium
Records: Ferndale is 5-0 and ranked No. 2 in the Class 3A Associated Press state poll. Everett is 4-1.
Quick slant: You’ve got to love being the underdog. This is a can’t-lose situation for the Seagulls. No one expects them to win, so if they do, they pull off the stunning upset. If not, well, it’s a non-league game. They’re still in great position to capture one of the Wesco 3A’s two quad-district playoff berths.
Mike Cane’s pick: Ferndale 28-21
John McDonald’s pick: Ferndale 28-27
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Ferndale 28-14
Mariner at Edmonds-Woodway
When/where: 8 p.m. tonight at Edmonds District Stadium
Records: Mariner is 3-0 in the Wesco South, 4-1 overall. E-W is 1-1, 3-2.
Quick slant: Mariner can pretty much lock up one of the South’s three quad-district playoff berths by handing E-W a second division loss. E-W has the division’s top three offensive performers in RB Tony Heard, QB Andy Willcock and WR Din Kuses. Mariner has three similar threats in RB Adrien Black, QB AJ VanWieringen and WR Tevin Dillon.
Mike Cane’s pick: Mariner 29-27
John McDonald’s pick: Mariner 21-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Mariner 35-10
Jackson at Kamiak
When/where: 7 p.m. tonight at Goddard Stadium
Records: Jackson is 2-0 in the Wesco South, 4-1 overall. Kamiak is 1-2, 1-4.
Quick slant: Jackson has eked out a last-minute victory and an overtime win in the past two weeks. Kamiak, a perennial playoff team, is in danger of seeing its season end after 10 games for the first time in a long time. But it’s not too late for the Knights to turn things around. A win would make them 2-2 in conference and give them a chance to extend their season.
Mike Cane’s pick: Jackson 35-21
John McDonald’s pick: Jackson 27-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Kamiak 35-28
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Monroe (0-3, 2-3) at Arlington (0-2, 3-2), Oak Harbor (1-1, 2-3) at Stanwood (1-2, 1-3), 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Mountlake Terrace (0-2, 2-3) vs. Shorewood (0-3, 0-5), 7 p.m. at Shoreline Stadium.
Wesco 3A: Shorecrest (0-0, 2-3) vs. Meadowdale (1-0, 3-1), 5 p.m. at Edmonds District Stadium; Lynnwood (0-1, 0-5) vs. Glacier Peak (0-1, 1-4), 7 p.m. at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Cascade Conference: Lakewood (1-2, 1-4) at Archbishop Murphy (3-0, 5-0), Cedarcrest (2-1, 3-2) at Granite Falls (2-1, 3-2), Coupeville (0-3, 0-5) at Sultan (0-3, 0-5), King’s (1-2, 3-2) at South Whidbey (3-0, 5-0), 7 p.m.
Northwest 2B: Orcas Island (0-1, 2-3) at Darrington (1-0, 4-1), 4 p.m.
Pacific Coast League: Neah Bay at Highland Christian (1-1, 2-2), 7 p.m.
Non-conference: Snohomish (3-2) vs. Cascade (3-2), 8 p.m. at Everett Memorial Stadium.
All three prognosticators were 3-1 on their picks last week. KRKO radio broadcaster Tom Lafferty and Herald Writer Mike Cane are 12-7 for the season. Herald Prep Editor John McDonald is 10-9.
