Prep football forecast: Stilly Cup win would cap Arlington’s year
Published 11:50 pm Thursday, October 30, 2008
By any realistic assessment, it’s been a stellar year for the Arlington High School football team.
All sorts of factors were stacked against Arlington before the season began: The Eagles returned just two starters, moved up in classification from 3A to 4A and were picked by local coaches to finish next-to-last in the always-competitive Western Conference North Division.
For its season-opening game, Arlington suited up just 29 players — a microscopic number compared to most 4A teams. Yet through eight weeks of the season Arlington has a respectable 5-3 record and a chance to make the quad-district playoffs.
Even though the team’s success has thrilled first-year Arlington head coach Greg Dailer, he knows the result of tonight’s Wesco North clash against Stanwood will probably overshadow everything that’s happened so far.
“I kind of get the feeling that it really doesn’t matter a whole lot what you’ve done up until now. You’ve got to win the Stilly Cup,” said Dailer, referring to Arlington’s annual rivalry game against Stanwood. It’s named for the Stillaguamish River Valley that links the two communities. The winner gets a fancy traveling trophy and, of course, the right to gloat for the rest of 2008 and most of 2009.
The Stilly Cup originated in the late 1960s. Arlington leads the all-time series 27-10, based on results printed on the trophy.
Besides hoping to beat its rival, Arlington (2-3 in the Wesco North) has the added motivation of trying to earn a playoff berth. To do that the Eagles must win, and Marysville-Pilchuck and Lake Stevens must defeat Oak Harbor and Snohomish, respectively.
Win or lose, Stanwood will not make the playoffs. In one scenario it would finish tied with Oak Harbor and Snohomish for third in the North. But Snohomish would win the tiebreaker based on its head-to-head victories against Stanwood and Oak Harbor.
The final regular-season games are tonight and there are all sorts of postseason implications. Here’s a glance at the action.
Arlington vs. Stanwood
When/where: 7 p.m. tonight at Stanwood Stadium
Records: Both teams are 2-3 in the Wesco North. Arlington is 5-3 overall; Stanwood is 2-5.
Quick slant: A late-season quarterback change worked well last week for Arlington. Junior QB Andy Smith, taking over for Jake Parduhn, tossed four touchdown passes against Snohomish. Can Smith, the brother of 2005 Herald All-Area Offensive Player of the Year Brett Smith, keep it going? And how’s this for an interesting new wrinkle in the Stilly Cup clash: Stanwood assistant coaches Rennie Leach and Andy Kaminski were Arlington’s defensive coordinator and D-line coach, respectively, last season.
Mike Cane’s pick: Arlington 21-20
John McDonald’s pick: Arlington 31-21
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Stanwood 31-24
Lake Stevens vs. Snohomish
When/where: 7 p.m. tonight at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Records: Lake Stevens is 4-1 in the Wesco North, 6-2 overall. Snohomish is 3-2, 5-3.
Quick slant: Lake Stevens could be without as many as four starters because of academic issues, Vikings coach Tom Tri said Thursday. Although it has already clinched a playoff berth, Lake Stevens needs a win to secure the No. 2 North seed and the chance to host a quad-district game. If Snohomish prevails it will be the North No. 2 seed. But if the Panthers lose they could miss the playoffs.
Mike Cane’s pick: Lake Stevens 35-34
John McDonald’s pick: Lake Stevens 28-27
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Lake Stevens 21-14
Glacier Peak vs. Shorecrest
When/where: 7 p.m. tonight at Shoreline Stadium
Records: Both teams are 2-1 in the Wesco 3A and 4-4 overall.
Quick slant: Usually a reasonable goal for a first-year football program is winning one game, but Glacier Peak is different. Led by first-year coach Rory Rosenbach, the high-scoring Grizzlies — who have no seniors — can clinch a playoff berth and a share of the league title by beating Shorecrest. Glacier Peak has averaged 40 points in its past five games, outscoring foes 200-78.
Mike Cane’s pick: Glacier Peak 35-13
John McDonald’s pick: Glacier Peak 22-15
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Glacier Peak 27-24 OT
Everett vs. Meadowdale
When/where: 8 p.m. tonight at Edmonds District Stadium
Records: Both teams are 2-1 in the Wesco 3A. Everett is 5-3 overall; Meadowdale is 4-3.
Quick slant: Hot-and-cold Meadowdale has been tough to figure out. It owns impressive victories over Edmonds-Woodway and Glacier Peak but has also endured surprising defeats (Mountlake Terrace, Mount Vernon). Can Meadowdale, fueled by running back Naji Moore-Taylor (709 yards rushing and 13 TDs), contain Everett all-purpose performer Jake Frauenholtz, the reigning Washington State U.S. Army High School Player of the Week?
Mike Cane’s pick: Everett 27-21
John McDonald’s pick: Everett 21-20
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Meadowdale 35-18
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Marysville-Pilchuck (5-0, 8-0) at Oak Harbor (2-3, 3-5), 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Shorewood (0-5, 0-8) vs. Edmonds-Woodway (4-1, 6-2) at Edmonds District Stadium, 5 p.m.; Mountlake Terrace (1-4, 3-5) vs. Kamiak (1-4, 1-7) at Goddard Stadium, Cascade (3-2, 4-4) vs. Jackson (5-0, 7-1) at Everett Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Non-conference: Highland Christian (3-4) at Clallam Bay, Mariner (5-3) at Monroe (2-6), Lynnwood (0-8) at Sedro-Woolley (4-4), 7 p.m.
KRKO radio broadcaster Tom Lafferty was 3-1 on his picks last week. Herald Writer Mike Cane and Prep Editor John McDonald were 4-0. Lafferty and Cane are 20-10 for the season. McDonald is 19-11.
