PREP FOOTBALL FORECAST: How good are Hawks? Answer comes tonight

Published 11:34 pm Thursday, September 17, 2009

Are we looking at the rise of a new football power in the Wesco South?

Tonight’s Meadowdale-Mountlake Terrace contest will provide an answer.

Terrace, which has never reached the state playoffs and hasn’t had a winning record in … well, as long as I can remember, is 2-0 after two weeks. The Hawks have been here before and finished 2-7.

The Hawks came close to .500 last season at 4-6, but this year has a different feel. When you beat Mariner, which reached the postseason three straight seasons, people take notice.

I’m sure Meadowdale, also 2-0, is paying attention, especially after losing to Terrace in overtime last year.

The Class 3A Mavericks are also a perennial power, having reached the state playoffs each of the past two seasons. If Terrace can make a statement by beating Meadowdale again, we’ll know it has reached a new level of success.

Here’s a look at that game and the rest of the weekend schedule:

Meadowdale at Mountlake Terrace

When: 8 tonight

Where: Edmonds Stadium

Records: Both teams are 2-0.

Last year: The Hawks came from 10 points behind to tie the score in regulation and Casey Ellersick ran 18 yards for a TD in Terrace’s 23-17 overtime victory.

Last week: Meadowdale RB Naji Moore-Taylor carried 20 times for 106 yards and three TDs in a 34-14 win over Stanwood.

Ellersick scored on a 26-yard run with 32 seconds to play in a 28-21 win over Mariner.

Players to watch: Moore-Taylor leads all Wesco 3A rushers with 285 yards.

Ellersick is the No. 2 rusher in the Wesco South with 239 yards.

On paper: Two of the area’s top rushers are in the game, but both teams have solid passing games as well. Terrace QB Brandyn Eckhart (10-for-17, 199 yards) and Meadowdale’s Danny McDonald (19-for-37, 329) could both have an impact. It could come down to the last play.

Predictions: John McDonald picks Meadowdale 22-21. Mike Cane picks Meadowdale 23-21. Tom Lafferty picks Meadowdale 14-7.

Arlington at Jackson

When: 7 tonight

Where: Everett Memorial Stadium

Records: Arlington is 1-1. Jackson is 2-0.

Last year: QB Jake Parduhn passed for three TDs and rushed for 261 yards to lead Arlington to a 28-22 win.

Last week: Parduhn, now a running back, ran for 104 yards and three TDs in a 61-0 victory over Lynnwood.

RB Riley Carr ran for three TDs and returned an interception for a TD to lead Jackson to a 61-14 win over Shorewood.

Players to watch: Arlington QB Andy Smith leads the Wesco North in passing with 515 yards.

Jackson QB Andy Gay leads the Wesco South in passing with 387 yards.

On paper: This could be a high-scoring affair. Arlington scored 51 points in its Week 1 loss to Glacier Peak to go with its 61 last week. Jackson scored 35 in its Week 1 win over Stanwood to go with last week’s 61.

Predictions: John McDonald picks Jackson 48-45. Mike Cane picks Jackson 28-22. Tom Lafferty picks Jackson 21-10.

South Whidbey at Lakewood

When: 7 tonight

Where: Lakewood H.S.

Records: South Whidbey is 1-1 overall. Lakewood is 2-0.

Last year: RB Henry Mead ran for 294 yards and a TD to lead South Whidbey to a 42-21 win.

Last week: South Whidbey RB Henry Mead scored on a 57-yard run and caught a 66-yard TD pass from QB Hunter Rawls in a 32-21 loss to Mount Vernon.

QB Justin Lane was 14-for-22 for 233 yards and two TDs to lead Lakewood to a 38-21 win over Lynden Christian.

Players to watch: Lane leads the Cascade Conference in passing with 515 yards.

On paper: Mead prevailed last year. This year it’s Lane’s turn to win.

Predictions: John McDonald picks Lakewood 26-20. Mike Cane picks Lakewood 21-14. Tom Lafferty picks South Whidbey 14-6.

Glacier Peak vs. Miramonte

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: Seattle Memorial Stadium

Records: Both teams are 2-0.

Last week: QB Zach Richter was 18-for-37 for 307 yards and three TDs to lead Glacier Peak to a 27-10 win over Lake Stevens.

Miramonte starting QB Brett Collins was 6-for-13 for 106 yards and a TD, and backup QB Ross Anderson ran for 88 yards and threw for 57 in a 42-0 win over San Marin.

Player to watch: Richter leads all area QBs with 640 passing yards.

On paper: The San Francisco Bay-area power put a lot of pressure on San Marin QB Ryan Zirkle last week. He completed just two passes, was intercepted once and sacked once. The Matadors have to be looking to pressure Richter as well. But that’s the beauty of GP’s spread offense: Richter isn’t taking long to release the ball. And Miramonte may have trouble covering GP’s bevy of talented receivers (four with 100 or more yards receiving).

Predictions: John McDonald picks Glacier Peak 21-14. Mike Cane picks Glacier Peak 27-21. Tom Lafferty picks Miramonte 34-28.

Other games tonight

Wesco South: Kamiak (1-0, 1-1) vs. Shorewood (0-1, 0-2) at Shoreline Stadium, Cascade (0-1, 1-1) at Mariner (0-1, 0-2) (KRKO radio, 1380 AM), 7 p.m.

Wesco North: Lake Stevens (0-0, 1-1) at Stanwood (0-0, 0-2), 7 p.m.

Cascade Conference: Coupeville (0-0, 2-0) at King’s (0-0, 1-1), Cedarcrest (0-0, 2-0) at Sultan (0-0, 1-1), Archbishop Murphy (0-0, 1-1) at Granite Falls (0-0, 1-1), 7 p.m.

Non-conference: Edmonds-Woodway (0-2) vs. Lynnwood (0-2) at Edmonds Stadium, 5 p.m.; Skyview (1-1) at Marysville-Pilchuck (2-0), Monroe (2-0) at Sedro-Woolley (1-1), Everett (2-0) at Oak Harbor (0-2), Shorecrest (0-2) at Snohomish (1-1), 7 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Non-conference: Cedar Park Christian (1-1) at Darrington (2-0), Highland Christian (0-1) at Wishkah Valley (0-2), 1 p.m.

Herald Prep Writer Mike Cane and Prep Editor John McDonald were 1-2 last week KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty was 0-3. Cane is 3-4 for the season. McDonald and Lafferty are 2-5.