M-P seeks change of fortune

  • By John McDonald / Herald Columnist
  • Thursday, September 9, 2004 9:00pm
  • Local News

One team is looking to reverse the early-season misfortunes that may have cost it a trip to the postseason last year.

The other, stung by an opening game upset, is looking to avoid an 0-2 start which might doom its postseason hopes for this year.

Marysville-Pilchuck, 0-3 to start a 5-5 season last year, won its opener at home against Cascade last week. But this week, the Tomahawks must tangle with a pack of angry Panthers when they visit Snohomish. The two-time defending Wesco North co-champions were slapped on the snout last week at Arlington.

M-P might be better off going into the game if Snohomish had won instead.

“There’s nothing we can do about that,” M-P coach Rudy Grandbois said.

The two teams have traditionally met later in the season, often in the last game of the year. But, whenever they’ve met, the Tommies haven’t had much success.

“I hope that first win instilled some confidence,” Grandbois said. “If things go right early Friday (today), maybe there’ll be some carryover.”

It’s too early in the season to call it a must-win game for Snohomish, but coach Mark Perry knows how damaging a second league loss at this point would be.

“In 1996 we lost our opener 40-6 to Cascade and went on to win eight in a row, so it’s not impossible,” Perry said. “But if we lose another game, we’re in trouble. Every game now is huge.”

Here’s a look at the M-P vs. Snohomish game and the rest of the week two schedule:

Marysville-Pilchuck at Snohomish

Kickoff: 7 tonight at Snohomish H.S.

Records: M-P is 1-0 in league and overall. Snohomish is 0-1.

Radio: KRKO (1380 AM) tape delayed at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Last year: Snohomish quarterback Jefff Rodland directed two fourth-quarter scoring drives as the Panthers came from behind to post a 16-13 win. Rodland threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Reinhard with seven seconds remaining for the game-winner. The loss snapped a four-game M-P winning streak. On the winning drive, Rodland completed six of seven passes. His only incompletion came when he spiked the ball to stop the clock.

Players to watch: M-P running back Marquise Moses carried 25 times for 145 yards and two TDs and had an 80-yard punt return in last week’s 13-7 win over Cascade. Led by linemen Darren Fallon (one fumble recovery) and Denis Moynihan (one sack causing a fumble), the Tommies’ defense held Cascade to 148 yards, most of that coming on a 75-yard TD run, and had seven tackles for lost yardage.

Snohomish back Casey Fortin, the North’s rushing leader last season, gained 144 yards in last week’s 19-14 loss to Arlington.

Breaking down the game: Last week Snohomish gave up a TD on the opening kickoff and squandered away three scoring opportunities on lost fumbles inside the Arlington 5-yard line.

“We made mistakes we can’t afford to make – fumbles, missed tackles, bad decisions,” Perry said.

And this week the Panthers face a team which, in Perry’s words, “controlled the line of scrimmage against Cascade.”

“The defensive line played well, the linebackers filled well, they worked together,” Granbois said. “If we don’t try to do too much, we’ll be fine. But we’ve got to stay home or we’ll get burned.”

One thing that concerns Grandbois is the number of times Snohomish threw the ball against Arlington.

“They have confidence in (quarterback Nick Caraballo),” Granbois said. “It was shocking to watch Snohomish throw that many times.”

Little-known fact: M-P is trying to win at Snohomish for the first time since 1989.

Pick: Snohomish 24-13.

Stanwood at Lake Stevens

Kickoff: 7 tonight at Lake Stevens H.S.

Records: Both teams are 1-0 in league and overall.

Last year: Stanwood running back/placekicker Jon Rockstad kicked a 21-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the Spartans a 17-14 win. Rockstad also scored on a 2-yard run, caught a 20-yard TD pass and kicked both extra points to account for all 17 Stanwood points.

Players to watch: Rockstad carried 14 times for 197 yards and scored three TDs in a 27-7 win over Monroe last week.

Lake Stevens quarterback Ricky Bargreen threw for 98 yards and a TD as the Vikings scored 10 unanswered second-half points to beat Mount Vernon 17-14.

Breaking down the game: Stop Rockstad and you stop Stanwood – not!

“Rockstad and (Darin) Schwarze, you’ve got to stop them both,” Lake Stevens coach Ken Collins said.

Stanwood runs out of the wishbone and will pound the middle and attack the corners on sweeps.

“Their tendencies are by formation,” Collins said. “We have to recognize and be in the right place at the right time.”

Lake Stevens hopes to run the ball itself, at least better than it did against Mount Vernon.

“We need to sustain blocks at the line of scrimmage,” Collins said. “We have one returning starter on the offensive line and he was a sophomore last year.”

Stanwood coach Dick Abrams was impressed by the Vikings’ passing game, though.

“They’re a solid team. They’ve got good skill people. The tight end (Josh Rojas) and quarterback are real good athletes,” he said.

Little-known fact: Rockstad accounted for 21 of Stanwood’s 27 points last week.

Pick: Stanwood 21-7.

Kamiak at Jackson

Kickoff: 5 tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Records: Both teams are 1-0 in league and overall.

Last year: Jackson’s Johnie Kirton had his fourth-straight, 200-plus yard running game, rushing for 247 yards as the Timberwolves handed Kamiak its first loss of the season, 23-13. Jackson quarterback Chris Bowen threw two TD passes to Richie Tri, who also had a pass interception. Kamiak was held to 73 yards rushing, but stayed in the game thanks to 202 passing yards by Gary Rogers.

Players to watch: Kirton has moved on to the University of Washington, but Bowen and Tri are both back. Bowen threw two TD passes in a 30-10 victory over Shorewood last week, including a 70-yarder to Tri.

Rogers has moved on to Washington State, but Mark Iddins, Rogers’ replacement, was 26-for-35 for 270 yards and threw a game-winning 19-yard TD pass to Rebel Hall with one minute to play in last week’s 11-7 win over Meadowdale. Hall caught 10 passes for 119 yards. Chris Munoz blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety to set up Kamiak’s game-winning drive.

Breaking down the game: Jackson coach Joel Vincent said his defense is preparing for as many as 30 passes.

“That quarterback can flat throw,” Vincent said.

And he has a variety of targets.

And Kamiak has a pretty good running back in Tony Virata.

“Not a lot of teams in our league have had success against Kamiak,” Vincent said. “We’ve beaten them two of the last three years, but everyone points to Kamiak as the top dog.

“They take to the field expecting to win and they believe if they get the ball last with a chance to win it, they’re going to do it.”

Without Kirton, Jackson is trying to field a more balanced attack. The offense lost four fumbles against Shorewood. But the defense came to the rescue.

“Three of the four were in our end and we held them to 10 points,” Vincent said.

Little-known fact: Rogers set a school record with 39 attempts in last year’s game. Iddins might break it this time around.

Pick: Kamiak 14-13.

Other games tonight

Wesco North: Arlington (1-0, 1-0) vs. Monroe (0-1, 0-1) at Monroe Stadium, 7 p.m.; Oak Harbor (0-0, 0-1) vs. Cascade (0-1, 0-1) at Everett Memorial Stadium, 8 p.m.

Wesco South: Lynnwood (0-1, 0-1) vs. Edmonds-Woodway (1-0, 1-0) at Edmonds Stadium, 5 p.m.; Everett (1-0, 1-0) vs. Mariner (1-0, 1-0) at Goddard Stadium; Shorewood (0-1, 0-1) vs. Shorecrest (0-1, 0-1) at Shoreline Stadium, 7 p.m.; Mountlake Terrace (0-1, 0-1) vs. Meadowdale (0-1, 0-1) at Edmonds Stadium, 8 p.m.

Non-conference: King’s (0-0) at Cascade-Leavenworth (0-1), Cascade Christian (0-1) at Concrete (1-0), Granite Falls (1-0) at Coupeville (0-1), Burlington-Edison (0-1) at Mount Vernon (0-1), Squalicum (0-1) at Lakewood (1-0), South Whidbey (0-1) at Sedro-Woolley (0-1), Sultan (1-0) at Cashmere (1-0), Cedar Park Christian (1-0) at Christian Faith (0-1), Life Christian (1-0) at Charles Wright (1-0), 7 p.m.; Forks (0-1) at La Conner (0-0), 7:30 p.m.

Games Saturday

Non-conference: Cedarcrest (1-0) at Mount Si (1-0), Tacoma Baptist (1-0) at Orcas Island (0-1), 1 p.m.; Friday Harbor (0-0) at Highline (0-0), 1:30 p.m.; Archbishop Murphy (1-0) vs. Lakeside (1-0) at Edmonds Stadium, 7 p.m.

John McDonald is the Herald’s prep editor.

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