3 games to watch in Week 4 of the prep football season

It’s time for Week 4 of the prep football season.

This week’s key games include an interstate showdown between two defending champions, a high-stakes conference matchup, and an intriguing non-league bout.

Here’s a look into three of the area’s top games:

WEST LINN (OREGON) AT LAKE STEVENS

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Lake Stevens H.S.

Stream: STSPN

Radio: 1380 AM KRKO

The skinny: The two defending state champions from each state’s top classification clash at Lake Stevens High School. Both teams started the season 3-0 and have yet to play a league game.

Lake Stevens: 3-0 overall; beat Garfield 48-21, beat Bellevue 34-31, beat Federal Way 63-13.

West Linn: 3-0 overall; beat Nelson (Happy Valley) 37-0, beat Sheldon (Eugene) 41-3, beat Jesuit (Portland) 43-14.

About the Vikings: Lake Stevens opened up the year with a dominant win over Garfield in Week 1. After a second-half comeback victory on the road against Bellevue in Week 2, the Vikings followed up in Week 3 with a 63-13 rout over Federal Way. Junior quarterback Kolton Matson has thrown for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first three games, connecting on 68% of his throws, and has added three rushing touchdowns. Junior three-star running back Jayshon Limar has rushed for 310 yards and three touchdowns with 124 yards receiving, and two-way senior David Brown has a team-best 201 receiving yards on 11 receptions, and has added 25 tackles on defense.

About the Lions: Oregon’s Class 6A representative of the Three Rivers League, West Linn’s trio of top-15 ranked Oregon recruits for the class of 2023 have helped anchor the Lions to a 3-0 start. Hunter Haines, a three-star, 6-foot-1, 185-pound safety, is ranked 15th overall. Athletes Gus Donnerberg and Wiley Donnerberg are ranked 12th and 11th in the state by 247sports. Both are three-star recruits. West Linn’s highly sought-after 6-5, 240-pound junior tight end Baron Naone is ranked first in his class, and 295-pound lineman Jake Normoyle is ranked third.

Herald pick: West Linn (Oregon)

FERNDALE AT ARLINGTON

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Arlington H.S.

Radio: 790 AM KGMI

The skinny: A Wesco 3A North matchup between two undefeated teams. Arlington faces its toughest league test of the season having handled Mount Vernon and Marysville Getchell in the past two weeks. Ferndale is coming off a 22-16 nail-biter over Class 4A Glacier Peak in Week 2. Last season, Ferndale beat Arlington 27-24.

Arlington: 3-0 overall (2-0 in Wesco 3A North); beat Kamiak 46-8, beat Marysville Getchell 42-7, beat Mount Vernon 52-14.

Ferndale: 3-0 overall (1-0 in Wesco 3A North); beat Lynden 17-14, beat Oak Harbor 26-6, beat Glacier Peak 22-16.

About the Eagles: Arlington has opened with a string of dominant victories to start the season. The Eagles have not scored less than 42 points, giving up an average of just 9.7 points per game. Arlington’s balanced offensive attack is led by a dangerous combo in junior signal-caller Leyton Martin and senior two-way threat Jacoby Falor, with junior Caleb Reed pacing the Eagles’ ground game. After Week 2, Reed had rushed for 248 yards and six touchdowns.

About the Golden Eagles: After a trip to the state quarterfinals a year ago, Ferndale has pulled out tough wins in Week 1 and Week 3 to remain undefeated heading into its matchup with Arlington. The Golden Eagles took out 2A defending-state-title-winner Lynden in a 17-14 win in Week 1 and unveiled its newly finished stadium in Week 3 with a 22-16 win over Glacier Peak, sealing the game with a late fumble recovery. Running backs Phoenyx Finkbonner and Talan Bungard combined for 226 yards on the ground against the Grizzlies.

Herald pick: Arlington

GLACIER PEAK AT EVERGREEN (VANCOUVER)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: McKenzie Stadium (Vancouver)

The skinny: Non-league opponents meet in their first-ever matchup. Evergreen, a 3A Greater St. Helens League member, hosts the Grizzlies of Wesco 4A.

Glacier Peak: 1-2 overall; beat Snohomish 20-13, lost to Camas 55-20, lost to Ferndale 22-16.

Evergreen: 3-0 overall; beat Eisenhower (Yakima) 14-12, beat Hockinson (Brush Prairie) 62-14, beat Kentlake 43-0.

About the Grizzlies: Coming off a pair of losses to Camas and Ferndale, Glacier Peak will look to rebound in Vancouver on Friday against the Plainsmen. Senior Mariner transfer Isaiah Cuellar leads the team with 37 tackles (21 solo), and senior running back Chrisvin Bonshe has paced the Grizzlies’ run-heavy offense with 256 yards on 41 carries and four TDs. In Glacier Peak’s Week 3 loss against Ferndale, Bonshe was held to just 7 yards on seven rush attempts. Benjamin Williams has produced a team-best 229 receiving yards on 12 catches.

About the Plainsmen: After the season’s early weeks, Evergreen stands as the early front-runner in the 3A Greater St. Helens League. Jayden Crase threw for 201 yards and 4 TDs in the Plainsmen’s 43-0 shutout over Kentlake, and James Bethune rushed for 102 yards and two scores. Evergreen also touts one of the best pass-protectors in the state in senior Fox Crader, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive tackle and Oregon commit.

Herald pick: Glacier Peak

OTHER WEEK 4 GAMES

Friday’s games

Shorecrest vs. Mountlake Terrace at Edmonds Stadium, 5 p.m.

Jackson vs. Cascade at Everett Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m.

Marysville Getchell at Mariner, 7 p.m.

Oak Harbor at Marysville Pilchuck, 7 p.m.

Stanwood at Mount Vernon, 7 p.m.

Shorewood at Cedarcrest, 7 p.m.

Everett at Redmond, 7 p.m.

Anacortes at Lakewood, 7 p.m.

Archbishop Murphy vs. Squalicum at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.

Sammamish at Sultan, 7 p.m.

Cascade (Leavenworth) at Granite Falls, 7 p.m.

Mount Baker at King’s, 7 p.m.

Darrington at Tulalip Heritage, 7 p.m.

Snohomish at Edmonds-Woodway, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Skyview at Kamiak, 3 p.m.

Monroe vs. Lynnwood at Edmonds Stadium, 3 p.m.

Inglemoor vs. Meadowdale at Edmonds Stadium, 6 p.m.