A look at this week’s top local high school football matchups

Week 7 of the Snohomish County football season features an array of conference matchups with title and standings implications at stake as teams near the end of their regular seasons.

Here’s a look at some of this week’s top matchups involving local teams:

3A NO. 6 MONROE AT EDMONDS-WOODWAY

When: Friday, 5 p.m.

Where: Edmonds Stadium (Edmonds-Woodway H.S.)

The skinny: Two of the three defending Wesco 3A South co-champions meet in an important matchup with league-title implications. Edmonds-Woodway needs a victory to keep its title hopes alive. Monroe can avoid a potential three-way-tie-for-first scenario with a victory. The Warriors won last year’s meeting in a tight 33-28 battle.

Monroe: 6-0, 4-0 Wesco 3A South; beat Roosevelt 56-14, beat Shorecrest 48-13, beat Kamiak 44-14, beat Lynnwood 70-26, beat Mountlake Terrace 49-7, beat Shorewood 62-8

About the Bearcats: There isn’t much Monroe could have done better over the first six weeks of its season. The Class 3A No. 6 Bearcats have dominated opponents each week, outscoring teams by a whopping 41.2 points per game and winning every contest by at least 30 points. Monroe’s high-octane offense averages 54.8 points per game. Quarterback Blake Springer, a three-star junior recruit according to 247sports.com, leads the way. He’s completed an efficient 73.2% (82 of 112) of his passes for 1,305 yards, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. Sophomore playmaker Beau Pruett is his top target. Pruett averages 28.1 yards per catch and has team highs 477 yards and eight touchdowns receiving. The all-around threat has another 603 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground and averages 11.2 yards per carry. Senior receiver Kody Edelbrock has added another 343 yards and two TDs receiving. Monroe’s defense is surrendering just 13.7 points per game and has held its past two opponents to a combined 15 points. The Bearcats have forced 15 turnovers this season. Junior linebacker Biggie Notoa has three sacks, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, an interception and a defensive TD. Sophomore defensive lineman Brennan Sheppard has 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Edmonds-Woodway: 3-3, 3-1 Wesco 3A South; lost to Marysville Pilchuck 20-16, lost to Kamiak 21-20, beat Lynnwood 44-21, lost to Snohomish 43-27, beat Shorewood 25-14, beat Shorecrest 47-14

About the Warriors: After a pair of close non-league losses to start the season, Edmonds-Woodway has bounced back by winning three of four league games since and once again finds itself near the top of the Wesco 3A South standings. The Warriors have generally been known for their running game and stout defense, but this season they’re getting it done through the air. Junior quarterback Steven Warren Jr. leads Snohomish County in passing yards through Week 6. He’s completed 59.5% (91 of 153) of his passes for 1,361 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions for an offense averaging 29.8 points per contest. His top targets are junior receivers Jesse Hart III and Diego Escandon. Hart averages 20.3 yards per catch and has 466 yards and four TDs receiving. Escandon has 367 yards and two TDs receiving. Senior running back Liam Fitting leads the ground game, averaging 7.2 yards per carry with 540 yards and six touchdowns. The defense is allowing 22.2 points per game and has forced six turnovers.

Herald pick: Monroe

MARINER AT 4A NO. 5 LAKE STEVENS

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Lake Stevens H.S.

The skinny: Mariner and Lake Stevens meet in a Wesco 4A battle between teams with a combined 9-3 record. The Marauders look for an upset that could shake up Wesco 4A. The 4A No. 5 Vikings get their first taste of league play. Lake Stevens won last year’s matchup 56-7.

Mariner: 5-1, 1-1 Wesco 4A; beat Foster 39-14, beat Everett 19-7, beat Meadowdale 26-8, beat Marysville Getchell 33-6, lost to 4A No. 1 Glacier Peak 42-7, beat Jackson 61-13

About the Marauders: Outside of a blowout loss to 4A top-ranked Glacier Peak, it’s been banner year for Mariner. The team has already reached its highest win total since 2016, and the 5-1 start is the program’s best since 2006. The one thing the Marauders lack this fall is a signature win, as their five victories have come against teams with a combined 5-25 record. This week Mariner gets one of its toughest challenges in Wesco 4A juggernaut Lake Stevens. The Marauders average 30.8 points per game. Senior running back Cartez Williams is one of the area’s leading rushers with eight touchdowns and over 800 yards on the ground. Junior quarterback Isaiah Cuellar has three passing TDs and four rushing scores. Mariner allows just 15.0 points per game and has been opportunistic on defense. The Marauders have forced 12 turnovers and scored five defensive touchdowns. Senior defensive back Macky James has returned an interception and a fumble recovery for a score. James also has three TDs on offense and over 250 yards receiving.

Lake Stevens: 4-2, 1-0 Wesco 4A; lost to 3A No. 8 Garfield 26-16, beat 3A No. 5 Bellevue 37-28, beat Federal Way 63-21, lost to West Linn (Oregon) 45-6, beat Jackson by forfeit; beat Eastlake 41-16

About the Vikings: After suffering its worst lost in a decade to Oregon powerhouse West Linn, 4A No. 5 Lake Stevens responded emphatically by trouncing Eastlake in a 4A top-10 showdown last week to close out its daunting non-league schedule. The Vikings enter this week’s contest 1-0 in Wesco 4A play after receiving a win via forfeit by Jackson two weeks ago. So this is the first time Lake Stevens, which has won 51 straight Wesco 4A games, matches up with a league opponent this fall. The Vikings average 32.6 points per game and feature one of the state’s top offensive weapons in University of Notre Dame-bound running back Jayden Limar. The four-star senior recruit has 667 yards and 11 TDs on the ground and 112 yards and one score receiving. Sophomore QB Kolton Matson has completed 70.6% (48 of 68) of his passes for 501 yards, four TDs and five interceptions. His top target is senior Isaac Redford, who has 216 yards and one TD on 18 receptions. Sophomore Cassidy Bolong-Banks has added 308 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Lake Stevens allows 27.2 points per game and has forced eight turnovers. Junior defensive back Paul Varela has a team-high two forced turnovers (one interception, one fumble recovery) and junior linebacker Joe McGinnis has a defensive score on a fumble recovery.

Herald pick: Lake Stevens

OAK HARBOR AT ARLINGTON

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: John C. Larson Stadium (Arlington H.S.)

The skinny: Wesco 3A North foes square off with positioning in the league standings and seeding for Week 9 crossover games at stake. Oak Harbor can keep its hopes for a third-place finish alive with a win. Arlington can clinch third place with a victory. The Eagles won last season’s matchup 54-0.

Oak Harbor: 1-5, 1-3 Wesco 3A North; lost to 2A No. 3 Anacortes 35-7, lost to Ferndale 47-6, lost to 3A No. 7 Stanwood 38-14, lost to Marysville Pilchuck 21-19, lost to Cascade 39-14, beat Mount Vernon 35-6

About the Wildcats: It was certainly a tough start to the season for Oak Harbor. The Wildcats lost their first five games while playing a tough schedule that included a pair of top-10 teams, Wesco 3A North power Ferndale and unbeaten Cascade. Oak Harbor’s first five opponents are a combined 25-5. After breaking through with a win last week, the Wildcats can still finish as high as third in Wesco 3A North, but they need a win this week for that opportunity to remain. If they lose, they’ll likely be playing for North’s fifth and final crossover spot next week when they face Marysville Getchell. Oak Harbor averages 15.8 points per game. Junior quarterback Parker Anderson has completed 54.6% (65 of 119) of his passes for 657 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions. His top target is junior Chris McCreary, who has team highs with 24 receptions, 311 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Brody Snyder leads the ground game with 392 yards and two TDs. The Wildcats allow 31.0 points per game.

Arlington: 4-2, 3-2 Wesco 3A North; beat Kamiak 28-14, beat Marysville Getchell 21-14, beat Mount Vernon 21-6, lost to Ferndale 27-24, lost to 3A No. 7 Stanwood 37-6, beat Marysville Pilchuck 44-23

About the Eagles: Arlington bounced back from back-to-back losses by thumping Marysville Pilchuck last week, and the Eagles did so by producing their best offensive performance of the season. Arlington’s 44 points against the Tomahawks was a season best by 16 points, but the Eagles, who average 24.0 points per game, were dealt a tough blow in last week’s victory. Sophomore quarterback Leyton Martin suffered a broken arm in the third quarter, Eagles coach Greg Dailer said Monday night on KRKO 1380 AM’s “Prep Sports Weekly.” Arlington still has experience behind center, though. Senior Jacoby Falor started games earlier this season and played in a handful of games as standout Trent Nobach’s backup last year. Falor has completed 51.8% (29 of 56) of his passes this season for 405 yards, eight TDs and five interceptions. He also leads the team with 286 yards rushing and 312 yards receiving. With Falor at QB, sophomore Kaid Hunter is the team’s leading receiver. He has 243 yards and two TDs on 22 receptions. Sophomore Jake Willis has added a team-best four TD receptions. Arlington is allowing 20.2 points per game and has held all six of its opponents to or below their season average.

Herald pick: Arlington