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

Week 3 of the Snohomish County high school football slate kicks off Thursday night with a Wesco 4A-KingCo 4A clash between Glacier Peak and Woodinville. The action then continues Friday night with a handful of intriguing games, including a highly anticipated showdown between perennial state powers Lake Stevens and O’Dea.

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

4A No. 8 GLACIER PEAK vs. WOODINVILLE

When: 6 p.m., Thursday

Where: Pop Keeney Stadium (Bothell)

The skinny: Glacier Peak tests itself against one of the state’s premier Class 4A programs in this intriguing non-league clash of state playoff contenders. And in addition to being a great measuring stick for the Grizzlies, it’s also a chance for them to earn their first-ever win over a KingCo opponent. Glacier Peak is 0-13 all-time against KingCo teams, including six losses to 3A juggernaut Bellevue and four losses to 4A power Bothell.

Glacier Peak: 2-0; beat Snohomish 35-19, beat Monroe 50-21

About the Grizzlies: After a bit of a sloppy performance in its season opener, Glacier Peak exploded for 50 points and 501 total yards in last week’s non-league rout of Monroe. The Grizzlies trailed 14-6 after the first quarter, but then raced past the Bearcats with 37 straight points. Junior quarterback River Lien led the way, throwing for 361 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in just his second career start. Through two games, he’s completed 62.5% of his passes for 606 yards, seven TDs and two interceptions. Junior running back Trey Leckner, a transfer from Snohomish who led the Panthers in receiving this past spring, has 352 total yards and five TDs this season. Leckner totaled 242 yards and three TDs against Monroe, including four catches for 172 yards and two scores. Junior wideout Logan Szarzec, one of several tall and talented Glacier Peak receivers, has three TD catches.

Woodinville: 2-0; beat Bishop Blanchet 29-26, beat Silas (formerly Wilson) 45-0

About the Falcons: Perennial power Woodinville has made five consecutive 4A state quarterfinal appearances and three consecutive trips to the state semifinals, including a run to the 2017 state title game. The Falcons are known for their strong defense, having allowed just 12.3 points per game over the past four full-length seasons. And their defense has been stout once again in their first two games this fall, forcing five turnovers and yielding just 185 yards per contest. Senior running back Henry Nichols paces the offense, having rushed for 299 yards and three TDs while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The 5-foot-7, 180-pound back ran for 219 yards and two TDs in the season-opening victory over Bishop Blanchet, including the eventual game-winning score in the closing minutes.

Herald pick: Glacier Peak

4A No. 7 LAKE STEVENS vs. 3A No. 1 O’DEA

When: 5 p.m., Friday

Where: Memorial Stadium (Seattle)

The skinny: This non-league showdown between powerhouse 4A and 3A programs is one of the biggest regular-season matchups in the state this fall. Over the past 10 full-length seasons, these programs have combined for 17 state playoff appearances and have played in a total of 12 state quarterfinals, nine state semifinals and six state championship games.

Did you know?: These programs met twice in the 3A state playoffs, with O’Dea winning both times. The Fighting Irish beat Lake Stevens 7-6 in the 1994 state title game and 18-6 in the 2000 state quarterfinals.

Lake Stevens: 0-0

About the Vikings: Lake Stevens makes its season debut this week after its first two games were canceled as a result of COVID-19 protocols following positive cases in its program, which led the Vikings to shut down team activities from Aug. 24 through Sept. 3. The seven-time defending Wesco 4A champions are highlighted by a pair of two-way standouts in junior running back/linebacker Jayden Limar and senior receiver/defensive back Drew Carter. Limar, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 7 junior running back in the nation, already has offers from the likes of Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas A&M. The ultra-athletic tailback averaged a whopping 11.7 yards per carry during this past spring’s five-game season and totaled 646 yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs, including 520 yards and nine scores after taking over as the primary back for the final three contests. Carter, a three-star recruit with an offer from Air Force, had 386 yards receiving and two TD catches in the spring, while also totaling two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five tackles for loss on defense. And taking over at quarterback is talented 6-foot-5 senior Grayson Murren, who will direct a Lake Stevens offense known for its high-scoring ways after averaging more than 40 points per game in each of the past seven seasons.

O’Dea: 2-0; beat Union 35-17, beat Kennedy Catholic 49-0

About the Fighting Irish: O’Dea, one of the most accomplished programs in state history, has reached each of the past four 3A state title games and won a state championship in 2017. The Fighting Irish beat a pair of preseason 4A top-10 teams in their first two games, including a 49-0 rout of Kennedy Catholic last week. O’Dea features a powerful ground game led by a trio of big-time recruits: 6-foot-4, 330-pound senior lineman Mark Nabou, 6-foot-5, 330-pound sophomore lineman Isendre Ahfua and electric sophomore running back Jason Brown. All three have offers to at least a handful of major Power Five programs, but the most highly touted of the trio is Ahfua. Ranked by 247Sports as the top sophomore offensive lineman in the nation, Ahfua already holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Brown rushed behind his massive offensive line for 284 yards and three TDs on 23 carries in season-opening win over Union, with scoring runs of 21, 80 and 22 yards.

Herald pick: O’Dea

ARLINGTON vs. 3A No. 8 FERNDALE

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Blaine H.S.

The skinny: After opening with a pair of dominant wins, Arlington has elevated itself into the Wesco 3A North title discussion alongside preseason co-favorites Marysville Pilchuck and Ferndale. And now, the Eagles head north to face a state-ranked Ferndale squad, with a chance to deliver the first blow in what’s shaping up to be a three-team race for the league crown. Ferndale has won three of the teams’ four matchups as Wesco 3A North foes.

Arlington: 2-0, 1-0 Wesco 3A North; beat Edmonds-Woodway 35-7, beat Oak Harbor 54-0

About the Eagles: Arlington has dominated on both sides of the ball in a pair of blowout wins, outscoring its first two opponents by a combined 89-7 margin. The Eagles’ offense is led by standout senior quarterback Trent Nobach, who has been near perfect in his return from injury after missing nearly the entire spring season with a broken collarbone. Nobach has completed 80% of his passes for 559 yards, 10 TDs and one interception, while averaging a whopping 12.4 yards per pass attempt. Senior wideouts Gage Price (165 yards receiving and two TD catches), Levi Younger (145 yards and four TDs) and Elisha Jackson (130 yards and two TDs) highlight a deep and talented receiving corps that’s had six different players catch a TD pass. And on defense, Arlington has forced seven turnovers and limited opponents to just 142 yards per game and 2.7 yards per play.

Ferndale: 2-0; beat Monroe 55-35, beat Lynden 35-25

About the Golden Eagles: After rolling past Monroe in its season opener, Ferndale beat one of 2A’s top teams last week with a win over archrival Lynden. The Golden Eagles’ high-powered Wing-T offense has averaged 45 points and 502 yards per game through its first two contests, including 355 yards per game on the ground at a clip of 6.5 yards per carry. Two-way standout Isaiah Carlson, who has four Pac-12 offers and is ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 13 junior linebacker, has averaged 8.7 yards per carry while running for 303 yards and four TDs. Paving the way for him is an offensive line led by 6-foot-3, 285-pound junior center Landen Hatchett, a two-way standout who already has offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and others.

Herald pick: Ferndale

MARYSVILLE GETCHELL at 3A No. 7 MARYSVILLE PILCHUCK

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Quil Ceda Stadium

The skinny: Marysville Pilchuck looks to go a perfect 10-0 over its crosstown rival in the Berry Bowl. Since the rivalry began in 2012, the Tomahawks have won all nine matchups by double digits, with an average victory margin of 33.7 points. But after its first-ever 2-0 start, Marysville Getchell looks to make a statement and change the tide in this one-sided rivalry.

Marysville Getchell: 2-0, 1-0 Wesco 3A North; beat Meadowdale 27-7, beat Mount Vernon 20-14

About the Chargers: Marysville Getchell is off to the first 2-0 start in its program’s 11-year history. Senior running back Riley Riba has led the way, rushing for 330 yards and five TDs while averaging 8.7 yards per carry. Riba is the focal point of a rushing attack that’s averaging 261 yards per game in the Chargers’ new run-based offensive scheme, following a switch from a spread offense midway through the 2019 season. Marysville Getchell has been stout on defense, allowing just 21 points combined in its first two games and shutting out both opponents in the second halves of those contests.

Marysville Pilchuck: 2-0, 1-0 Wesco 3A North; beat Shorecrest 52-7; beat Stanwood 49-14

About the Tomahawks: Defending Wesco 3A champion Marysville Pilchuck cruised past its first two opponents by a combined 101-21 margin. Senior running back Dylan Carson leads the Tomahawks’ explosive Slot-T ground attack, having rushed for 526 yards and eight TDs behind his team’s big and experienced offensive line. Carson has gashed opposing defenses for an eye-popping 16.4 yards per carry, showcasing his big-play potential with four TD runs of 55-plus yards. Senior back Jordan Velasquez and junior Gaylan Gray complement Carson in the backfield, rounding out a three-headed rushing attack that’s propeled Marysville Pilchuck to 421 yards per game on the ground. The Tomahawks’ defense has allowed just six points combined in the first three quarters of their two contests, with the rest of their opponents’ scoring coming in the fourth quarter after the outcome had long been decided.

Herald pick: Marysville Pilchuck

EDMONDS-WOODWAY at SNOHOMISH

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium

The skinny: The top two teams in the Wesco 3A South preseason coaches poll square off in what figures to be a pivotal game in the league title race. These teams have combined to capture each of the past three Wesco 3A South titles, Edmonds-Woodway winning the league crown in 2017 and Snohomish in 2018 and 2019. They have split their past four matchups as Wesco 3A South foes.

Edmonds-Woodway: 0-2; lost to Arlington 35-7; lost to Emerald Ridge 43-22

About the Warriors: After a 5-0 spring season, it’s been a rough start to the fall for Edmonds-Woodway. In their season opener, the Warriors fell into a 35-0 halftime hole and mustered just 184 total yards in a blowout loss to a talented Arlington team. Edmonds-Woodway was then slated to face rival Meadowdale last week, but the game was canceled because of COVID-related issues in the Mavericks’ program. The Warriors filled the opening with a matchup against Emerald Ridge, a 4A program from Puyallup. And it turned into another blowout loss for Edmonds-Woodway, which trailed the Jaguars 36-0 at halftime. In both games, the Warriors surrendered more points in the first half than they did over the course of the entire five-game spring slate, when they allowed just 20 points combined.

Snohomish: 0-1; lost to Glacier Peak 35-19

About the Panthers: Two-time defending Wesco 3A South champion Snohomish didn’t play last week after canceling its replacement game against Squalicum because of “a large number of injuries” that left it “unable to field a complete team,” according to the school’s athletic director. Prior to scheduling and ultimately canceling the Squalicum matchup, the Panthers’ originally scheduled game against Lynnwood was canceled because of COVID-related issues in the Royals’ program. In its season opener, Snohomish put up a strong fight against crosstown rival and 4A state-ranked Glacier Peak, limiting the Grizzlies’ talented offense to 333 total yards. Senior running back Joshua Vandergriend led the Panthers’ offense with 160 yards from scrimmage, including seven catches for 130 yards and a TD. Junior quarterback Kale Hammer completed 45.2% of his passes for 279 yards, three TDs and two interceptions and added 50 yards rushing.

Herald pick: Snohomish

SEDRO-WOOLLEY at 2A No. 5 LAKEWOOD

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Lakewood H.S.

The skinny: Lakewood opens league play in the rugged Northwest Conference 2A with a matchup against perennial league contender Sedro-Woolley. The Cubs have won three of the teams’ four matchups since Lakewood joined the Northwest Conference in 2016, but the Cougars won their most recent meeting in 2019.

Sedro-Woolley: 2-0; beat Mount Vernon 44-0, beat La Salle 51-0

About the Cubs: Sedro-Woolley outscored 3A Mount Vernon and 1A La Salle by a combined 95-0 margin in a pair of blowout wins. The Cubs’ rushing attack has averaged 267 yards per game, at a clip of 8.8 yards per carry. Senior running back back Connor Davis has rushed for 169 yards and two TDs, while junior Chance Supler has added 128 yards and two scores. Junior receiver Jadyn Lee has five catches for 139 yards and a TD. Sedro-Woolley’s defense has forced seven turnovers and scored on two of them.

Lakewood: 1-1; lost to North Creek 59-35, beat Lynden Christian 43-30

About the Cougars: After falling to a quality KingCo 4A program in a season-opening loss to North Creek, Lakewood bounced back last week with a road win over a Lynden Christian team that was ranked No. 5 in 1A. The Cougars trailed 28-22 in the third quarter, but rattled off 21 consecutive points to surge in front and seize control. Dual-threat senior quarterback Justice Taylor has accounted for 539 yards and eight TDs through two games. Taylor has run for 321 yards and five scores, while passing for 218 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Senior running back Riley Maggard rushed for a pair of fourth-quarter TDs last week to help Lakewood pull away, including a 63-yarder.

Herald pick: Lakewood

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE CHANGES

Shorecrest was originally slated to face Meadowdale in a Wesco 3A South matchup, but that game was canceled. Instead, Shorecrest will host 2A independent Anacortes on Friday night at Shoreline Stadium. Meadowdale’s game last week also was canceled, as a result of COVID-19 protocols following a positive case in its program.