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

The Snohomish County high school football season continues Friday night. Here’s a look at some of the top Week 5 matchups involving local teams, including a massive Wesco 3A North showdown between Marysville Pilchuck and Ferndale:

3A No. 6 FERNDALE at 3A No. 5 MARYSVILLE PILCHUCK

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Quil Ceda Stadium

Radio: KRKO 1380 AM

The skinny: This state-ranked showdown of unbeatens could very well end up determining the Wesco 3A North title. It’ll be a battle of high-powered rushing attacks, with both teams featuring a physical offensive line and talented backfield. Ferndale has won four of the teams’ past five matchups, but Marysville Pilchuck won the most recent one in 2019.

Ferndale: 4-0, 2-0 Wesco 3A North; beat Monroe 55-35, beat Lynden 35-25, beat Arlington 18-17, beat Mount Vernon 42-7

About the Golden Eagles: Ferndale enters this showdown unbeaten thanks to a dramatic one-point victory over Arlington two weeks ago, when senior quarterback Mark Schlichting threw a 35-yard TD pass in the final minute and star junior Isaiah Carlson followed with a go-ahead 2-point conversion run to complete the late rally. Carlson, a two-way standout who has four Pac-12 offers and is ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 13 junior linebacker, has averaged 7.2 yards per carry while running for 455 yards and six TDs in the Golden Eagles’ Wing-T attack. Ryan Pelton, a senior, has added 360 yards from scrimmage and six TDs. Paving the way for them 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. Schlichting doesn’t throw much in Ferndale’s run-heavy offense, but has completed 59% of his passes for 461 yards, seven TDs and two interceptions.

Marysville Pilchuck: 4-0, 2-0 Wesco 3A North; beat Shorecrest 52-7, beat Stanwood 49-14, beat Marysville Getchell 63-13, beat Glacier Peak 49-14

About the Tomahawks: Marysville Pilchuck made an enormous statement last week, racing to a 49-0 third-quarter lead in a stunning non-league demolition of a Glacier Peak team that was ranked No. 7 in Class 4A. The Tomahawks cruised to running-clock routs in each of their four games and outscored opponents by a combined 213-48 margin — including a whopping 185-13 in the first three quarters of those contests. With a talented group of backs running behind a big and experienced offensive line, Marysville Pilchuck’s Slot-T rushing attack averages 400 yards per game and 11.5 yards per carry. Star senior Dylan Carson leads the way with 837 yards, 14 TDs and an absurd 14.9 yards per carry. He’s complemented by the speedy trio of senior Jordan Velasquez, junior Gaylan Gray and senior Michael Bejar — which combined for 250 yards and four TDs last week with Glacier Peak keying on Carson. The Tomahawks’ stingy defense has been equally dominant, highlighted by a masterful performance last week when it posted six first-half sacks and held the Grizzlies to minus-2 total yards midway through the third quarter.

Herald pick: Marysville Pilchuck

EDMONDS-WOODWAY at MONROE

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Monroe H.S.

The skinny: Two contenders for the Wesco 3A South title square off in this pivotal midseason matchup. With it being Monroe’s first season in the league since dropping down from 4A, this is the teams’ first meeting since 2011.

Edmonds-Woodway: 1-3, 1-1 Wesco 3A South; lost to Arlington 35-7, lost to Emerald Ridge 43-22, lost to Snohomish 21-14, beat Lynnwood 48-7

About the Warriors: Edmonds-Woodway got off to a rough start with non-league blowout losses to Arlington and Emerald Ridge. But the Warriors gave two-time defending Wesco 3A South champion Snohomish a fight two weeks ago in a seven-point loss. And last week, Edmonds-Woodway routed Lynnwood to pick up its first win. Senior quarterback Alec Rust did a bit of everything in the victory, accounting for 221 total yards and four TDs — with at least 50 yards passing, rushing and receiving.

Monroe: 2-2, 1-0 Wesco 3A South; lost to Ferndale 55-35, lost to Glacier Peak 50-21, beat Lynnwood 46-0, beat Mariner 48-7

About the Bearcats: After opening with blowout non-league losses to Ferndale and Glacier Peak, Monroe rebounded the past two weeks with routs of Lynnwood and Mariner. Sophomore Blake Springer and senior Evan Leggett have split time at quarterback, combining to pass for 1,018 yards, 10 TDs and two interceptions. Junior running back Kody Edelbrock has 337 yards from scrimmage and three TDs. Senior Cole Pruett has 312 yards receiving and four total TDs, including a kickoff return score and a punt return score. And senior Wahi Emmsley has 278 yards receiving and three TD catches.

Herald pick: Monroe

BURLINGTON-EDISON at LAKEWOOD

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Lakewood H.S.

The skinny: Lakewood continues league play with another big matchup in the rugged Northwest Conference 2A. Given that both teams already have a conference loss, both need a win to keep pace in the league’s crowded race for limited postseason berths. Burlington-Edison has won three of the teams’ past five matchups.

Burlington-Edison: 2-1, 0-1 Northwest Conference 2A; beat Meridian 54-8, beat Cedarcrest 35-7, lost to Lynden 38-35

About the Tigers: In the league’s preseason coaches poll, Burlington-Edison was picked to finish last in the rugged Northwest Conference 2A. But the Tigers made a statement last week by taking 2A No. 2-ranked Lynden down to the wire before losing on a last-second field goal. Senior quarterback Zach Watson accounted for 375 total yards in the narrow loss, including 245 yards rushing and four TD runs.

Lakewood: 2-2, 1-1 Northwest Conference 2A; lost to North Creek 59-35, beat Lynden Christian 43-30, lost to Sedro-Woolley 44-0, beat Squalicum 14-13

About the Cougars: After a stunning blowout loss to Sedro-Woolley the week prior, Lakewood rebounded last week by holding on in the closing seconds for a one-point win over then-2A No. 5-ranked Squalicum. Dual-threat senior quarterback Justice Taylor, who suffered an injury early in the Sedro-Woolley loss, returned to action last week and helped lead the Cougars to victory with 100 yards rushing and two TD passes. In a little more than three games of play, Taylor has accounted for 733 total yards and 10 TDs, including 436 yards rushing and five scoring runs. Senior receiver Blake Conyers has four TD catches, including two in the win over Squalicum. Washington State commit Jakobus Seth, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 60 senior edge rusher in the nation, highlights a Lakewood defense that bounced back last week by limiting Squalicum to 297 total yards.

Herald pick: Lakewood

4A No. 3 LAKE STEVENS at SNOHOMISH

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium

The skinny: This non-league clash pits seven-time defending Wesco 4A champion Lake Stevens against two-time defending Wesco 3A South champion Snohomish. Lake Stevens won 41-24 in their meeting this spring.

Lake Stevens: 2-0; beat O’Dea 20-3, beat Archbishop Murphy 49-14

About the Vikings: After its first two games were canceled because of a COVID-related program shutdown, Lake Stevens opened its season with an impressive win over then-3A top-ranked O’Dea and a rout of then-2A sixth-ranked Archbishop Murphy. Senior quarterback Grayson Murren has completed 68.9% of his passes for 484 yards, seven TDs and no interceptions — including a six-TD performance last week against Archbishop Murphy — while spreading the ball to the Vikings’ talented playmakers. Two-way senior standout Drew Carter, who has an offer from Air Force, has 250 yards receiving, three TD catches and an interception on defense. Jayden Limar, who holds a slew of big-time offers and is ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 7 junior running back, has 317 yards from scrimmage and two TDs. And versatile senior Trayce Hanks, who scored a pair of 70-yard TDs in the win over O’Dea, has 251 yards from scrimmage and three TDs on just 15 touches, as well as an interception on defense.

Snohomish: 2-1; lost to Glacier Peak 35-19, beat Edmonds-Woodway 21-14, beat Shorecrest 49-28

About the Panthers: After falling to crosstown rival Glacier Peak in its opener, Snohomish began its pursuit of a third consecutive Wesco 3A South title with league wins over Edmonds-Woodway and Shorecrest. The Panthers scored 21 third-quarter points to rally past Edmonds-Woodway and scored 14 fourth-quarter points last week to pull away from Shorecrest. Senior running back Joshua Vandergriend has 634 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs in three games, including a massive 316-yard, five-TD performance last week.

Herald pick: Lake Stevens

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE CHANGES

Archbishop Murphy was originally slated to host Sedro-Woolley in a key Northwest Conference showdown of 2A top-10 teams, but the game was canceled because of COVID-19 protocols within the Cubs’ program. Instead, the Wildcats have scheduled a non-league home game against Blaine at 7:30 p.m. Friday.