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 7 matchups involving local teams, including a Wesco 3A North showdown between Marysville Pilchuck and Arlington:

3A No. 3 MARYSVILLE PILCHUCK at ARLINGTON

Trent Nobach and Arlington look to upset unbeaten Marysville Pilchuck in Friday night’s Wesco 3A North showdown. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Arlington H.S.

The skinny: Marysville Pilchuck can clinch its second consecutive Wesco 3A North title with a win. If Arlington pulls off the upset, there would be a three-way tie for first place between Marysville Pilchuck, Arlington and Ferndale in the loss column off the league standings. Marysville Pilchuck has routed Arlington in each of their past two matchups, including this past spring when the Tomahawks raced to a 42-0 third-quarter lead en route to a 42-19 running-clock victory.

Marysville Pilchuck: 6-0, 4-0 Wesco 3A North; beat Shorecrest 52-7, beat Stanwood 49-14, beat Marysville Getchell 63-13, beat Glacier Peak 49-14, beat Ferndale 49-15, beat Mount Vernon 49-13

About the Tomahawks: Marysville Pilchuck has obliterated every team it’s faced, rolling to a running-clock rout in all six of its games. The Tomahawks have outscored opponents by 39.1 points per contest, including a combined 276-13 margin in the first three quarters. In back-to-back weeks earlier this season, Marysville Pilchuck raced to a 49-0 third-quarter lead over Class 4A No. 10 Glacier Peak and a 42-0 third-quarter lead over 3A No. 8 Ferndale. With a big offensive line paving the way for an array of explosive backs, the Tomahawks’ deceptive Slot-T ground attack has averaged 383 yards rushing per game and 11.8 yards per carry. Senior running back Dylan Carson has rushed for 1,152 yards and 23 touchdowns, with an average of 14.0 yards per carry. Carson has with eight TDs of at least 45 yards, including four of 70-plus yards. Speedy senior Jordan Velasquez has added 576 yards rushing and nine TDs, with a whopping 19.2 yards per carry.

Arlington: 5-1, 4-1 Wesco 3A North; beat Edmonds-Woodway 35-7, beat Oak Harbor 54-0, lost to Ferndale 18-17, beat Stanwood 27-6, beat Mount Vernon 48-0, beat Marysville Getchell 55-13

About the Eagles: Arlington’s only loss came came in a one-point defeat to Ferndale after the Eagles surrendered a touchdown and go-ahead 2-point conversion in the final minute. Arlington has won each of its other five games by at least 21 points. The Eagles are led by standout senior quarterback Trent Nobach, who has completed 69.5% of his passes for 1,517 yards, 21 TDs and six interceptions. Nobach is surrounded by a talented receiving corps, highlighted by seniors Levi Younger, Gage Price and Elijah Jackson. Younger has 439 yards receiving and 10 TD catches, along with a kickoff-return score and a punt-return score. Price has 441 yards receiving and six TDs, and Jackson has added 307 yards receiving and three TDs. Arlington’s defense allows just 7.3 points per game and hasn’t allowed more than 18 points all season.

Herald pick: Marysville Pilchuck

NORTH CREEK vs. 4A No. 10 GLACIER PEAK

Trey Leckner and Glacier Peak face North Creek in a non-league matchup Friday night. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium

The skinny: After its game against Kamiak got canceled last week, Glacier Peak returns to action with a non-league test against a quality North Creek team. The Grizzlies look to go 2-0 against KingCo 4A teams this season after routing Woodinville 49-7 in Week 3.

North Creek: 3-3; beat Lakewood 59-35, beat River Ridge 34-12, lost to Coeur d’ Alene (Idaho) 43-42, lost to Bothell 49-35, beat Inglemoor 41-7, lost to Woodinville 16-14

About the Jaguars: North Creek, which is in its fifth season of existence, has developed into a quality program in the ultra-tough KingCo 4A. The Jaguars are coached by Torrey Myers, who was an offensive staff assistant with the Baltimore Ravens in 2016 before taking over the brand-new North Creek program the following year. The Jaguars have suffered a pair of narrow losses — a one-point overtime defeat to Coeur d’ Alene (Idaho) and a two-point defeat to Woodinville on a last-second field goal last week. North Creek’s other loss was a 14-point defeat to 4A fifth-ranked Bothell. The Jaguars are led by dual-threat senior quarterback Kennedy McGill, who has accounted for 1,703 yards and 26 TDs. He has completed 70.2% of his passes for 1,376 yards, 18 TDs and three interceptions, while also rushing for 327 yards and eight scores.

Glacier Peak: 4-1; beat Snohomish 35-19, beat Monroe 50-21, beat Woodinville 49-7, lost to Marysville Pilchuck 49-14, beat Mariner 49-20

About the Grizzlies: After routing perennial 4A state power Woodinville in Week 3, Glacier Peak suffered a stunning running-clock loss to 3A third-ranked Marysville Pilchuck the following week. But the Grizzlies bounced back in Week 5, cruising past Mariner in their Wesco 4A opener. Junior quarterback River Lien has completed 62% of his passes for 974 yards, 13 TDs and three interceptions, including a six-TD performance against Monroe. Junior running back Trey Leckner is a versatile offensive threat, with 684 yards from scrimmage and 12 TDs. Leckner has rushed for 430 yards and nine scores, while also catching nine passes for 254 yards and three TDs. Glacier Peak’s deep and talented receiving corps has five different players with more than 100 yards receiving and seven players at least one TD catch.

Herald pick: Glacier Peak

2A No. 9 BURLINGTON-EDISON at ARCHBISHOP MURPHY

Jelani Guerrero and Archbishop Murphy face Burlington-Edison in a key Northwest Conference 2A clash Saturday afternoon. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

When: 1 p.m., Saturday

Where: Archbishop Murphy H.S.

The skinny: With just two state berths available this year out of the ultra-tough Northwest Conference 2A, this is close to a must-win game for both sides. Both teams are 1-1 in league play and can ill-afford another conference loss.

Burlington-Edison: 3-1, 1-1 Northwest Conference 2A; beat Meridian 54-8, beat Cedarcrest 35-7, lost to Lynden 38-35, beat Lakewood 34-31

About the Tigers: Burlington-Edison has been on both sides of tight finishes in its two conference games. The Tigers opened league play with a three-point loss to perennial power Lynden, falling to the 2A third-ranked Lions on a last-second field goal. But the following week, Burlington-Edison rebounded with a three-point win over Lakewood. The Tigers haven’t played since the Lakewood game two weeks ago, due to their game against Sehome being canceled last week.

Archbishop Murphy: 3-3, 1-1 Northwest Conference 2A; lost to Seattle Prep 42-18, beat Fife 27-17, beat Sehome 20-10, lost to Lake Stevens 49-14, beat Blaine 46-22, lost to Squalicum 26-6

About the Wildcats: Archbishop Murphy surrendered 26 unanswered points in a loss to 2A eighth-ranked Squalicum last week, which left the Wildcats with little remaining margin for error in the crowded race for Northwest Conference 2A’s two state berths. Archbishop Murphy is led by senior receiver Jelani Guerrero, who has 29 catches for 738 yards and seven TDs. Guerrero averages 25.5 yards per catch and has long TD receptions of 87, 83, 75, 69, 66 and 40 yards. Senior quarterback Colton Johnson has thrown for 984 yards, nine TDs and three interceptions since replacing injured starter Kai Lewis in Week 2.

Herald pick: Burlington-Edison

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE CHANGES

— The Kamiak-Mariner game was moved from Friday night to next Tuesday night. Kamiak had to cancel last week’s game against Glacier Peak.

— Lakewood’s non-league game against Ellensburg on Saturday was canceled.