Throw out the records, it’s the Stilly Cup.
Arlington (2-2 in the Western Conference North Division, 3-2 overall) may be two games better than Stanwood (1-4, 1-4) as they approach their annual clash at 7:30 tonight at Arlington High School. But one could be unbeaten and the other winless and it wouldn’t matter a wit.
This one, truly, is played for pride.
Stanwood athletic director Jim Piccolo said the rivalry between the two north county communities extends back at least 40 years.
“It’s very big for the football programs of both sides,” Piccolo said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the playoffs or not, it’s always a tough game, tight, down to the wire.”
Piccolo said former Arlington coach Don Gibbons was the one who came up with the suggestion that an actual cup be passed back and forth between the winners. He described the trophy as a loving cup about 2 feet tall on a wooden base with a football player on top and all the dates and game scores etched on the sides.
He gave a pretty accurate description for not being able to actually look at the trophy, which currently resides at Arlington after last year’s 14-7 Eagles victory.
He sounds like a man who’d like to see it have a new home this year. And he probably has a lot of company in Stanwood, while there are just as many partisans in Arlington who’d like to hang onto the dear thing for another trip around the calendar.
“It’s always a packed house no matter where the game is played,” Piccolo said. “It’s a heated, but good rivalry.”
Here’s a look at that game and some other key contests around the Western Conference:
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Arlington High School.
Records: Stanwood is 1-4 in league and overall. Arlington is 2-2, 3-2.
Last year: Arlington won 14-7.
Players to watch: Stanwood quarterback Jake Herigstad completed seven of 17 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns last week in a 28-21 loss to Lake Stevens. Running back Julian Bomar carried 12 times for 94 yards.
Arlington running back Joseph Boitano carried 16 times for 110 yards and scored two touchdowns last week in a 28-13 victory over Parkrose of Portland, Ore. Quarterback Kevin McCormack completed six of nine passes for 138 yards and two TDs, including one to Boitano.
Breaking down the game: With the exception of a four-TD loss at Oak Harbor, Stanwood has either won or been within a touchdown of winning the rest of its games. Its breakdowns have all been on defense, having given up three game-winning scores in the fourth quarter.
Arlington has been inconsistent on defense. It shut out Cascade in Week 2, then gave up 28 points to Snohomish in Week 3 and 38 to Lake Stevens in Week 4.
Both teams have balanced offenses and are equally capable of scoring on the ground or through the air.
Little-known fact: Arlington scored the eventual game-winning points in last year’s game by returning the second-half kickoff for a touchdown. The Eagles then got a pass interception in the end zone to stop Stanwood’s last threat.
Pick: Stanwood 28-21.
Kickoff: 5 tonight at Edmonds Stadium.
Records: Mariner is 4-1 in league and overall. Edmonds-Woodway is 3-2, 3-2.
Last year: E-W won 34-7.
Players to watch: In last week’s 49-16 victory over Lynnwood, Mariner’s Michael Nelson rushed four times for 158 yards and two touchdowns and caught a TD pass from Jacob Braaten, who completed five of eight throws for 176 yards and two TDs.
E-W back Kyle Trew carried 25 times for 305 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass from Chris Maine, who threw two TD passes, including the game-winner to tight end Casey Tyler.
Breaking down the game: Both teams have had almost identical results against four common opponents. They both lost to Kamiak and defeated Jackson and Mountlake Terrace by similar margins. The only difference has been that E-W lost to Shorewood by four points, while Mariner beat the Thunderbirds by three.
Last year against Mariner, E-W had three running backs run for more than 100 yards and the Warriors’ quarterback threw for more than 100. But E-W will be up against a much-improved Mariner defense and the Marauders’ offense is likely to score more than seven points and give its defense more rest this year.
Little-known fact: Markee Broussard scored Mariner’s only touchdown in last year’s game on a 24-yard run.
Pick: Mariner 28-21.
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (AM 1380).
Records: Mount Vernon is 4-0 in league, 5-0 overall. Snohomish is 2-2, 2-3.
Last year: Did not meet.
Players to watch: Mount Vernon’s Brook Caudill carried 25 times for 209 yards and four touchdown last week in a 33-14 victory over Cascade.
Ross Fay returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to get Snohomish started on a 41-0 victory over Monroe last week.
Breaking down the game: The Snohomish defense has been pretty stingy this season. It gave up a season-high 18 points to South Kitsap in its season opener. But this week the Panthers face an offense averaging 30 points a game and a defense which has yet to give up three scores in a game.
Little-known fact: Snohomish limited Monroe to 83 total yards last week.
Pick: Mount Vernon 21-10.
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (AM 1380) delayed at 7 a.m. Saturday.
Records: Marysville-Pilchuck is 2-2 in league, 2-3 overall. Cascade is 2-3, 2-3.
Last year: M-P won 26-21.
Players to watch: M-P quarterback Ryan Swobody is the Tomahawks’ total offense leader with 86 yards rushing and 321 passing after five games.
Cascade quarterback Paul Curtiss completed 12 of 17 passes for 209 yards last week in a 33-14 loss to Mount Vernon.
Breaking down the game: Oak Harbor had success last week running outside against M-P and that has always been one of Cascade’s strengths. The Bruins have also added a potent passing attack this season.
Little-known fact: Last year, Cascade overcame a 20-7 halftime deficit with two third-quarter touchdowns, but M-P came back with a game-winning TD in the fourth quarter.
Pick: Cascade 28-14.
Kickoff: 8 tonight at Edmonds Stadium.
Records: Jackson is 3-2 in league and overall. Meadowdale is 1-4, 1-4.
Last year: Meadowdale won 28-7.
Players to watch: Jackson receiver Craig Chambers had 10 catches for 264 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 35-32 loss to Edmonds-Woodway. Quarterback Jason Morris threw for more than 300 yards and had a rushing touchdown.
Kyle Duffy is Meadowdale’s leading scorer (nine touchdowns) and rusher (111 carries for 576 yards) after five games.
Breaking down the game: Meadowdale gave up 290 yards rushing last week and faces one of the best passing attacks in the league this week. The Mavericks have been outscored 119-44 in the second half this season.
Little-known fact: Last year’s victory over Jackson was Meadowdale’s first under coach Mark Stewart and its first after a winless 1999.
Pick: Jackson 35-21.
Wesco North: Monroe (0-5, 0-5) at Lake Stevens (4-0, 4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Wesco South: Lynnwood (0-5, 0-5) vs. Kamiak (5-0, 5-0) at Goddard Stadium, Shorewood (3-2, 3-2) vs. Shorecrest (4-1, 4-1) at Shoreline Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
North Cascades: Blaine (2-2, 3-2) at Mount Baker (3-1, 4-1), Meridian (4-0, 5-0) at Nooksack Valley (4-1, 4-1), Sultan (1-3, 1-4) at Lakewood (2-3, 2-3), Lynden Christian (4-0, 5-0) at Granite Falls (0-5, 0-5), 7:30 p.m.
Northwest A: Concrete (0-1, 3-2) at Friday Harbor (0-1, 0-5), 8 p.m.
Kingco 4A: Woodinville (4-1, 4-1) vs. Bothell (3-2, 3-2) at Pop Keeney Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Non-conference: Oak Harbor (3-2) at W.F. West, King’s (1-4) at South Whidbey (0-5), 7:30 p.m.
Northwest A: La Conner (1-0, 5-0) at Orcas Island (1-0, 5-0), 1 p.m.; Coupeville (1-0, 3-2) at Archbishop Murphy (0-1, 3-2), 1:30 p.m.
Non-conference: Darrington (4-1) at Oak Harbor JV, 4 p.m.
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