There’s no question who’s been the class of 4A high school football in the state of Washington the past few years.
Two-time defending state champion Lake Stevens has dominated Wesco 4A and ruled the state.
Could a new arrival shake things up this season?
Arlington football isn’t new, of course. The Eagles won a state title in 1982 — but they are the new kids on the Wesco 4A block as they return to Class 4A football this season. The Eagles moved up from Class 3A, where they lost to eventual state champion Bellevue in a state quarterfinal in 2023.
Arlington and Lake Stevens, separated by about 10 miles of Highway 9, have played each other many times over the years. It’s been a while, though, since both went to the state playoffs in the same classification. That didn’t go well for either team — they lost by a combined score of 106-6 in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs in 2012.
This year is likely to be different.
Both teams have massive goals, and a seemingly realistic chance to achieve them.
On Nov. 1, folks along Highway 9 will find out if the Eagles’ return to the 4A classification will be a problem for the Vikings when Lake Stevens travels north to Arlington High School’s stadium.
“We get the privilege to play the two-time defending state champs, so that’ll be fun,” said Arlington coach Greg Dailer, whose team returns 30 seniors. “We’re excited about that. There’s a lot of good teams before that, so we’ve got to focus one week at a time.
“We’ve to to make sure we put ourselves in the position where that is the most important game of the year. We can’t overlook anybody. There’s no one on our schedule that we can’t beat, and there’ s no one on our schedule that can’t beat us. That’s high school football.”
If things shake out the way most expect, that game will determine whether Lake Stevens is still king, or if Arlington has what it takes to play with the big boys.
Both teams and area football fans will have to wait until the ninth and final regular season weekend to find out. Many will try to stand in the way during the first eight weeks.
In 2023, it was not fun to be a Lake Stevens or Arlington conference opponent.
The Vikings demolished Wesco 4A foes by an average score of 52-6. Meanwhile, the Eagles crushed Wesco 3A North teams by an average of 45-11.
The lone common victim shared by the two schools was Kamiak, which lost its nonconference season opener, 46-8, to Arlington on Sept. 1, 2023 and then suffered a 54-7 conference defeat to the Vikings on Oct. 20.
Both coaches were quick to point out that this is a new season. The class of 2024 seniors graduated, while those they left behind hit the weight room.
Both teams return a strong contingent of offensive starters — eight for the Eagles, six for Lake Stevens. Arlington, however brings back seven defenders while the Vikings must replace 10 of 11. Lake Stevens coach Tom Tri, who has won 11 straight league titles, said he enjoys the challenge of getting new starters up to speed.
“It keeps the coaches fresh because it’s a brand new year,” Tri said. “Everybody is 0-0 and we’re all trying to find ways to get that state championship and hoist that trophy again.”
While time will tell whether or not the Eagles have what it takes to dethrone the Vikings, it would seem they have a chance to provide something the Vikings haven’t had for a while — a true test in a spirited, league game.
Lake Stevens offers quarterback Kolton Matson, the reigning All-Area Offensive Player, but the Eagles present their own problems for pass defenses.
Leyton Martin, one of the state’s top point guards during basketball season, serves a similar point guard-like role during football season — dishing the ball to senior receivers Jake Willis, Kaid Hunter and Chase Deberry. He believes the Eagles will fit in just fine in 4A football.
“I feel super confident,” Martin said. “I think we had a great year last year, and we’re going to build on that and do some special things this year.”
Martin believes this team is more focused that last season’s squad, but also finds fun in preparing for the season. Both Arlington and Lake Stevens run spread offenses, meaning that ball will be airborne often.
“Any time you’re a receiver in a spread offense, you’re bound to get the ball a couple of times a game,” Willis said. “It’s pretty fun.”
Another thing the two teams have in common is a focus on the daily process with the backdrop of a major goal.
“We have to work on the little things,” Arlington lineman Dylan Scott said. “On the bigger side, we want to win all of our games, make it to that state ‘ship and win it.”
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