Duck and cover? Wildcats look to bomb Panthers

See that guy smiling over there. That’s Oak Harbor quarterback Marshall Lobbestael grinning in anticipation.

Last week, Lobbestael had a career game, throwing for 225 yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, Arlington quarterback Trevor Milles threw for 277 yards against Snohomish, Lobbestael’s opponent this week.

I bet Lobbestael can’t wait to test that Panther secondary.

“We like that Arlington quarterback,” Oak Harbor coach Dave Ward said. “He completed a few on us, but he didn’t go downfield. We think Marshall can follow his example and get some bigger gains.”

Of course, Snohomish knows what’s coming, too, and can be expected to shore up its pass defense.

But that might make the Panthers vulnerable to the Wildcats’ running game. Oak Harbor has used 16 different ballcarriers this season, four of whom have 10 or more carries each.

“We like to spread the ball around,” Ward said. “We have four guys that are all pretty equal.

“Running backs are usually pretty good athletes and they play linebacker or defensive back, too. We don’t like to pound one kid too much. We like to save our kids a bit because they play both ways. I wouldn’t know who to key on if I were playing us.”

But Ward knows who to key on for Snohomish.

“They want to get the ball to (Derek) Jones and they do it well,” Ward said.

Consequently, Oak Harbor will try to minimize Jones’ impact on the game. In which case, Snohomish may try something else.

“Their quarterback (Michael Low) has the ability to throw. It’s just not their mindset,” Ward said. “They may go to the pass. He runs the option, too. He’s a good running back.”

Here’s a look at this week’s big game and the rest of the weekend schedule:

Snohomish at Oak Harbor

Kickoff: 7 tonight at Oak Harbor Memorial Stadium.

Records: Snohomish is 3-0 in the Wesco North and overall. Oak Harbor is 2-0, 3-0.

Last year: Rodrick Rumble blocked an extra-point try with one minute to play to preserve Oak Harbor’s 35-34 victory.

Last week: Arlington was unsuccessful on a 30-yard field goal with 1:03 to play as Snohomish held onto a 31-28 win.

Quarterback Marshall Lobbestael was 18-for-22 for 225 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-7 win over Meadowdale.

Players to watch: Snohomish running back Derek Jones leads the Wesco North in rushing with 500 yards on 79 carries. Panther quarterback Michael Low, who did not complete a pass in his first two games, was 6-for-11 for 124 yards and a touchdown last week against Arlington.

Lobbestael leads the division in passing (30-for-48, 411 yards, eight TDs). The Wildcats’ top two rushers are Chris Valencia (24 carries, 186 yards) and Rodrick Rumble (10 carries, 139 yards). Rumble is also one of Oak Harbor’s leading receivers with eight catches for 87 yards. Brendon Kays has nine catches for 111 yards, Tony Thulin has three catches for 95 yards and Jeff Lamont has six catches for 75 yards.

Breaking down the game: Snohomish has to find a way to contain Lobbestael. Last year he was 10-for-16 for 212 yards and two TDs against the Panthers. Last week Arlington quarterback Trevor Milles was 17-for-23 for 277 yards and two TDs against the Panthers, so that’s an obvious point of attack for the Wildcats.

The best way for Snohomish to proceed is to keep Lobbestael off the field with its running game. If the Panthers can break Jones loose and control time of possession with a time-consuming ground game, they’ve got a shot at a road win.

Little-known fact: Lobbestael’s six touchdown passes against Meadowdale broke his older brother John’s school record.

John McDonald’s pick: Oak Harbor 31-21.

Mike Cane’s pick: Oak Harbor 35-31.

Tom Lafferty’s pick: Oak Harbor 17-14.

Mariner at Meadowdale

Kickoff: 5 tonight at Edmonds District Stadium.

Records: Mariner is 2-1 in the Wesco South and overall. Meadowdale is 1-1, 1-2.

Last year: After taking a three-point halftime lead, Meadowdale held Mariner to 58 yards in the second half of a 42-25 win.

Last week: Mike Schmaus carried 19 times for 147 yards and Matt Jones had 12 carries for 120 as Mariner rushed for 344 yards in a 42-18 win over Jackson.

Meadowdale managed just 112 total yards while surrendering 424 in a 49-7 loss to Oak Harbor.

Players to watch: Schmaus has 31 carries for 321 yards and six TDs, Jones has 22 for 222 yards and four TDs and fellow back Jerrel Grant has 14 carries for 134 yards and two TDs. Tevin Dillon leads the Marauders in receiving with nine catches for 116 yards and two TDs. Dalton Johnson has five catches for 98 yards and one TD. Jones has four catches for 85 yards and a TD. Quarterback Tyler Tuiasosopo is 26-for-44 for 393 yards and seven TDs.

Quarterback Matt Johnson (9-for-17, 155 yards, two TDs) is Meadowdale’s leading rusher with 21 carries for 202 yards and four TDs, but he did not play last week against Oak Harbor. Eric Rabon (182 yards rushing, 114 receiving) is a double threat for the Mavericks.

Breaking down the game: Meadowdale is coming off a miserable offensive performance against Oak Harbor, but the Mavericks have to take heart in the fact they have faced two of the best teams in the conference (No. 4-ranked Oak Harbor and No. 5-ranked Edmonds-Woodway) and are not likely to see anything they can’t handle from here on out.

On the other hand, Mariner played E-W to a virtual draw, losing by a point only when it failed on a 2-point conversion try, while Meadowdale fell to the Warriors by three TDs.

Little-known fact: The Mavericks managed just three first downs and were forced to punt eight times against Oak Harbor.

John McDonald’s pick: Mariner 26-20.

Mike Cane’s pick: Mariner 28-20.

Tom Lafferty’s pick: Mariner 21-14.

Lake Stevens at Cascade

Kickoff: 8 tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Radio: KRKO (1380 AM).

Records: Lake Stevens is 1-1 in the Wesco North, 2-1 overall. Cascade is 1-2, 1-2.

Last year: Lake Stevens overcame five first-half turnovers with 20 unanswered second-half points in a 20-10 win.

Last week: Defensive end Patrick McClure, defensive lineman Kyle McNallie and linebacker Clark Ferrucci combined for 42 tackles as Lake Stevens posted its second straight shutout, 14-0 over Monroe.

Nick Morrison carried 25 times for 108 yards and two TDs and Lorne Bridgeford carried 14 times for 123 yards as Cascade rushed for 283 yards in a 23-7 win over Stanwood.

Players to watch: Running back Isaac Molstre has 315 yards rushing on 65 carries for the Vikings. Quarterback Paxton Paynter is 21-for-36 for 189 yards and two TDs. Wide receiver David McMurray has eight catches for 71 yards and a TD, while Dane Gilbertson has seven catches for 70 yards and a TD.

Bridgeford has 34 carries for 239 yards and a touchdown. Morrison has 39 carries for 184 yards and two TDs. Cascade quarterback Dirk Snel is 8-for-16 for 120 yards and one TD.

Breaking down the game: Lake Stevens won last year despite a plethora of errors and last week it played a nearly mistake-free game. The Vikings showed they can stop a running game against Monroe and that is Cascade’s forte. This one might go to the team that can gain the upper hand with its passing game.

Little-known fact: Molstre rushed for 104 yards against Cascade last year.

John McDonald’s pick: Lake Stevens 14-7.

Mike Cane’s pick: Cascade 17-14.

Tom Lafferty’s pick: Cascade 10-7.

Other games tonight

Wesco North: Everett (1-2, 1-2) at Arlington (0-2, 0-3), Stanwood (1-2, 1-2) at Marysville-Pilchuck (1-2, 1-2), 7 p.m.

Wesco South: Shorecrest (1-2, 1-2) vs. Jackson (0-2, 0-3) at Everett Memorial Stadium, 5 p.m.; Mountlake Terrace (1-1, 1-2) vs. Shorewood (1-2, 1-2) at Shoreline Stadium, 7 p.m.; Lynnwood (0-3, 0-3) vs. Edmonds-Woodway (3-0, 3-0) at Edmonds District Stadium, 8 p.m.

Cascade Conference: Granite Falls (1-0, 3-0) at South Whidbey (1-0, 2-1), Lakewood (0-1, 0-3) at King’s (0-1, 1-2), Archbishop Murphy (1-0, 3-0) at Cedarcrest (0-1, 1-1-1), Sultan (1-0, 3-0) at Coupeville (0-1, 2-1), 7 p.m.

Non-conference: Monroe (2-1) vs. Kamiak (3-0) at Goddard Stadium, 7 p.m.

Games Saturday

Northwest 2B: Darrington (0-0, 2-1) at Orcas Island (0-0, 1-2), 1 p.m.

All three prognosticators – Prep Editor John McDonald, Herald Writer Mike Cane and KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty – were 2-1 on their picks last week and are 7-4 for the season.