It may be the first Wesco 3A contest for both football teams, but tonight’s Glacier Peak-Meadowdale game could very well decide the league championship and the top seed into the quad-district playoffs.
The two teams tied for first place last year and the head-to-head result determined their respective playoff positions.
And it looked like tonight’s game was going to be a battle of unbeatens until Glacier Peak stumbled last week against Mountlake Terrace.
Both teams were ranked in last week’s Associated Press poll (Glacier Peak sixth, Meadowdale 10th). Glacier Peak fell out of the rankings as a result of its loss. Meadowdale moved up to No. 7.
Oh yeah, how about Mountlake Terrace. The Hawks started the season 2-0 and I questioned whether they were on the verge of a breakout win when they played Meadowdale in Week 3.
Didn’t happen. Got pummeled 49-7.
Then they come back and beat the Peak.
Now they have an opportunity to put themselves in contention for their first-ever postseason playoff berth.
Terrace goes into tonight’s game against Cascade 1-0 in the Wesco South (3-1 overall) and sitting in third place. The top three teams advance.
Of course, the Bruins at 1-1, 3-1 also covet one of those playoff berths.
Here’s a look at those two games and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Glacier Peak at Meadowdale
When: 8 tonight
Where: Edmonds Stadium
Records: Glacier Peak is 3-1. Meadowdale is 4-0.
Last year: Meadowdale RB Naji Moore-Taylor rushed for 266 yards and five TDs in his team’s 34-21 win.
Last week: Glacier Peak QB Zach Richter threw for 229 yards and two TDs in a 24-21 loss to Mountlake Terrace.
Moore-Taylor ran for 187 yards and three TDs in a 38-28 win over Kamiak.
Players to watch: Glacier Peak’s Richter and Meadowdale’s Danny McDonald are the top two QBs in the Wesco 3A, although Richter has more than double the passing yardage of McDonald. Moore-Taylor averages 161 yards rushing per game.
On paper: This game looked like a toss-up until last week. Now, with four straight wins over Class 4A squads all by commanding margins, Meadowdale looks like a juggernaut that won’t be stopped.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Meadowdale 31-21. Mike Cane picks Meadowdale 28-21. Tom Lafferty picks Meadowdale 41-28.
Lake Stevens at Jackson
When: 8 tonight
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Records: Lake Stevens is 3-1. Jackson is 4-0.
Last year: RB Riley Carr scored a two-point conversion in overtime to give Jackson a 50-49 win.
Last week: RB Brennan Frost ran for 147 yards and three TDs to lead Lake Stevens to a 31-21 victory over Arlington.
QB Andy Gay threw for 197 yards and two TDs to lead Jackson to a 31-0 win over Edmonds-Woodway.
Players to watch: The “B” boys — Brennan Frost (365 yards rushing), Bryson Daggett (735 yards passing) and Brandon Prelar (262 yards receiving) — lead the way for Lake Stevens, although Frost is out with a concussion.
Gay has thrown for 825 yards and eight TDs. Carr (342 yards rushing, nine TDs) is his favorite receiver (13 catches, 273 yards, four TDs).
On paper: These two have had two common opponents. Lake Stevens mastered both (Stanwood and Arlington) by a total of 14 points. Jackson smoked them both with an average winning margin of 21 points.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Jackson 33-17. Mike Cane picks Jackson 34-24. Tom Lafferty picks Jackson 36-14.
Mountlake Terrace at Cascade
When: 5 tonight
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Records: Mountlake Terrace is 1-0 in the Wesco South and 3-1 overall. Cascade is 1-1, 3-1.
Last year: RB Aaron Frye ran for 271 yards and three TDs to lead Cascade to a 30-7 win.
Last week: QB Brandon Eckhart threw for 148 yards and a TD and ran for a score to lead the Hawks to a 24-21 victory over Glacier Peak.
Cascade converted two Everett turnovers into TDs in a 14-9 win.
Players to watch: Cascade RBs Dominique Moore and Aaron Miller have combined for 642 rushing yards.
Terrace RB Casey Ellersick has rushed for 414 yards.
On paper: It’s beginning to look like Terrace’s lopsided loss to Meadowdale is nothing to be ashamed of. Other teams suffered similar fates. Meanwhile, the Hawks have wins over Mariner and Glacier Peak, both playoff teams last season.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Cascade 17-15. Mike Cane picks Mountlake Terrace 20-14. Tom Lafferty picks Cascade 14-7.
Lakewood at Granite Falls
When: 7 tonight
Where: Granite Falls H.S.
Records:Both teams are 0-2 in the Cascade Conference. Lakewood is 2-2 overall. Granite Falls is 1-3.
Last year: RB Dylan Wold ran for 210 yards and RB Brandon Brown ran for 131 yards and two TDs to lead Granite Falls to a 30-15 win.
Last week: Lakewood QB Justin Lane threw for 220 yards and three TDs in a 54-34 loss to King’s.
Granite Falls RB Coty Walker rushed for 130 yards in a 17-3 loss to Coupeville.
Players to watch:Lakewood’s Lane already has more than 1,000 passing yards.
Granite Falls RBs Walker (237), Wold (161) and Zach Jones (149) have combined for 547 rushing yards.
On paper: Lakewood scores a lot of points (145 so far), but gives up even more (155). Granite Falls also has been out-scored (80-40). Somebody’s defense has to step up.
Predictions: John McDonald picks Lakewood 28-25. Mike Cane picks Lakewood 21-20. Tom Lafferty picks Lakewood 21-14.
Other games tonight
Wesco 3A: Everett (0-0, 2-2) vs. Lynnwood (0-0, 0-4) at Edmonds Stadium, 5 p.m.
Northwest 2B: La Conner (0-0, 1-3) at Darrington (0-0, 3-1), 7 p.m.
Non-conference: Shorecrest (1-3) at Sedro-Woolley (3-1), 7 p.m.
Cascade Conference: King’s (2-0, 3-1) at Cedarcrest (2-0, 4-0), South Whidbey (1-1, 2-2) at Sultan (0-2, 1-3), Coupeville (1-1, 3-1) at Archbishop Murphy (2-0, 3-1), 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Edmonds-Woodway (0-1, 1-3) vs. Kamiak (2-0, 2-2) at Goddard Stadium, 7 p.m. (KRKO radio, 1380 AM)
Wesco North: Monroe (1-1, 2-2) at Stanwood (0-2, 0-4), Oak Harbor (0-1, 1-3) at Snohomish (1-1, 3-1), 7 p.m.
Herald Prep Editor John McDonald was 3-0 on his picks last week. Herald Writer Mike Cane and KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty were 2-1. McDonald and Cane are 8-6 for the season. Lafferty is 7-7.
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