After finishing the 2013 regular season 9-0, the Lakewood Cougars had high hopes for a deep playoff run. That all came crashing down in Week 1 of the postseason when the Cougars were stunned by Sehome, 35-13.
Lakewood’s record heading into the playoffs this year is 6-3, but head coach Dan Teeter is not as concerned with the wins and losses as he is with how his team is playing going into tonight’s 2A District 1 playoff game against Burlington-Edison.
“I think our schedule that we put together for our non-league games early on gave us a chance to compete against some high-level competition and we did some things throughout the offseason with some scrimmages that gave us a chance to play playoff-caliber teams,” Teeter said. “Every bit of our focus all year has been to peak at this time of the season, so hopefully we’re going to learn from last year and go out and play our best at this time.”
The Cougars have one of the most balanced rushing attacks in the area, with five players with more than 200 yards on the ground. Senior quarterback Blake Watts leads the team with 584 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He’s also passed for 774 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Paulmer Gregory, who began the season as the Cougars’ starting quarterback, has rushed for 420 yards and four touchdowns.
“If you look at our statistics this year, we don’t have any one guy that has got phenomenal numbers, but we’ve actually rushed for more yards this year than any other year that I’ve been at Lakewood, other than 2011,” Teeter said. “We’re not looking for individual performances, we’re just looking for a solid team performance.”
Last year’s loss to Sehome proved to be a motivating factor for the Cougars, but going into Friday’s game, they are focused on Burlington-Edison.
“We haven’t really talked about it,” Teeter said of last year’s playoff loss. “There might have been a comment here or there that we learned something last year and we’ve got to prepare and be ready to go, but this is a whole different team. There’s a lot of different guys that have stepped up and we’re very much focused on finishing well.”
Lakewood, Archbishop Murphy, Cedarcrest and Shorecrest all have their work cut out for them this weekend facing tough opponents form the Northwest Conference. The No. 1 seed from the conference, Lynden, is aiming for its fourth consecutive state championship.
“The Northwest Conference, in my opinion, is top to bottom the number one 2A conference in the state …,” Teeter said. “It’s shown itself out with Lynden winning so many titles, but they’ve had to fight for league wins up there this year, so every team, one through four, that makes the playoffs is going to come out battle-tested.”
Here are some of Friday’s other playoff games:
Todd Beamer at Kamiak
Where: Goddard Stadium
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Key Players: Todd Beamer — Taylor Davis, Sr., QB; Andrew Tofaeono, Jr., RB/MLB; Isaiah Lard, Jr., QB/RB/WR; Christian Stafford, Sr., WR/FS/K. Kamiak — Tyler Becker, Sr., QB/SS; Jared Pexton, Sr., WR/S; Jordan Mochmar, Sr., C/DE; Jo Jo Binda, Sr., RB/DB; Nate Shubert, Jr., TE/DE; Brandon Beasley, Sr., RB/LB; Brock Merkley, Jr., WR/DB.
Records: Todd Beamer 6-3, Kamiak 7-2
Twitter: @aaronlommers
What you need to know: Todd Beamer enters the playoffs after losing back-to-back games to Federal Way and Kentwood to close the regular season. Kamiak comes into the game having lost just two games all season — one to Wesco 3A champion Marysville Pilchuck in Week 1 and the other to Wesco 4A champion Lake Stevens in Week 8. Kamiak senior running back Jo Jo Binda (1,357 yards) and senior quarterback Tyler Becker (1,738 passing yards) headline one of the most balanced offenses in the area.
Herald Pick: Kamiak
Mariner at Federal Way
Where: Federal Way Memorial Field
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Key Players: Mariner — Dyonte Law, Sr., RB/DB; Greg Whitaker, Sr., RB/LB; Jeremiah Bell, Sr., OL/LB; Octayvien Sapp, Sr., TE/LB; Conner Griffin, Sr., OL/DL; DeRhaun Mallett, Jr., OL/DL. Federal Way — Chico McClatcher, Sr., RB/DB; D’jimon Jones, Jr., QB; Bobi Sims, Jr., WR/DB; Ben Koler, Jr., QB/WR/DB; David Tiumalu, Sr., OL/MLB.
Records: Mariner 4-5, Federal Way 7-2
Twitter: @heraldnetpreps
What you need to know: Mariner qualified for the postseason this past Saturday with a wild 41-40 win over Snohomish. The Marauders “reward” is a 7-2 Federal Way team that has one of the most talented running backs in the state in senior Chico McClatcher, who has rushed for 1,837 yards this season.
Herald Pick: Federal Way
Seattle Prep at Marysville Pilchuck
Where: Quil Ceda Stadium
When: 7 p.m.
Key Players: Seattle Prep — Sam Kopf, Sr., RB/LB; Jacob Tereo, So., QB/RB/FS; Jesse Franklin, So., RB. Marysville Pilchuck — Austin Joyner, Sr., RB/DB; Nic Alonso, Sr., DB; Drew Hatch, Sr., LB; Killian Page, Sr., RB/LB; Corbin Ferry, Jr., OL; Bryce Vitcovich, Sr., DL; Hunter Trueax, Sr., RB; JJ Valencia, Sr., RB.
Records: Seattle Prep 4-5, Marysville Pilchuck 7-1
Radio: KRKO 1380 AM
Twitter: @heraldnetpreps
What you need to know: The Panthers come into tonight’s game with a sub-.500 record and an offense that revolves mainly around one player, senior running back Sam Kopf. MP counters with two 1,000-yard rushers: Killian Page (1,254) and Austin Joyner (1,065).
Herald Pick: Marysville Pilchuck
Auburn at Meadowdale
Where: Edmonds Stadium
When: 7:30 p.m.
Key Players: Auburn — Justin Ioimo, Jr., QB/DB; Nick Kaatz, Sr., QB/DB; Avery Wade, Sr., RB/DB; Deshawndre Appleton, Jr., RB/DB; Patrick O’Dell, Sr., FB/LB; Malik Williams, Jr., RB/DB. Meadowdale — Malik Braxton, Sr., RB/WR/DB; Charlie White, Sr., TE/LB; Nick Neely, Sr., LB; Tim Smith, Sr., OL/DL; Brett Schafer, Sr., K; Garrett Walsh, Sr., FB/DE; Rory Spillum, Sr., RB/DB; Jimmy Bruders, Sr., LB.
Records: Auburn 6-3, Meadowdale 7-2
Webcast: www.soundlivesportsnetwork.com
Twitter: @krueger_david
What you need to know: The Trojans have found success using a two-quarterback system that features junior Justin Ioimo and senior Nick Kaatz. They face a stingy Meadowdale defense that allowed just 76 points in six league games this season.
Herald Pick: Meadowdale
Burlington-Edison at Lakewood
Where: Arlington H.S.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Key Players: Burlington-Edison — Tarren Lautenbach, Sr., TE/LB; Mason Schwetz, Sr., QB/DB; Timmie Rush, Sr., RB/SS; Curtis Carlson, Jr., RB/FS; Tavian Swanson, Jr., RB/DB. Lakewood — Blake Watts, Sr., RB/S; Brett Bustad, Sr., DB/WR; Alec Burbee, Sr., OL/DL; Paulmer Gregory, Sr., QB/DB.; Jordan Jira, Jr., OL/DL; Bryce Stanton, Sr., TE/LB.
Records: Burlington-Edison 6-3, Lakewood, 6-3
Radio: KBRC 1430 AM
Twitter: @heraldnetpreps
What you need to know: The two teams share one common opponent this season: three-time defending state champion Lynden. B-E lost to Lynden 23-21 in Week 6, and Lakewood fell to the Lions 38-21 in Week 2.
Herald Pick: Burlington-Edison
Timberline at Lake Stevens
Where: Lake Stevens H.S.
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Timberline 5-4, Lake Stevens 8-1
Herald Pick: Lake Stevens
Monroe at Graham-Kapowsin
Where: Art Crate Stadium
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Monroe 7-2, Graham Kapowsin 8-1
Herald Pick: Graham-Kapowsin
Kennedy Catholic at Oak Harbor
Where: Oak Harbor H.S.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Records: Kennedy Catholic 8-0, Oak Harbor 6-1
Herald Pick: Oak Harbor
Mountlake Terrace at Capital
Where: Ingersoll Stadium
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Webcast: www.soundlivesportnetwork.com
Records: Mountlake Terrace 7-2, Capital 7-2
Herald Pick: Capital
Glacier Peak at Auburn Mountainview
Where: Auburn Memorial Stadium
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Glacier Peak 6-3, Auburn Mountainview 8-1
Herald Pick: Auburn Mountainview
Arlington at Eastside Catholic
Where: Eastside Catholic H.S.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Records: Arlington 5-4, Eastside Catholic 8-1
Herald Pick: Eastside Catholic
Squalicum at Archbishop Murphy
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Radio: KGMI 790 AM
Webcast: www.stspn.com
Records: Squalicum 7-2, Archbishop Murphy 7-2
Herald Pick: Archbishop Murphy
Cedarcrest at Sedro-Woolley
Where: Sedro-Woolley H.S.
When: 7 p.m.
Radio: KAPS 102.1 FM, 660 AM
Records: Cedarcrest 5-4, Sedro-Woolley 8-1
Herald Pick: Sedro-Woolley
Shorecrest at Lynden
Where: Civic Stadium
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Radio: KPUG 1170 AM
Records: Shorecrest 0-8, Lynden 8-1
Herald Pick: Lynden
Meridian at King’s
Where: King’s H.S.
When: 7 p.m.
Records: Meridian 5-4, King’s 7-2
Herald Pick: King’s
Cedar Park Christian-Bothell at Mount Baker
Where: Civic Stadium
When: Friday, 4:30 p.m.
Radio: KPUG 1170 AM
Records: Cedar Park Christian-Bothell 2-7, Mount Baker 7-2
Herald Pick: Mount Baker
Also of note
Tonight’s playoff game between Arlington and Eastside Catholic is a rematch of Week 3 of the regular season. Eastside Catholic won, 48-7. … Lakewood faces a familiar foe in the first round of the 2A district playoffs. Burlington-Edison has been the Cougars’ first-round opponent in three of the past five seasons. … Kamiak quarterback Tyler Becker needs 262 passing yards to join Lake Stevens quarterback Jacob Eason as the only quarterbacks in the area to throw for 2,000 yards this season. … The Wesco 4A rushing title is still up for grabs with the top three running backs going into this weekend’s games separated by 128 yards. Lake Stevens running back Andrew Grimes has the lead with 1,485 yards, Mariner’s Dyonte Law has 1,392 and Kamiak’s Jo Jo Binda has 1,357. … Going into Thursday’s game against Inglemoor, Marysville Getchell running back Collin Montez needed 212 yards in his final game of the season to reach 2,000. … Everett senior receiver Dominic Barashkoff was on the opposing sideline to his father, Jackson assistant coach Alex Barashkoff, when the two teams concluded their seasons against each other Thursday night at Everett Memorial Stadium. It’s not the first father-son matchup involving Jackson this season, Timberwolves head coach, Joel Vincent, faced his son Tynan, who plays for Marysville Getchell, in Week 2.
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