Wow! What a way to start the season. Last year, Jackson (9-0), Mariner (8-1), Kamiak (6-3) and Meadowdale (6-3) were the top four teams in the Wesco South. Beginning with Meadowdale tonight, Kamiak plays each of the other three in the first four weeks of the season.
The Knights face Jackson next week and Mariner in Week 4.
“It’s a rough start,” Kamiak coach Dan Mack said, “but you’ve gotta play ‘em sometime.”
For its part, Meadowdale plays two of the three teams it lost to last year in the first four weeks of the season. After Kamiak (28-25 OT) tonight, Meadowdale plays Edmonds District rivals Mountlake Terrace and Edmonds-Woodway, then the Mavericks face Jackson (28-20) in Week 4.
The Mavericks say they should have won both games last year. They want to prove it with victories this year.
And wins will be much more important for the Mavericks this season. Last year, as a Class 3A school, Meadowdale was assured a district playoff berth as long as it finished ahead of Lynnwood and Shorecrest. This year, as a Class 4A school, Meadowdale probably needs to finish as one of the top three 4A teams to reach the postseason.
Here’s a look the Meadowdale-Kamiak game and the rest of Week 1:
Meadowdale at Kamiak
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Goddard Stadium.
Records: Both teams were 6-3 in the Wesco South last season. Meadowdale was 6-5 overall, Kamiak 7-3.
Last year: Kamiak won 28-25 in overtime on a 1-yard plunge by quarterback Gary Rogers. Meadowdale took a 25-22 lead on a 26-yard Robert Peck field goal, but Rogers rallied the Knights, throwing a first-down pass to the Meadowdale 14 and rushing 4 yards for a first down at the 1.
Players to watch: Mark Iddins replaces Rogers (now at WSU) at quarterback for Kamiak and he has a solid corps of receivers. Speedy back Tony Virata returns. Fullback Joe Huss will be hard to stop, but may have more of an impact from his linebacking position.
Meadowdale also will be starting over at quarterback, but the Mavericks are experienced at the other skill positions. Running back/linebacker Travis Anderson and split end/defensive back Jake Linton were all-league players last season.
Breaking down the game: In preseason polling of the coaches, these two teams were the top two picks in the Wesco South. If the coaches are right, this amounts to a division championship game right out of the blocks. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that,” Mack said, “but it is going to be a great high school football game.”
With Rogers gone and three backs returning, one might expect a more balanced offense out of Kamiak, but Mack said the pass is going to remain a big part of the Knights’ attack.
With all its backs returning, Meadowdale is going to take it right at opponents with the running game. “They’re a load,” Mack said. “They’re like Mariner with a lot of backs. You never know who’s going to get the ball. We’ll have to play good gap defense and get a good push off the line.”
Little-known fact: In last year’s game, Meadowdale came from 13 points behind to lead at halftime, 14-13, then rallied from eight behind to tie the score with 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
Pick: Meadowdale, 21-20.
Cascade at Marysville-Pilchuck
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Quil Ceda Stadium.
Records: Cascade was 3-5 in the Wesco North last season, 4-6 overall. M-P was 4-4, 5-5.
Last year: Cascade won 6-0. The Bruins held M-P to 130 yards total offense and forced four turnovers. M-P crossed midfield just three times and its deepest penetration was to the Cascade 29. A short punt in the second quarter gave Cascade a short field at the M-P 35 and the Bruins drove to the game’s only score on a 4-yard run by Travis Miles.
Players to watch: Cascade returns running backs J.P. Oliver and Evan Crawford and coach Jake Huizinga said the Bruins are as fast as they have ever been.
M-P has returning starters in every tier of the defense, including defensive ends Denis Moynihan and Kalani Zoller, linebacker Justin Petrie and cornerback Shawn Bennett.
Breaking down the game: Huizinga said he expects M-P to take the same approach that brought it so much success the second half of last season – run between the tackles and try to spring the quarterback outside on the option.
The Bruins will try to capitalize on their team speed and attack from as many directions as possible.
Little-known fact: M-P would like to avoid the slow start that has plagued it the past two seasons. Last year, the Tomahawks were 0-3 to start the season, including the loss to Cascade and a 10-7 loss to Stanwood. Those two losses by a total of nine points were the difference between a 4-4 division record (fifth place) and a 6-2 mark (third place).
Pick: M-P, 20-14.
Snohomish at Arlington
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Arlington H.S.
Records: Snohomish was 7-1 in the Wesco North last season, 8-3 overall. Arlington was 2-6, 2-8.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM), tape delayed at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Last year: Snohomish clinched the second Wesco North playoff berth with a 38-13 victory. The Panthers held Arlington without a first down in the first half and themselves ran for 330 yards.
Players to watch: Casey Fortin, the division’s leading rusher last season, returns for Snohomish as does tight end Adam Heater, perhaps the best player in the Wesco North.
Senior quarterback Kenny Gunter and junior running backs Jake Webb and Taylor Brown will be the keys to the Arlington offense. “If we’re good, it’ll be because of those guys,” Arlington coach John Boitano said.
Breaking down the game: Arlington will rely on its defense out of the blocks and expects its offense to improve as the season progresses. The Eagles’ defense is faced with its biggest challenge in its first game, but in its summer camp, Arlington scrimmaged against Skyline, Kentwood and Puyallup and did not allow a score.
Air Snohomish? Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? The Panthers are a running team, right? Not this year. Coach Mark Perry said Snohomish has four of the best receivers in school history. He said even legendary coach Dick Armstrong would throw the ball to these guys.
Little-known fact: This is the first time Snohomish has begun a season with a league game in Perry’s 10 years at the helm.
Pick: Snohomish, 31-21.
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Monroe at Stanwood, Lake Stevens at Mount Vernon, both 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Mariner at Lynnwood (Edmonds Stadium), 5 p.m.; Shorecrest at Everett (Everett Memorial Stadium), Jackson at Shorewood (Shoreline Stadium), both 7 p.m.; Mountlake Terrace at Edmonds-Woodway (Edmonds Stadium), 8 p.m.
Non-conference: Granite Falls at Darrington, Cedarcrest at Nathan Hale, Liberty Bell at Concrete, Oak Harbor at Sehome (Bellingham’s Civic Field), Sultan at Vashon, Cedar Park Christian at Rainier, Charles Wright at Christian Faith, all 7 p.m.
Games Saturday
Non-conference: Bremerton at Archbishop Murphy, Lakewood at Orcas Island, South Whidbey at Port Townsend, all 1 p.m.; Coupeville at Blaine, 6 p.m.
John McDonald is the Herald’s Prep Editor
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