Key Week 1 games: Cascade, Everett meet in Battle of Broadway

City bragging rights are always at stake when the Cascade and Everett high school football teams square off in the annual Battle of Broadway.

But now, there’s also hardware on the line.

The Bruins and Seagulls kick off a new tradition in their annual rivalry clash Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium, with Everett mayor Cassie Franklin slated to present the winning team a traveling trophy dubbed the Mayor’s Cup. The winner gets to display the new trophy at its school until the following year’s matchup.

“It’s really special,” Cascade coach Jordan Sieh said of the trophy. “We want to make this (rivalry) as special as it can be. … There’s a lot of tradition in this city with athletics, and football specifically.”

This marks the second straight year the Bruins and Seagulls have faced each other in Week 1. Sieh said the crosstown rivalry definitely adds “some extra juice” to their season opener.

“We feel like we’ve been getting ready for this game since spring,” Sieh said. “This is the way you want to start the season. It kind of feels like a big championship game against a team that you’ve seen every single year. The rivalry, the history, the kids know each other. … We’re ready to go, and we’re excited for the opportunity.”

A unique dynamic to this matchup is that both teams are coached by alumni of their respective schools. Sieh, a 2006 Cascade graduate, is in his second season as head coach of the Bruins. Brien Elliott, a 1985 Everett graduate, will be making his head-coaching debut with the Seagulls.

Elliott is the third different head coach in three seasons for Everett, which he said has been challenging for the program’s upperclassmen. He said it’ll be key for his team to focus on the details and not get too caught up in the emotion of the rivalry game.

“It’s so important to stay grounded and focus on the task at hand,” Elliott said. “We really want to stay disciplined one play at a time — every man do his job and that type of mentality. … We’re really trying to take the emotion out of it and keep it nuts and bolts and just keep them based.”

CASCADE vs. EVERETT

When: 8 p.m., Friday

Where: Everett Memorial Stadium

Cascade (last season): 2-8 overall, 1-6 Wesco 4A

Everett (last season): 1-8 overall, 1-5 Wesco 3A South

Outlook: Cascade has won five of the past seven games in the Battle of Broadway, including a 46-0 rout in 2017 and a 32-22 victory last season. Both teams are coming off rough campaigns, having combined for just three wins last year. Cascade senior Davanta Murphy-McMillan returns to lead the Wing-T rushing attack for the Bruins, who aim to make strides in coach Jordan Sieh’s second season at the helm. This will be Brien Elliott’s head-coaching debut for the Seagulls, who are in rebuilding mode after graduating 18 of 32 players from last year’s one-win team.

FERNDALE at LAKE STEVENS

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Lake Stevens H.S.

Ferndale (last season): 4-6 overall, 3-3 Wesco 3A North; lost in 3A Week 10 playoffs

Lake Stevens (last season): 13-1 overall, 7-0 Wesco 4A; lost in 4A state-title game

Outlook: With a slew of returning talent from last year’s Class 4A state runner-up squad, Lake Stevens looks to embark on another run toward its first-ever state title. Two of the state’s top offensive linemen will be on display in this clash of traditional powers, which is a rematch of the Vikings’ 42-14 season-opening rout last year. Lake Stevens’ dominant offensive line is highlighted by three-star recruit Logan Bruce — a 6-foot-5, 300-pound senior guard with scholarship offers from Air Force and Eastern Washington — and four-year starting center Wyatt Hall. Ferndale returns University of Washington-bound guard Geirean Hatchett, a 6-foot-5, 280-pound four-star recruit who is the nation’s sixth-ranked senior offensive guard according to 247Sports.com. The Golden Eagles graduated numerous starters from last year’s 4-6 team, but aim to build on a strong finish that earned them a Week 10 playoff berth.

EASTLAKE at MONROE

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Monroe H.S.

Eastlake (last season): 8-3 overall, 3-1 KingCo 4A Crest; lost in 4A state first round

Monroe (last season): 4-6 overall, 4-3 Wesco 4A; lost in 4A Week 10 playoffs

Outlook: After making its first-ever state quarterfinal appearance in 2017, Monroe took a step back last season while battling youth and inexperience. But with the vast majority of their roster returning — including senior quarterback Gio Fregoso and Eastern Washington-bound all-purpose standout senior Efton Chism III — the Bearcats are looking to bounce back. This begins a stretch of three consecutive matchups against reigning 4A state-playoff teams for Monroe, which faces state semifinalist Woodinville in Week 2 before opening conference play against state runner-up Lake Stevens in Week 3. Eastlake graduated six of its eight all-league players from last season’s 8-3 team, but returns Montana State-bound senior quarterback Grady Robison and KingCo 4A Crest Division most valuable player Garrett Carney. The Wolves beat Monroe 35-19 in last year’s season opener.

MARYSVILLE PILCHUCK at SNOHOMISH

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium

Marysville Pilchuck (last season): 7-3 overall, 3-3 Wesco 3A North

Snohomish (last season): 8-3 overall, 6-0 Wesco 3A South; lost in 3A state first round

Outlook: Marysville Pilchuck ran all over Snohomish in last year’s season opener, rushing for 525 yards and eight touchdowns in a 63-34 rout of the eventual Wesco 3A champions. That victory was part of an up-and-down year for the Tomahawks, who finished 7-3 but suffered some tough losses that kept them from advancing to the postseason. Snohomish bounced back from last year’s Week 1 shellacking, later rattling off eight consecutive wins to earn its first state-playoff berth since 2007. The key for the Panthers will be whether their defense has made strides since last season, when they allowed 35-plus points six times. Both teams are breaking in new pieces on offense after graduating standout offensive linemen and at least one star running back from last year’s rushing attacks.

GLACIER PEAK at EDMONDS-WOODWAY

When: 5 p.m., Friday

Where: Edmonds Stadium

Glacier Peak (last season): 8-2 overall, 6-1 Wesco 4A; lost in 4A Week 10 playoffs

Edmonds-Woodway (last season): 4-6 overall, 3-3 Wesco 3A South

Outlook: This is a rematch of Glacier Peak’s 52-0 season-opening rout last year, when the Grizzlies amassed a staggering 552-47 advantage in total yardage while handing Edmonds-Woodway its most lopsided defeat in ages. Glacier Peak went on to an 8-2 season and a runner-up finish in Wesco 4A, but the Grizzlies will be breaking in plenty of new starters this fall after graduating eight all-conference players — including the dynamic trio of quarterback Ayden Ziomas and two-way standouts Ma’ake Fifita and Evan Mannes. Edmonds-Woodway is coming off its first losing season in at least 15 years, but looks to build on a strong finish that included four wins in its final six games. The Warriors have a massive void to fill at running back after graduating star Capassio Cherry, who topped 2,000 yards rushing last year.