Key Week 5 games: GP-Cascade features battle of familiar coaches

Two years ago, Shane Keck and Jordan Sieh were working together on the Cascade High School football team’s coaching staff.

Now, they’re set to square off against each other for the first time as head coaches.

Keck and Sieh will be roaming opposite sidelines Friday when Glacier Peak faces Cascade in a Wesco 4A clash at Everett Memorial Stadium.

“It’s really cool,” said Sieh, who was an assistant coach under Keck at Cascade. “I wouldn’t be here where I am without him, there’s no question. I learned so much about the game from him and how to run a program, and so going to battle on a Friday night against him, it’s fun. It’s competitive.”

Keck, who was Cascade’s head coach for three seasons, stepped down in the spring of 2018. Sieh, who’d been an assistant with the Bruins for the previous seven years, took over as head coach.

Keck, meanwhile, joined Glacier Peak’s program last season as the defensive coordinator. Then after health issues forced Nick Bender to step down as the Grizzlies’ head coach just prior to this season, Keck was elevated to head coach.

“I don’t know if it’s much different than last year when I was a coordinator going against (Cascade),” Keck said. “I like all those guys. I’ve got a lot of respect for what they do, (and there are a) bunch of great kids over there as well.

“It’s a little weird sometimes, because you put a lot of effort and put your heart and soul in one place, and then you’re somewhere else. But I think at the end of the day, it’s about our kids and their kids.”

The matchup features an intriguing battle between Cascade’s high-powered Wing-T rushing attack and Glacier Peak’s stifling defense.

“It’s kind of a matchup of two strengths,” Sieh said.

Cascade (2-2 overall, 1-1 Wesco 4A) averages 40.5 points per game, led by standout running back Davanta Murphy-Mcmillan. The senior has rushed for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns in just four games.

“Davanta’s one big piece of (their success), but Michael Purl, their other running back, he’s really good as well,” Keck said. “And I think they’re really good up front (on the offensive line). … They’ve got a good package together.”

On the other side, Glacier Peak (4-0, 2-0) allows just 8.3 points per game and hasn’t yielded more than 14 points in a contest all season.

“When it comes to the game plan, I don’t know if there’s anybody that knows more defense than Shane,” Sieh said. “I’m being serious. The guy is a college-level coach.

“They might be the most disciplined defense in the league,” he added. “It’s really good. They have talent and they’re super disciplined, so it’s a tremendous challenge for us. … It’s going to be a battle.”

GLACIER PEAK at CASCADE

When: 5 p.m. Friday

Where: Everett Memorial Stadium

The skinny: It’s a matchup of strengths as Murphy-Mcmillan and Cascade’s high-powered Wing-T rushing attack square off against Glacier Peak’s stifling defense. It’s also a reunion of sorts for Grizzlies head coach Shane Keck, who coached the Bruins from 2015 to 2017. Since moving up to Wesco 4A in 2016, Glacier Peak has beaten Cascade three straight times by a combined 139-40 margin.

Glacier Peak: 4-0 overall, 2-0 Wesco 4A; beat Kamiak 41-6 last week

About the Grizzlies: Glacier Peak has won all four of its contests by at least 21 points, including back-to-back conference routs the past two weeks over the winless duo of Jackson and Kamiak. Dylan Owen has rushed for 418 yards and six TDs, including 219 yards and four scores last week. First-year starting quarterback Tyson Lang has seven TD passes and no interceptions.

Cascade: 2-2 overall, 1-1 Wesco 4A; beat Jackson 40-0 last week

About the Bruins: After opening conference play with a 48-47 double-overtime loss to Mount Vernon, Cascade rebounded last week by routing Jackson. Murphy-Mcmillan has rushed for a whopping 1,076 yards and 15 TDs, averaging 9.1 yards per carry and 269 yards per game. Michael Purl also had a big rushing performance last week, complementing Mcmillan with 205 yards and two scores.

Herald pick: Glacier Peak

SHORECREST at SNOHOMISH

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium

Radio: KRKO 1380 AM

Webcast: STSPN.com

The skinny: This Wesco 3A South clash is a rematch of Snohomish’s 33-27 overtime win over Shorecrest last season. The Panthers look to improve to 3-0 in league play, while Shorecrest aims to climb back into the Wesco 3A South race.

Shorecrest: 3-1 overall, 2-1 Wesco 3A South; beat Shorewood 13-7 last week

About the Scots: After a 38-14 loss to Edmonds-Woodway in its league opener three weeks ago, Shorecrest defeated Everett and then beat rival Shorewood last week with a go-ahead fourth-quarter TD. The Scots committed costly turnovers in the loss to Edmonds-Woodway and have struggled offensively, topping 14 points only once this season. But their defense has stepped up, limiting opposing offenses to just 10.8 points per contest.

Snohomish: 2-2 overall, 2-0 Wesco 3A South; beat Everett 48-12 last week

About the Panthers: Snohomish rebounded nicely from its non-league losses to Marysville Pilchuck and Glacier Peak, outscoring Shorewood and Everett by a combined 104-22 margin during back-to-back conference routs the past two weeks. In those two games, Snohomish’s defense scored a pair of TDs and allowed just 280 total yards combined.

Herald pick: Snohomish

LYNNWOOD at EDMONDS-WOODWAY

When: 5 p.m. Friday

Where: Edmonds Stadium

The skinny: Edmonds-Woodway looks to remain unbeaten in Wesco 3A South play, while Lynnwood aims to continue its breakthrough start to the season. The Warriors have beaten Lynnwood at least 16 straight times.

Lynnwood: 3-1 overall, 1-1 Wesco 3A South; beat Juanita 15-7 last week

About the Royals: It’s been a resurgent campaign for Lynnwood, which is off to a 3-1 start after winning just one game combined over the previous two seasons. The Royals snapped a 12-game Wesco 3A South losing streak three weeks ago by beating Everett, then played Meadowdale tough the following week before losing 17-14 on a last-minute field goal. Tanner Fahey has a team-high 308 yards receiving and five TD catches.

Edmonds-Woodway: 2-2 overall, 2-0 Wesco 3A South; beat Meadowdale 27-13 last week

About the Warriors: Defense has keyed Edmonds-Woodway’s 2-0 start in Wesco 3A South play. In their league opener against Shorecrest, the Warriors scored on an interception return, a punt return and a fumble recovery while rattling off 38 unanswered second-half points for a 38-14 victory. And in last week’s rivalry win over Meadowdale, Edmonds-Woodway’s defense surrendered just 245 total yards.

Herald pick: Edmonds-Woodway

No. 9 LAKEWOOD at No. 2 LYNDEN

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Lynden H.S.

The skinny: After shutting out Sedro-Woolley last week, Lakewood travels north for another Northwest 2A Sky Division showdown against a state-ranked team. Lynden beat Lakewood 31-14 last season en route to the Sky Division crown and later advanced to the 2A state title game.

Lakewood: 4-0 overall, 1-0 Northwest 2A Sky Division; beat Sedro-Woolley 27-0 last week

About the Cougars: Lakewood opened Sky Division play last week by blanking then-ninth-ranked Sedro-Woolley, limiting the Cubs to just 104 yards of total offense. It was the second shutout of the season for the Cougars, who allow just 7.8 points per game. Dating back to its win over Evergreen two weeks ago, Lakewood has held opponents scoreless for six consecutive quarters. On the other side of the ball, dual-threat quarterback Jared Taylor has accounted for 1,137 yards and 14 TDs, including 591 yards rushing and eight scoring runs.

Lynden: 3-1 overall, 1-0 Northwest 2A Sky Division; beat Archbishop Murphy 10-7 last week

About the Lions: Second-ranked Lynden is coming off back-to-back victories over 2A top-five teams. Two weeks ago, Steven DiLorenzo rushed for a school-record 320 yards and three TDs to lead the Lions to a 56-47 win over Steilacoom. Then in last week’s Sky Division opener, Lynden kicked a go-ahead fourth-quarter field goal and held then-No. 2-ranked Archbishop Murphy to just 138 yards of total offense to earn a pivotal league victory. The Lions’ lone loss came in a season-opening defeat to Mount Baker, currently the No. 2-ranked 1A team in the state.

Herald pick: Lynden