The three-time defending Wesco 4A champion Lake Stevens football team is riding a 23-game league winning streak and looking to reaffirm its conference supremacy.
Monroe is a program on the rise, searching for a landmark victory that would further solidify its standing as one of the state’s elite.
In one of the biggest local regular-season football games in recent years, sixth-ranked Lake Stevens plays host to 10th-ranked Monroe on Friday night in a battle for the Wesco 4A title.
“Both are explosive on offense, both have dominating guys up front on the lines and both teams play exceptional defense,” said Jackson coach Joel Vincent, one of several Wesco coaches who offered their thoughts on the matchup. “It’s going to be a heck of a ballgame.”
Both Lake Stevens and Monroe are undefeated and have cruised past the opposition this season. The Vikings (8-0 overall, 6-0 in conference play) are averaging 49.8 points per game and allowing just nine, while the Bearcats (8-0, 6-0) are scoring 49.5 points per contest and yielding just 7.1.
“They’re evenly matched teams,” Kamiak coach Dan Mack said. “Both do things differently, but it’d be a great game to see.”
Monroe’s offense is led by senior running back JJ Jerome, who has rushed for 1,642 yards and 18 touchdowns this year, an average of 12.3 yards per carry. Complementing Jerome is dual-threat senior quarterback Zach Zimmerman and one of the area’s top receivers in junior Isaiah Cole, who has 31 catches for 594 yards and 10 touchdowns. Up front is a physical offensive line that paves the way for the Bearcats’ balanced attack.
“The big thing that stands out to me is the explosiveness of their team,” Glacier Peak coach Nick Bender said. “You might have them bottled up, and then all of a sudden they just kind of blow you out of the water with all of the speed and just all-around athleticism.”
One of the game’s biggest keys figures to be whether Lake Stevens can slow down Jerome, a feat no team has accomplished this season. Jerome has rushed for at least 100 yards in every game and surpassed 200 yards four times.
“It’s pick your poison,” Vincent said. “If you play seven in the box, Zimmerman will pick you apart. He’s got a strong arm, and he can really spin it. If you put five or six in the box, Jerome will have a field day. Lake Stevens has to find a way to limit Jerome and force Monroe to throw the ball more than it’d like to.”
But if there’s a team capable of containing the Bearcats’ star runner, it might be Lake Stevens.
“They just play real sound defense,” Cascade coach Shane Keck said. “They don’t do anything real tricky, but their kids play really fast and physical. They’re a challenge.”
On the other side of the ball, Lake Stevens’ offense is highlighted by an aerial attack that features junior quarterback Conor Bardue and receivers Hunter Eckstrom, Jake Rasmussen and Anthony Hutchinson — each of whom have at least 500 yards receiving and eight touchdown catches. Bardue has completed 74.1 percent of his passes for 2,141 yards, 34 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
“From the analytical side of things, I think he’s pretty darn good in that regard,” Bender said. “He’s able to read coverages and pick apart defenses.”
Lake Stevens’ offensive line has been strong in pass protection this season and Bardue has excelled at getting the ball out quickly, but the Vikings could have their hands full against Monroe’s high-pressure blitzing scheme.
“Monroe brings six or seven guys every time,” Vincent said. “It will be interesting to see if (Lake Stevens) can pass protect and give Bardue time to throw.”
Vincent also pointed out that big games like this often hinge on aspects such as the turnover battle.
“It will come down to which team can execute the best and limit mistakes and turnovers,” Vincent said. “In a game like this, turnovers will play a role. Both teams have to take care of the ball. That will be critical.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
