Marysville Pilchuck thumps Arlington, wins Wesco 3A North

ARLINGTON — For the first time since 2015, a Snohomish County team reigns supreme in Wesco 3A North.

Marysville Pilchuck and its prolific rushing attack proved to be too much for Arlington, as the Tomahawks racked up 358 yards on the ground and whacked the Eagles, 42-14, to claim the Wesco 3A North crown for the first time since 2014.

“When you set out your goals to win a league championship at the beginning of the season and you actually do it, it’s pretty freaking cool,” Marysville Pilchuck coach Brandon Carson said. “These kids are so fun to coach and I’m happy for them. They deserve this.

“All of them love to play football. They’re not just playing it to play. They’re really into it. They dive into game plans, these seniors have been playing for me for three years and now here we are.”

After missing a field goal on their first drive, which started inside the red zone after a fumbled opening kickoff by Arlington, the Tomahawks cashed in on six touchdowns in six consecutive drives.

It started with Dylan Carson’s 5-yard touchdown scamper with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter, then Jake Elwood snuck it in from 2 yards out to put the Tomahawks up by two touchdowns.

Chase Petersen snagged a 78-yard touchdown pass to briefly cut the lead in half for the Eagles, but the Tomahawks added two more scores, as Carson’s 6-yard touchdown run and Jordan Justice’s 9-yard touchdown run gave the Tomahawks a 28-7 lead at halftime.

Marysville Pilchuck marched down the field and Carson scored his third touchdown of the game with a 12-yard run to open the second half.

“Our offensive line did a nice job of getting some push and pushing those guys around,” Brandon Carson said.

Arlington quarterback Trent Nobach tossed his second touchdown of the night to Joseph Schmidt with 4:24 to go in the third quarter, but that’s all the Eagles could muster.

“I think they’re probably just a little better than us,” Arlington coach Greg Dailer said. “We didn’t play well, we didn’t do any ourselves any favors. They’re really good and really deep.”

IMPACT

Marysville Pilchuck (8-0, 6-0 Wesco 3A) will host Wesco 3A South champion Snohomish in a Week 9 crossover game to determine which team will be the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds from Wesco in a Week 10 winner-to-state game after the Tomahawks ran the table in the regular season.

Arlington (6-2, 4-2) will be the No. 3 seed in the Wesco 3A North, no matter the outcome of Squalicum’s game against Oak Harbor on Saturday, as the three teams have already drawn numbers, according to Dailer. If Squalicum wins and creates a three-way tie, the Storm will be the No. 2 seed and Ferndale will get the No. 4 seed.

ALL THREE PHASES

Arlington had a chance to cut into Marysville Pilchuck’s lead late in the second quarter, but the Eagles never had a chance to do so after fumbling the kickoff for the second time on the night.

It set up the Tomahawks’ offense for an easy touchdown drive and put the Tomahawks up 21 points, with the added benefit of receiving the second-half kickoff.

“Our special teams created some turnovers and in all three phases, I was impressed with what we did tonight,” Carson said.

KEY PERFORMERS

— Carson rushed for three touchdowns and 128 yards on 21 carries to lead the Tomahawks on the ground.

— Justice picked up 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and caught a touchdown pass as well.

— Nobach completed 13-of-21 passes and threw for 160 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles.

UP NEXT

Marysville Pilchuck hosts Snohomish a rematch of their Week 1 tilt in a Week 9 crossover game between top seeds. The Tomahawks beat the Panthers 17-14 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in that matchup. Arlington will host Meadowdale for the matchup between the No. 3 seeds from the Wesco 3A North and South, respectively.

Marysville Pilchucks Jay Gray (left) tries to evade Arlingtons Hunter Eastman during a Wesco 3A North game on Friday at John C. Larson Stadium in Arlington. Gray and the Tomahawks beat Eastman and the Eagles 42-14 to clinch the league title. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

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Marysville Pilchuck’s Jordan Justice (left) deflects a pass away from Arlington’s Joseph Schmidt during a Wesco 3A North game on Friday at John C. Larson Stadium in Arlington. Marysville Pilchuck beat Arlington 42-14 to win the Wesco 3A North title. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

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Marysville Pilchuck’s Jordan Justice stiff-arms Arlington’s Joseph Schmidt during a Wesco 3A North game on Friday at John C. Larson Stadium in Arlington. Marysville Pilchuck beat Arlington 42-14 to win the Wesco 3A North title. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

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Arlington’s Cade Younger tries to evade a tackle attempt by Marysville Pilchuck’s Kyle Nyblod during a Wesco 3A North game on Friday at John C. Larson Stadium in Arlington. Marysville Pilchuck beat Arlington 42-14 to win the Wesco 3A North title. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

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Marysville Pilchuck’s Jordan Justice runs through the Arlington defense during a Wesco 3A North game on Friday at John C. Larson Stadium in Arlington. Marysville Pilchuck beat Arlington 42-14 to win the Wesco 3A North title. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

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