Playoff football preview: Lakewood looks for redemption
Published 11:17 pm Thursday, November 3, 2011
The team is the same and the place is the same, but the Lakewood football team is out to prove that the result will be quite different.
Just like they did a year ago, the Cougars host Burlington-Edison tonight in a 2A Northwest-Cascade Conference crossover playoff game, a game they lost 43-12 as the Tigers chewed up 326 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. With nine players returning on both sides of the ball, there are plenty Cougars left with memories of that game on the field tonight.
“Last year left a bad taste in our players’ mouths,” said Lakewood head coach Dan Teeter. “It’s definitely a shot at redemption for them.”
If Lakewood wins tonight it will be the first playoff win for the school since 1994 and it will tie the school record for wins in a season at nine. Also quarteback Justin Peterson needs just two touchdowns to break the school record for touchdowns in a season. Peterson has 13 rushing touchdowns, 5 receiving touchdowns and has also thrown for nine touchdowns.
Teeter said Lakewood will get a boost from Jerrod Jones, who will be playing some offensive line for the first time this season. Jones, who plays nose guard on defense, is shuffling to the offense to make up for injury.
In another 2A playoff game, Archbishop Murphy travels to Mount Baker to take on the second-place team from the Northwest Conference. Mount Baker went 7-2 this season, with its only losses to Meridian and Lynden. Going on the road is something new for the Wildcats, who are used to hosting playoff games, but coach Dave Ward said it’s a non-factor.
“We haven’t even talked about it,” said Ward. “We just have to play the cards we’ve been dealt.”
Murphy gets back right tackle James Peckham, who has been out a month with a bone fracture in his leg.
Mount Baker is led by running back Levi Wigg, who is second in the Northwest Conference with 1,259 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.
Other playoff games
S. Kitsap vs. Edmonds-Woodway
7:30 p.m., Edmonds Stadium
Opponent breakdown: Tailbacks Adam Gascoyne (759 rush yards, 5 TDs) and Dominic Boddie (480 rush yards, 10 TDs) lead the South Kitsap (6-3) ground attack and senior quarterback Eddie Meisner has thrown for 1,248 yards and 11 touchdowns. WR Aaron Le Deaux has 22 catches for 468 yards and 8 TDs.
Eastside Catholic vs. Oak Harbor
7 p.m., Wildcat Memorial Stadium
Opponent breakdown: Eastside Catholic (6-3), who played well against two top-ranked teams, O’Dea and Seattle Prep, is led by running back Chevy Walker (939 combined rushing/receiving, 13 TDs) and quarterback Trey Reynolds (1,736 combined passing/rushing, 14 TDs).
Glacier Peak vs. Bellevue
7 p.m., Bellevue H.S.
Opponent breakdown: Bellevue (9-0) has big wins over Oaks Christian, California power, and Skyline. The Wolverines, who run the Wing-T offensive attack, are led by quarterback Tyler Hasty and running backs John Nguyen and Rueben Mwhela. Budda Baker is a threat on special teams, having taken back a number of punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns.
Snohomish vs. Federal Way
7:30 p.m., Federal Way Mem. Stadium
Opponent breakdown: The Eagles’ offense is led by tailback D.J. May, who has rushed for 1,068 yards and 15 touchdowns. Quarterbacks D’Londo Tucker and Evan Elliott have combined to throw seven touchdowns and junior Mike Tate, who has caught nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns. On the line, Federal Way features a pair of college commits in Jordan Pulu and Uso Olive.
Mariner vs. Kentlake
7:30 p.m., French Field
Opponent breakdown: The Falcons are led by tailback Tanner Lucas and quarterback Steffin Church. Kentlake’s defense is led by Caleb Mathena and Ryan Archibald, who led them to an undefeated regular season in the South Puget Sound League.
