It’s traditional in the postseason to play teams from outside your area, so it’s uncommon for two teams to meet for the second time in a season.
But that’s going to happen Saturday night at Everett Memorial Stadium, where Kentwood and Stanwood clash in a Class 4A quad-district state-qualifying game.
It just so happens that Kentwood was Stanwood’s lone non-league loss this season. The Conquerors won 20-14 at Stanwood on Sept. 24.
“It’s weird how it worked out,” Stanwood coach Dick Abrams said. “I don’t know if it’s an advantage, but it helps to know what you’re going up against.”
And what the Spartans are going up against is a typical Kentwood playoff team, with plenty of talent and speed at the skill positions.
“And the tailback they’re using now (Kermaine Jackson) hardly played against us the first time,” Abrams said.
This time, the two teams will play on an artificial surface. Stanwood is coming off its first and only game on turf, a 25-17 win at Snohomish.
“I was happy we played (Kentwood) on grass the first time,” Abrams said. “I’d much prefer to play them on grass. Turf makes everybody faster.”
One thing in Stanwood’s favor is its defense against the run. Kentwood is primarily a running team.
“But last time they hurt us with a receiver (Aaron Boyce). He caught two TD passes,” Abrams said.
The Spartans will try to hurt Kentwood with the run.
“We need to run like we’ve been doing, control the ball and keep their offense off the field,” Abrams said.
Here’s a look at the Kentwood-Stanwood game and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Kentwood vs. Stanwood
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM) joined in progress following the Silvertips broadcast.
Tickets: General admission $6; students with ASB, senior citizens, elementary students $4; pre-schoolers free.
Records: Kentwood 7-2, third in the South Puget Sound League North Division. Stanwood 7-2, first in the Wesco North.
Rankings: Kentwood is No. 9 in the WashingtonPreps.com poll, unranked in the AP poll. Stanwood is unranked.
Players to watch: Kentwood running back Travis Nauta is the second-leading rusher in the SPSL with 1,023 yards. Receiver Aaron Boyce has 18 catches for 366 yards. QB Andrew Stephenson is 37-for-92 for 570 yards.
Stanwood running back Jon Rockstad has carried 182 times for 1,126 yards. Fellow back Darin Schwarze has 533 yards on 124 carries. QB Aaron Boehme is 35-for-80 for 453 yards.
Breaking down the game: This is the second meeting between the two teams this season. Kentwood won 20-14 on Sept. 24 at Stanwood. The Conquerors have won seven in a row since losing their first two games. Stanwood has posted impressive road wins at Oak Harbor and Snohomish over the past three weeks. The Spartans have won four in a row since a midseason loss to Arlington. Both teams are riding a wave of momentum, but Kentwood has more big-game experience.
Little-known fact: Stanwood is seeking its third state appearance and first since 1996.
Pick: Kentwood 27-20.
Marysville-Pilchuck vs. Tahoma
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Kent-Meridian H.S.
Directions: I-5 south to I-405. I-405 south to Highway 167. Follow Highway 167 south to 84th Ave. S. exit. Follow 84th Ave. S. to N. Central Ave. Left on Highway 516. Highway 516 to 10020 SE 256th, Kent, on your left.
Tickets: General admission $6; students with ASB, senior citizens, elementary students $4; pre-schoolers free.
Records: M-P 7-2 overall, third in the Wesco North. Tahoma 7-2, first in the SPSL North.
Rankings: Both teams unranked.
Players to watch: M-P running back Marquise Moses leads the Wesco in rushing with 1,337 yards. Teammate Justin Petry has rushed for 511 yards.
Tahoma’s Jon Montalvo has 593 yards rushing. Receiver Daniel Ulrich has 16 catches for 279 yards. QB Matt Hanson is 47-for-94 for 530 yards.
Breaking down the game: M-P ought to be able to run the ball. The Tomahawks’ scoring droughts in recent weeks against Stanwood and in the second half last week against Oak Harbor are a concern, however.
Little-known fact: M-P’s two losses were by a total of eight points.
Pick: M-P 21-14.
Oak Harbor at Bethel
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Bethel.
Directions: I-5 south to I-405. I-405 south to Highway 167. Highway 167 becomes Highway 512. Take the Canyon Rd. exit toward Summit. Left on Canyon Rd. E. Right on 176th St. E. Left on 38th Ave. E., which becomes 200th St. E. Right on 42nd Ave. E. Right on 208th St. E. Left on Wright Rd. E, which becomes 38th Ave. E. Follow 38th Ave. E. to 22215 38th Ave. E. on your left.
Tickets: General admission $6; students with ASB, senior citizens, elementary students $4; pre-schoolers free.
Records: Oak Harbor 6-3, second in the Wesco North. Bethel 8-1, second in the SPSL South.
Rankings: Bethel is No. 9 in the AP poll, No. 10 in the WashingtonPreps.com poll. Oak Harbor is unranked.
Players to watch: Oak Harbor running back Dan Raymond has rushed for 806 yards. Fellow back Gabe Vest has 746 yards rushing. Raymond also has 241 receiving yards. QB Marshall Lobbestael is 75-for-149 for 1,091 yards.
Bethel RB Jake Smith has rushed for 831 yards. Receiver Jamil Turner leads the SPSL with 53 catches and 1,000 yards. QB Chuck Hogue is 94-for-177 for 1,539 yards.
Breaking down the game: Oak Harbor hasn’t seen a passing team the quality of Bethel. But any team that passes as well as Oak Harbor probably has a good pass defense. If Oak Harbor can pick off some passes, it can stage an upset.
Little-known fact: Bethel was held to less than 27 points only in its lone loss, 30-7 to Puyallup.
Pick: Bethel 35-21.
Auburn vs. Meadowdale
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday at Edmonds Stadium.
Tickets: General admission $6; students with ASB, senior citizens, elementary students $4; pre-schoolers free.
Records: Auburn 7-2, second in the SPSL North Division. Meadowdale 7-2, second in the Wesco South.
Rankings: Both teams are unranked.
Players to watch: Auburn RB Brian Sahlin has rushed for 655 yards. Receiver Max Komar is second in the SPSL with 34 catches for 533 yards. QB Richard Bigelow is 54-for-149 for 815 yards.
Meadowdale RB Travis Anderson has 911 rushing yards. Receiver Jake Linton has 42 catches for 705 yards. QB Demetri Huffman is 66-for-120 for 1,035 yards.
Breaking down the game: These two teams are pretty evenly matched. Linton has a history of turning it up a notch in big games and he has been through the pressure cooker of state-tournament play in basketball. That might be the edge Meadowdale needs.
Little-known fact: Huffman has 351 yards rushing, making him a threat to run or throw.
Pick: Meadowdale 21-17.
Kamiak vs. Shelton
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Tumwater H.S.
Directions: I-5 south to exit 102 toward Black Lake. Left on Trosper Rd. SW. Right on Capital Blvd. S. Right on Israel Rd. Follow SW. Israel Rd. SW to 700 Israel Rd. SW on your right.
Tickets: General admission $6; students with ASB, senior citizens, elementary students $4; pre-schoolers free.
Records: Kamiak 6-3, third in the Wesco South. Shelton 9-0, first in the Narrows Bridge Division.
Rankings: Shelton is No. 6 in the AP poll, No. 7 in the WashingtonPreps.com poll. Kamiak is unranked.
Players to watch: Kamiak QB Mark Iddins is 127-for-196 for 1,739 yards. Receiver Rebel Hall has 54 catches for 652 yards. Sean Hermes has 12 receptions for 267 yards.
Shelton back Isaiah Taito ran for 275 yards and three TDs in last week’s 34-21 victory over playoff-bound North Kitsap.
Breaking down the game: Kamiak hasn’t mounted much of a running game to complement its passing attack and that will hurt in the playoffs. But if the Knights’ defense can contain Taito, Kamiak might get by in this one.
Little-known fact: Shelton won its first league title since 1998 when it was in the Pacific 9 Conference.
Pick: Kamiak 28-27.
North Kitsap vs. Edmonds-Woodway
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Edmonds Stadium.
Tickets: General admission $6; students with ASB, senior citizens, elementary students $4; pre-schoolers free.
Records: North Kitsap 6-3, third in the Narrows Bridge Division. E-W 7-2, first in the Wesco South.
Rankings: Both teams are unranked.
Players to watch: North Kitsap QB Jared Prince threw for 101 yards in last week’s loss to Shelton.
E-W RB Travis Smith has rushed for 1,302 yards. Fellow back Josh Heard has 501 yards. QB John Dawson is 50-for-101 for 736 yards.
Breaking down the game: North Kitsap hasn’t seen a team as big and powerful as E-W. But it may be inspired to win one for its outgoing coach. E-W’s attack is relentless and its defense will wear you out.
Little-known fact: North Kitsap coach Jerry Parrish is retiring after 32 years at the Poulsbo school.
Pick: E-W 28-14.
Tonight’s games
Non-conference: Monroe (1-8) vs. Mountlake Terrace (1-8) at Edmonds Stadium, 6 p.m.; Everett (6-3) at Arlington (7-2), Jackson (6-3) at Snohomish (6-3), Mariner (4-5) vs. Cascade (4-5) at Everett Memorial Stadium, Shorewood (3-6) at Mount Vernon (1-8), 7 p.m.
Other game Saturday
Northwest 1A/B: Orcas Island (6-0, 7-2) at Friday Harbor (6-0, 8-0), 1 p.m.
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