At some point during Saturday’s Class 4A quad-district playoff game between Issaquah and Marysville-Pilchuck, the Tomahawks threesome of running backs Austin Denton, Caleb Posey and Ryan Sterley will rack up their 3,000th rushing yard of the season.
Think about it. It’s M-P’s 10th game. That means the Tommies have averaged better than 300 rushing yards a game. That indicates consistency.
It also indicates you’re in control and you’re probably going to dominate time of possession, not to mention the scoreboard.
You’re going to score a minimum of three touchdowns. And with a defense that has not allowed more than two in a game this season, that spells victory.
Here’s a look at all the playoff games this weekend:
Mariner at Curtis
When/where: 7:30 tonight at Curtis H.S.
Records: Mariner is 6-3 overall. Curtis is 8-1.
Quick slant: Mariner’s playing uphill on the road against a quality South Puget Sound League team with a long history of success in the postseason. Curtis RB Richard Southern is a 1,000-yard rusher, QB Chad Rasmussen is a 1,000-yard passer.
Mike Cane’s pick: Curtis 28-14
John McDonald’s pick: Curtis 34-17
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Curtis 27-24
Tahoma vs. Jackson
When/where: 7:30 tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium
Records: Tahoma is 6-3 overall. Jackson is 8-1.
Radio: Joined in progress on KRKO (AM 1380) following the Silvertips hockey game.
Quick slant: Jackson hasn’t lost since Week 3, when it stumbled at Arlington. Don’t expect the winning streak to end now. The Timberwolves have too many weapons. RBs Taylor Cox and Riley Carr are a 1-2 punch out of the backfield and QB Andy Gay has more than a 1,000 yards passing.
Mike Cane’s pick: Jackson 31-24
John McDonald’s pick: Jackson 28-7
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Jackson 35-21
Edmonds-Woodway vs. Kentwood
When/where: 7:30 tonight at French Field
Records: Both teams are 7-2 overall.
Quick slant: This might be the toughest game in the state-qualifying round. If E-W running back Tony Heard is at full-strength, he’ll be tough to stop. But Heard has been banged up. He missed two games this season, including last week, to give his injuries time to heal.
Mike Cane’s pick: E-W 21-17
John McDonald’s pick: Kentwood 15-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: E-W 28-20
Bellingham vs. Archbishop Murphy
When/where: 7 tonight at Goddard Stadium
Records: Bellingham is 5-4 overall. Murphy is 9-0.
Quick slant: Some irony here. Bellingham is the team that took Murphy’s spot in the playoffs last season after the Wildcats were ousted for using an ineligible player. Otherwise, it’s a mismatch.
Mike Cane’s pick: Murphy 35-20
John McDonald’s pick: Murphy 42-6
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Murphy 48-7
Cedarcrest at Burlington-Edison
When/where: 7 tonight at Burlington-Edison H.S.
Records: Cedarcrest is 6-3 overall. B-E is 8-1.
Quick slant: B-E was undefeated until last week’s 41-23 loss to Lynden, which captured the Northwest Conference’s No. 1 seed in the 2A District playoffs. Cedarcrest is probably in over its head.
Mike Cane’s pick: B-E 21-20
John McDonald’s pick: B-E 48-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: B-E 14-7
Blaine at South Whidbey
When/where: 7 tonight at South Whidbey H.S.
Records: Blaine is 5-4 overall. South Whidbey is 7-2.
Quick slant: South Whidbey has suffered injuries to key players — QB Hunter Rawls (broken wrist) and RB Henry Mead (shoulder) — in the past three weeks. After back-to-back losses to Granite Falls and Archbishop Murphy, the Falcons rebounded last week to beat Coupeville. Sophomore QB J.T. Russell now has two games under his belt, perhaps enough to handle Blaine.
Mike Cane’s pick: Blaine 28-13
John McDonald’s pick: South Whidbey 21-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: South Whidbey 20-14
Issaquah vs. Marysville-Pilchuck
When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium
Records: Issaquah is 7-2 overall. M-P is 9-0.
Radio: Joined in progress on KRKO (AM 1380) following the Silvertips hockey game.
Quick slant: Issaquah throws the ball a lot more than M-P (146 attempts compared to 29). But M-P has done a good job defending against strong passing teams such as Arlington (15 points allowed), Glacier Peak (17) and Lake Stevens (zero). This game could turn into a rout if M-P dominates the ground game, gets a lead, forces Issaquah to pass and manages a couple of interceptions.
Mike Cane’s pick: M-P 20-7
John McDonald’s pick: M-P 28-0
Tom Lafferty’s pick: M-P 30-20
Lake Stevens vs. Rogers
When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
Records: Lake Stevens is 6-3 overall. Rogers is 8-1.
Quick slant: Like Lake Stevens, Rogers is a passing team. QB Tyler Van Sligtenhorst averages around 125 yards a game and WR Wes McCann ranks third in the SPSL. Statistically, Rogers is no match for Lake Stevens QB Nick Baker, who has more than 2,000 passing yards this season. But the question is how will the Vikings rebound from last week’s heartbreaking one-point loss at Snohomish while playing in a tough environment?
Mike Cane’s pick: Lake Stevens 28-27
John McDonald’s pick: Lake Stevens 28-27
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Rogers 42-21
Central Kitsap at Snohomish
When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at Snohomish H.S.
Records: Both teams are 6-3 overall.
Quick slant: Central Kitsap won its quad-district playoff game last season to advance to the state playoffs for the first time since 1997. However, Central Kitsap has never made it to state two years in a row. Snohomish will be happy to help the Cougars keep that record intact.
Mike Cane’s pick: Central Kitsap 26-21
John McDonald’s pick: Snohomish 35-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Central Kitsap 28-27
Glacier Peak vs. O’Dea
When/where: 5 p.m. Saturday at Seattle Memorial Stadium
Records: Glacier Peak is 5-4 overall. O’Dea is 7-2.
Quick slant: Glacier Peak is going to have to settle for the amazing accomplishment of reaching the postseason in its first year without any seniors. It’s brutal to have to play your first-ever postseason game against a veteran and talented team like O’Dea. Of note is the fact that first cousins Grant Enger of O’Dea and John Froland of Glacier Peak will be facing off against one another. Both are offensive and defensive linemen.
Mike Cane’s pick: Glacier Peak 27-21 (OT)
John McDonald’s pick: O’Dea 42-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: O’Dea 17-14
Nathan Hale vs. Meadowdale
When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at Edmonds District Stadium
Records: Nathan Hale is 4-5 overall. Meadowdale is 5-3.
Quick slant: Nathan Hale is not a name we normally associate with the postseason. But the Raiders actually have reached the district playoff level three consecutive seasons, albeit losing in 2006 and 2007. Add a third straight setback.
Mike Cane’s pick: Meadowdale 28-17
John McDonald’s pick: Meadowdale 21-7
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Meadowdale 14-0
Other games tonight
Non-conference: Cascade (4-5) at Stanwood (3-5), Shorecrest (4-5) at Arlington (5-4), Mountlake Terrace (3-6) at Monroe (2-7), Shorewood (0-9) vs. Lynnwood (0-9) at Edmonds District Stadium, Kamiak (2-7) at Oak Harbor (3-6), Lakewood (3-6) vs. Sehome (3-6) at Bellingham Civic Stadium, Anacortes (0-9) at Sultan (2-7), all 7 p.m.
KRKO radio broadcaster Tom Lafferty was 3-1 on his picks last week. Herald Writer Mike Cane and Prep Editor John McDonald were 1-3. Lafferty is 23-11 for the season. Cane is 21-13 for the season. McDonald is 20-14.
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