Prep football power rankings after Week 2

With the high school football season now in full gear, The Herald is introducing the debut of its weekly local power rankings.

We’ll rank the top eight teams in the area. Consideration is given to current record, strength of schedule and recent success. The rankings will also consider a team’s strength relative to its own classification. For example, if a Class 1A team is ranked above a 4A school, it doesn’t mean that we’d favor that 1A team in a head-to-head matchup.

Here’s the initial rankings:

1. Lake Stevens Vikings

Record: 2-0

The Vikings showed just how dangerous they can be by erasing a 28-7 halftime deficit against 3A state powerhouse Bellevue and pulling out an improbable 34-31 victory last week. Junior quarterback Kolton Matson already has 10 touchdown passes and is living up to the hype created after a strong showing in the state playoffs as a sophomore last season. It’s unlikely the defending 4A state champions move off this spot any time soon.

2. Monroe Bearcats

Record: 2-0

The Bearcats keep putting up points in a hurry with four first-quarter touchdowns in each of their first two games. Along with an explosive offense, Monroe’s special teams remain a major threat. Do-it-all junior Mason Davis, who had four kickoff return TDs last season, took a punt back for a score in last week’s 53-6 thumping of Shorecrest. The defending Wesco 3A South champions look the part of heavy favorites in the league early on.

3. Arlington Eagles

Record: 2-0

The preseason Wesco 3A North favorites have rolled to blowout victories in their first two games by a combined 88-15 margin. The Eagle defense looks stout once again and has surrendered the fewest points of any Wesco squad. After a league matchup at Mount Vernon this week, Arlington’s schedule heats up with a three-week gauntlet vs. Ferndale, at Stanwood and vs. Marysville Pilchuck.

4. Marysville Pilchuck Tomahawks

Record: 2-0

After breaking in a new group last fall, the Tomahawks are showing early signs of being a legitimate title contender in Wesco 3A North this season. Marysville Pilchuck routed Wesco 3A South contender Edmonds-Woodway in its opener and followed with an impressive 36-7 win over 3A state quarterfinalist Stanwood last week. The Tomahawks sport a promising young group of offensive linemen who set the tone against Stanwood. All but one of the five starters are non-seniors.

5. Glacier Peak Grizzlies

Record: 1-1

After extending their dominance over rival Snohomish in the season opener, the Grizzlies ran into a buzzsaw in Week 2 while suffering a 55-20 loss to 4A state power Camas, but the Grizzlies showed some big-play ability with seniors Chrisvin Bonshe and Isaiah Cuellar each accounting for TDs of 75 yards or more. The schedule doesn’t lighten up with a trip to face defending Wesco 3A North Ferndale this week.

6. Stanwood Spartans

Record: 1-1

The Spartans hopes of contending for a Wesco 3A North title this season took a major hit with last week’s league-opening loss to Marysville Pilchuck. After rushing for over 300 yards in Week 1 against Lakewood, Stanwood managed just 61 yards against MP. The Spartans look to bounce back in conference play and regain their Week 1 form against Oak Harbor on Friday.

7. Mountlake Terrace Hawks

Record: 2-0

Last week the Hawks notched a milestone in their recent rise by beating Snohomish for the first time since the Panthers joined Wesco 3A/2A South in 2016. Senior running back Zaveon Jones has been unstoppable early on while averaging 9.3 yards per carry with 398 yards and five TDs. The defense is also doing its part with nine sacks and six turnovers forced over two games.

8. Edmonds-Woodway Warriors

Record: 1-1

The Warriors followed a disappointing Week 1 outing with a hard-fought 19-7 win over Kamiak last week. Edmonds-Woodway’s defense shined in the effort with four forced turnovers. The promising passing attack has yet to take off for the Warriors, but the team seems to have found an answer in the run game with senior Rashaad Gerona-Chatters piling up 134 yards and three TDs against the Knights.