Prep football power rankings after Week 3

Week 3 of the prep football season saw most of the area’s top teams take care of business as the campaign’s midway point nears.

It was smooth sailing for many teams included in the debut edition of The Herald’s high school football power rankings last week, and another squad catapulted itself into the mix after a signature victory.

Here is how things shake out heading into Week 4:

Note: The Herald’s high school football power rankings place 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 necessarily mean we’d favor the 1A team in a head-to-head matchup.

1. Lake Stevens Vikings

Record: 3-0

Last week’s ranking: 1

Why they’re here: Lakes Stevens steamrolled Federal Way 63-13 in Week 3 and has a 13-game winning streak heading into Friday’s rematch with 2022 Oregon 6A state champion West Linn, the last team to beat the defending 4A champion Vikings. Kolton Matson accounted for another four TDs last week and continues to flourish in the Lake Stevens offense, which is averaging 48.3 points per game and notched 12 TDs over the past six quarters.

2. Monroe Bearcats

Record: 3-0

Last week’s ranking: 2

Why they’re here: Monroe continued to show it can put up points in a hurry and several different ways in a blowout of Kamiak last week. The Bearcats had three different receivers and running backs record TDs and posted another score on a pick-six. The defense has also been a brick wall with just six points and 163 yards allowed over the past two weeks. After a matchup with Lynnwood on Friday, Monroe gets an important league test vs. Mountlake Terrace in Week 5.

3. Arlington Eagles

Record: 3-0

Last week’s ranking: 3

Why they’re here: Arlington continued a dominant start to the season with a 52-14 drubbing of Mount Vernon last week. The Eagles have outscored opponents 140-29 and have notched 42 or more points in every game. It hasn’t been the most challenging of starts for the Eagles, but they’ve easily handled business. Arlington gets its chance to prove itself as the Wesco 3A North favorite when it starts a daunting three-week stretch with a key Wesco 3A North showdown at home against defending league champ Ferndale on Friday.

4. Marysville Pilchuck Tomahawks

Record: 3-0

Last week’s ranking: 4

Why they’re here: Marysville Pilchuck continued its stellar start with its 12th straight victory over rival Marysville Getchell in the Berry Bowl. The Tomahawks are now one of two Wesco 3A North teams with two league wins through the first three weeks. This isn’t the same MP team that ran its way into the 3A state semifinals behind its signature Slot-T offense in 2021. Under second-year coach Dalton Schwetz, the Tomahawks are much more balanced, and senior Luke Shoemaker has emerged as one of the area’s top quarterbacks with 680 yards, five TDs and no interceptions on a 71.6% completion rate.

5. Stanwood Spartans

Record: 2-1

Last week’s ranking: 6

Why they’re here: After a rough Week 2 outing against Marysville Pilchuck, Stanwood bounced back in a major way by walloping Oak Harbor 56-6 last week. The Spartans led 49-0 by halftime and showed big-play ability in all three phases with junior Canyon Bumgarner returning a kickoff and fumble for a touchdown and providing a 50-yard run to set up a score. With matchups against Arlington and Ferndale still looming, Stanwood is still positioned to compete for the Wesco 3A North crown.

6. Mountlake Terrace Hawks

Record: 3-0

Last week’s ranking: 7

Why they’re here: The recipe of senior running back Zaveon Jones and an opportunistic defense resulted in another victory for Mountlake Terrace, which is 3-0 for the first time since 2015 after blanking Shorewood 35-0. Jones continues to lead the area with 664 yards and nine TDs rushing. The defense has already accounted for nine turnovers, including a pick-six in each of the past two weeks.

7. King’s Knights

Record: 3-0

Last week’s ranking: NR

Why they’re here: King’s proved itself as a legitimate 1A state title contender by knocking off 2022 state semifinalist Nooksack Valley in a 28-26 upset win last week. The victory further cemented the Knights’ status as the heavy Emerald Sound Conference favorite. King’s has another chance to show off its abilities this week with 2022 state runner-up Mount Baker visiting for another marquee 1A showdown.

8. Glacier Peak Grizzlies

Record: 1-2

Last week’s ranking: 5

Why they’re here: Glacier Peak is coming off back-to-back losses against a pair of state-playoff-caliber teams. The Grizzlies tried their best to spoil the opening of Ferndale’s new stadium last week, but a chance for a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter ended with a fumble. GP gets one more shot at a resume-building non-league win this Friday when it travels to Vancouver to face 3-0 Evergreen.

Next up: Edmonds-Woodway Warriors (2-1)