The tumblers are falling into place as teams begin to lock up postseason playoff berths.
Edmonds-Woodway has already clinched the Wesco South’s No. 1 seed into the quad-district playoffs, and Kamiak and Mariner are also in. Their seeds depend upon the outcome of next week’s clash between the two Mukilteo District rivals.
Oak Harbor can clinch the Wesco North’s No. 1 seed with a win tonight at Monroe. Snohomish can nail down the No. 2 seed with a victory at Lake Stevens. But Lake Stevens can position itself for the second seed by beating Snohomish. Cascade and Marysville-Pilchuck are still in the race as well.
Meadowdale has secured a place in the 3A quad-district playoffs. Arlington can wrap up the other spot with a win tonight over Cascade. Should Arlington lose, the Lynnwood-Shorecrest winner remains in contention as would Everett with a win over Stanwood.
The seeding order depends on the league winning percentage of the two teams eventually advancing.
In the Cascade Conference, Archbishop Murphy, South Whidbey and Cedarcrest have clinched 2A District 1 playoff berths. A fourth berth will go to Lakewood, Sultan or Granite Falls. Sultan can eliminate Granite Falls with a win tonight.
Darrington has clinched a 2B bi-district playoff berth. Concrete can clinch the other with a La Conner loss to Darrington tonight or a Concrete win Saturday at Orcas Island.
Here’s a look at some of the key games tonight and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Snohomish at Lake Stevens
When: 7 p.m. today.
Where: Lake Stevens Stadium.
Records: Snohomish is 5-1 in the Wesco North, 6-1 overall. Lake Stevens is 4-2, 5-2.
Last year: Lake Stevens’ David McMurray returned a kickoff 92 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the Vikings’ 26-21 victory. He also had four receptions for 110 yards and a TD.
Last week: Snohomish’s Derek Jones ran for 85 yards, had 46 receiving yards and scored four TDs in a 50-21 win over Stanwood.
Kevin Flavin kicked a 22-yard field goal to give Oak Harbor a 24-21 win over Lake Stevens. Vikings’ receiver Dustin Adams had three interceptions. Quarterback Nick Baker was 13-for-23 for 148 yards and a TD.
Players to watch: Jones, the leading rusher in the Wesco North, has 156 carries for 1,191 yards and 12 TDs.
Lake Stevens’ leading rusher, Isaac Molstre (129 carries, 932 yards, six TDs) went down with an ankle injury last week. Baker is 65-for-112 for 907 yards and seven TDs. Adams has 27 catches for 471 yards and seven TDs.
Breaking down the game: Last year Lake Stevens dealt Snohomish its fifth straight loss en route to a postseason playoff berth. This year it will be Snohomish’s turn.
John McDonald’s prediction: Snohomish 21-20.
Mike Cane’s prediction: Snohomish 27-21.
Tom Lafferty’s prediction: Snohomish 24-14.
Meadowdale at Kamiak
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Goddard Stadium
Records: Meadowdale is 4-2 in the Wesco South, 4-3 overall. Kamiak is 5-1, 6-1.
Last year: Ben Iddins and Justin Glenn each had an interception and a TD catch in Kamiak’s 26-14 victory. Kamiak QB Jacob Jansen was 12-for-22 for 149 yards and three TDs.
Last week: Running back Naji Moore carried 19 times for 177 yards in the Mavericks’ 44-20 win over Mountlake Terrace.
Glenn ran for 227 yards and two TDs and Jansen passed for 175 yards and a TD in the Knights’ 38-35 win over Jackson.
Players to watch: The two backs Meadowdale began the season with — Nick Montanari and Tonna Njoku — have both succumbed to injuries. But the Mavs must have a deep supply at the position as Moore picked up where they left off. QB Matt McDonagh (35-for-77, 512 yards, four TDs) has been a consistent contributor for Meadowdale. Jacob Clampitt is the No. 2 wide receiver in the Wesco South with 17 catches for 350 yards and four TDs.
Glenn has 915 yards rushing and 12 TDs. Jansen is the leading passer in the Wesco South with 1,152 yards and 12 TDs. WR Skylar Stormo has 15 catches for 254 yards and three TDs. WR Tommy Benz has 19 catches for 277 yards and two TDs.
Breaking down the game: With both teams advancing to their respective quad-district playoffs, this game will be a great tune-up for the postseason and, in Kamiak’s case, great preparation for next week’s showdown with Mukilteo District rival Mariner. Give Kamiak the edge on offense.
John McDonald’s prediction: Kamiak 35-28.
Mike Cane’s prediction: Kamiak 21-17.
Tom Lafferty’s prediction: Kamiak 44-17.
South Whidbey at Cedarcrest
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Cedarcrest Stadium.
Records: South Whidbey is 5-0 in the Cascade Conference, 7-0 overall. Cedarcrest is 4-1, 6-1.
Last year: Cedarcrest won 28-14.
Last week: Hunter Harkins ran for three TDs in South Whidbey’s 42-28 win over Sultan.
Brady Paxman carried 22 times for 275 yards and five TDs in Cedarcrest’s 47-30 victory over Lakewood.
Players to watch: Levi Sawyers leads the Falcons in rushing.
Paxman leads the Cascade Conference with 1,136 yards rushing and 20 TDs. But the Red Wolves also have a passing game. QB Ernie Child is 17-for-28 for 393 yards and five TDs. WR Josh Stark has 355 receiving yards and five TDs.
Breaking down the game: South Whidbey has managed a fine turnaround from last season’s 3-7 record, but Cedarcrest is an experienced playoff team whose only loss has been to unbeaten Archbishop Murphy, ranked No, 3 in Class 2A in this week’s WashingtonPreps.com poll.
John McDonald’s prediction: Cedarcrest 42-28.
Mike Cane’s prediction: Cedarcrest 27-26.
Tom Lafferty’s prediction: Cedarcrest 21-7.
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Arlington (3-3, 3-4) vs. Cascade (4-2, 5-2) at Everett Memorial Stadium (KRKO radio, 1380 AM), Oak Harbor (6-0, 7-0) at Monroe (0-6, 0-7), Everett (1-5, 2-5) at Stanwood (1-6, 1-6), all 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Shorecrest (1-5, 1-6) vs. Lynnwood (2-5, 2-5) at Edmonds District Stadium, 5 p.m.; Jackson (3-3, 3-4) vs. Shorewood (0-6, 0-7) at Shoreline Stadium, 7 p.m.; Mariner 5-1, 5-2) vs. Mountlake Terrace (1-5, 1-6) at Edmonds District Stadium, 8 p.m.
Cascade Conference: Lakewood (2-3, 2-5) at Coupeville (1-4, 3-4), Sultan (2-3, 2-5) at Granite Falls (1-4, 3-4), King’s (0-5, 0-7) at Archbishop Murphy (5-0, 7-0), all 7 p.m.
Northwest 2B: Darrington (4-0, 7-0) at La Conner (1-3, 1-6), 7 p.m.
Non-conference: Edmonds-Woodway (7-0) at Marysville-Pilchuck (4-3), 7 p.m.
Games Saturday
Northwest 2B: Concrete (3-1, 4-3) at Orcas Island (0-4, 0-7), 1 p.m.
Northwest 1B: Lopez Island (0-1, 6-1) at Highland Christian (1-1, 2-3), 5 p.m.
Non-conference: Clallam Bay (6-1) at Lummi (7-1), 2 p.m.
All three prognosticators were 3-1 last week. Herald Prep Writer Mike Cane is 21-7 on the season. Herald Prep Editor John McDonald is 20-8. KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty is 19-9.
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