The Western Conference 4A race is just beginning for the Snohomish Panthers, but it could be coming to a successful end for the Kamiak Knights.
Tonight’s Snohomish game is the last on Kamiak’s schedule against a contending team. The Knights have already beaten Cascade and don’t play Sehome. Edmonds-Woodway (2-2 in league, 3-2 overall) is the only team left on Kamiak’s schedule with a winning record. The Knights finish the regular season in this order: at home against Shorecrest (0-4, 0-5), then on the road against E-W and Oak Harbor (1-3, 1-4).
It’s unlikely the Knights are taking anything for granted, but it sure looks like the worst record they’ll have is 8-1. And that ought to assure them a place in the playoffs.
Snohomish, on the other hand, is just beginning a run of big games. The Panthers play against contending teams in three of the last four weeks. The only team left on their schedule with a losing record is Oak Harbor. After tonight’s home game against Kamiak, the Panthers play in order: at Cascade (3-1, 4-1), at Oak Harbor and at home against Sehome (5-0, 5-0).
With all due respect to Oak Harbor, it looks like Snohomish could finish with a record anywhere between 6-3 and 9-0.
Since Sehome doesn’t play Cascade or Kamiak, it’s likely to do no worse than 8-1 like Kamiak. That means it’ll take a 7-2 or better mark to make the playoffs and 7-2 might not be good enough if a team were to tie with a team to which it lost.
In order to advance, Snohomish has to win at least two of the three big games it plays over the next few weeks.
Here’s a look at that game and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Records: Both teams are 4-0 in league, 5-0 overall.
Last year: Kamiak 20-17 (2OT).
Players to watch: Kamiak running back Reid Wilson produced his first career 100-yard rushing game last week in a 33-8 victory over Cascade. Reid carried 20 times for 115 yards. Kamiak quarterback Ryan Jones completed nine of 18 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Snohomish quarterback Josh Rodland threw for one touchdown and ran for another in a 40-6 victory over Mariner. Running back Joe Plucker had eight carries for 90 yards and a score.
Breaking down the game: Kamiak rushed for 228 yards, threw for 154 and converted two Cascade turnovers into touchdowns last week. But the Knights aren’t likely to have that kind of success against a Snohomish defense that has two shutouts and two single-TD allowed games. Conversely, the Snohomish offense, which has averaged 34.6 points a game, will face the best defense it has seen all season. The challenge for Snohomish will be defending against a balanced offense. Most high school teams can throw and pass as well as Kamiak. The challenge for Kamiak will be defending against Snohomish’s multiple-back offense. The Panthers can throw a lot of different running backs into the mix, making it hard to focus on any one or two.
Little-known fact: Justin Washington’s 52-yard punt return touchdown was a pivotal play in last year’s Kamiak victory.
Pick: Snohomish 28-21.
Cascade
Kickoff: 5 tonight at Edmonds Stadium.
Records: Cascade is 3-1 in league, 4-1 overall. Edmonds-Woodway is 2-2, 3-2.
Last year: Cascade 40-13.
Players to watch: Running back Jerrell Jenkins had a 58-yard run to set up Jake Rideb’s 4-yard touchdown run last week in the Bruins’ 33-8 loss to Kamiak.
Running back Landon Hall carried eight times for 161 yards and two touchdowns last week in Edmonds-Woodway’s 43-6 victory over Emerald Ridge. Running back Kyle Trew had 83 yards on three carries and scored on a 65-yard run and a 62-yard punt return.
Breaking down the game: The Bruins must get over the disappointment of last week’s loss and cut down on their turnovers. They had four lost fumbles last week and two led directly to Kamiak TDs. Their defense needs to start making some stops, too. Unlike last season when one loss kept Cascade out of the playoffs, the Bruins are still in the race for one of the league’s top three spots. But they have to resume winning. Edmonds-Woodway needs a win to stay in fourth place. And if you hang around the top long enough, who knows what might happen. E-W has had success running the ball and has to be encouraged by the way teams like Everett and Kamiak moved the ball on the ground against the Cascade defense.
Little-known fact: Cascade backs Grady Sizemore and Blake Walker combined for 364 yards and five touchdowns in last year’s game.
Pick: Cascade 21-14.
Stanwood
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Lake Stevens H.S.
Records: Stanwood is 2-1 in league, 3-2 overall. Lake Stevens is 3-0, 4-1.
Last year: Lake Stevens 13-9.
Players to watch: Stanwood placekicker Garrett Parks had three field goals last week in a 30-14 victory over Monroe. Quarterback Tyler Breum completed four of eight passes for 80 yards and had a 67-yard TD run.
Lake Stevens running back Matt Williams carried 12 times for 97 yards and scored three touchdowns last week in a 40-6 victory over Lynnwood. Fellow back Joey Daube ran four times for 61 yards.
Breaking down the game: The Stanwood defense must contain Williams. The speedy Lake Stevens back had 217 yards on 26 carries in last year’s game. The Spartans are playing with their backs to the wall. A second league loss puts them in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a second straight season. Lake Stevens can put itself into excellent position with a victory. The Vikings would have beaten two of their three main competitors with only Everett left on the schedule.
Little-known fact: Defensive stops were the key to the Vikings’ victory last year as Stanwood lost a fumble in the red zone and had a field goal blocked.
Pick: Lake Stevens 27-24.
Wesco 4A: Shorewood (1-3, 2-3) vs. Mariner (1-4, 1-4) at Goddard Stadium, Oak Habor (1-3, 1-4) vs. Shorecrest (0-4, 0-5) at Shoreline Stadium, 7:30 p.m.; Sehome (5-0, 5-0) vs. Mountlake Terrace (2-3, 2-3) at Edmonds Stadium, 8 p.m.
Kingco 4A: Redmond (3-2, 3-2) vs. Franklin (0-5, 0-5) at Seattle Memorial Stadium, 5:30 p.m.; Inglemoor (5-0, 5-0) vs. Bothell (4-1, 4-1) at Pop Keeney Stadium, Juanita (1-4, 1-4) at Eastlake (2-3, 2-3), Roosevelt (1-4, 1-4) at Lake Washington (4-1, 4-1) , 7:30 p.m.; Woodinville (3-2, 3-2) vs. Garfield (2-3, 2-3) at Seattle Memorial Stadium, 8 p.m.
Wesco 3A: Lynnwood (0-3, 0-5) vs. Jackson (1-2, 2-3) at Everett Memorial Stadium (KRKO radio, 1380 AM), Meadowdale (1-2, 1-4) vs. Monroe (0-3, 0-5) at Monroe Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Northwest 3A: Anacortes (2-1, 3-2) at Mount Vernon (3-0, 5-0), Ferndale (3-0, 5-0) vs. Bellingham (0-3, 1-4) at Bellingham Civic Stadium, Burlington-Edison (0-3, 1-4) at Lynden (1-2, 2-3), Squalicum (1-2, 2-3) at Sedro-Woolley (2-1, 3-2), 7:30 p.m.
North Cascades: Lakewood (3-1, 4-1) at Blaine (2-3, 2-3), Mount Baker (2-2, 3-2) at Granite Falls (0-4, 0-5), South Whidbey (2-2, 2-3) at Lynden Christian (5-0, 5-0), Sultan (1-3, 1-4) at Nooksack Valley (0-5, 0-5), 7:30 p.m.
Northwest A: Coupeville (0-1, 2-3) at Friday Harbor (0-1, 0-4), LaConner (0-1, 4-1) at Darrington (1-0, 4-1), 7:30 p.m.
Chinook A: Charles Wright (1-0, 2-2) at King’s (1-0, 4-1), 7:30 p.m.
Non-conference: Meridian (5-0) vs. Emerald Ridge (0-5) at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup, 7 p.m.; Marysville-Pilchuck (1-4) at Enumclaw (2-3), 7:30 p.m.
Northwest A: Concrete (1-0, 3-2) at Orcas Island (1-0, 5-0), 1 p.m.
Chinook A: Life Christian (0-1, 2-2) at Chief Leschi (0-1, 0-4), 7 p.m.
