Coaches hate starting seasons this way.
They would much rather have their campaigns build to a crescendo. There’s no such luxury for Snohomish’s Mark Perry and Cascade’s Jake Huizinga. For the second year in a row, they’ll face off in the season opener for both teams.
Historically, the game has been critical for both squads in terms of postseason play.
Cascade recovered from last year’s 14-13 loss to make the playoffs. Snohomish went on to win its first three games then lost six straight in a season gone sour.
In 2005, Cascade won on a field goal with three seconds to play. The victory ended up being the tiebreaker, sending the Bruins to the playoffs when the two teams tied for third in the Wesco North.
Neither team made the playoffs in 2004, but in 2003 Snohomish won 38-22 en route to a division co-championship.
Here’s a look at tonight’s big game and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Snohomish vs. Cascade
Kickoff: 5 p.m. tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Records: This is the season opener for both teams. Snohomish was 3-5 in the Wesco North and 4-6 overall last season. Cascade was 5-3, 6-4, finished third in the North and advanced to the district playoffs, losing 15-13 to Puyallup.
Last year: Snohomish running back Derek Jones carried 32 times for 249 yards and two TDs in the Panthers’ 14-13 victory.
Players to watch: Jones returns for Snohomish as do four Cascade running backs: Lorne Bridgford, Paul Heer, Derek Sepe and Julian Willis.
Breaking down the game: All the running backs who played key roles in last year’s game are back and that game was decided by a blocked extra-point attempt. So expect another close contest in which the rushing game plays a dominant role for both squads.
Little known fact: Bridgford, Heer, Sepe and Willis comprised Cascade’s 400-meter relay team last spring. They won the Wesco North and District 1 championships and placed fourth in the Class 4A state meet.
John McDonald’s pick: Cascade 21-14 OT
Herald prep writer Mike Cane’s pick: Snohomish 24-20.
KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty’s pick: Snohomish 21-14
Meadowdale vs. Edmonds-Woodway
Kickoff: 8 p.m. tonight at Edmonds District Stadium.
Records: This is the season opener for both teams. Meadowdale was 5-3 and fourth in the Wesco South last season. The Mavericks were the top Class 3A team in the division and advanced to the district playoffs, losing 42-35 to Eastside Catholic to finish 5-5 overall. E-W won the division championship (its third straight) and reached the 4A state semifinals before losing 28-14 to Bothell.
Last year: E-W quarterback Kyle McCartney threw for 208 yards and four TDs in the Warriors’ 42-20 victory.
Players to watch: McCartney was the division’s leading passer last season. He doesn’t have wide receiver Eric Greenwood (Idaho) back, but he does have two of his top three receivers returning: Antoinne Wafer (34 catches, 498 yards) and Tony Heard (18, 350). Heard is the Warriors’ top returning rusher (79 carries, 546 yards).
Breaking down the game: E-W should have little trouble handling Meadowdale, which graduated its top player quarterback Matt Johnson was the Mavericks’ leading rusher and passer last season. E-W must guard against looking ahead to its Week 2 showdown against Mariner, a true challenger to the Warriors’ dynasty. Meadowdale can take solace in the fact that it will again contend with Shorecrest for the top 3A spot in the division.
Little known fact: With 2,095 yards, McCartney trailed only Marshall Lobbestael (WSU) among Wesco passers last season.
John McDonald’s pick: E-W 35-14
Mike Cane’s pick: E-W 28-14
Tom Lafferty’s pick: E-W 28-7
Stanwood at Lake Stevens
Kickoff: 7 p.m. tonight.
Records: This is the season opener for both teams. Stanwood was 5-3 in the Wesco North and 7-3 overall. Lake Stevens was 6-2 and finished second in the division. The Vikings won a district playoff game before losing 33-0 to Bothell in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs to finish 8-3 overall.
Last year: Stanwood running back Ian Mai ran for 92 yards and a pair of TDs in the Spartans’ 13-7 win.
Players to watch: Lake Stevens returns its leading rusher, Isaac Molstre (211 carries, 1,396 yards). Stanwood has its second-leading ball carrier back. Ryan Norman had 114 carries and 743 yards for the Spartans last season.
Breaking down the game: Last year’s game was marred by penalties and turnovers on the part of both teams. Stanwood overcame its errors in that game. Lake Stevens survived the defeat, losing only once more (to Cascade) en route to making a postseason appearance. Both teams graduated a significant number of starters so you might get a repeat with a lot of inexperienced players making their first high school starts.
Little known fact: Stanwood finished third in the North, but a Week 3 loss to Cascade kept the Spartans out of the district playoffs.
John McDonald’s pick: Lake Stevens 21-7
Mike Cane’s pick: Lake Stevens 27-10
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Lake Stevens 13-10
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Everett at Monroe, Oak Harbor at Marysville-Pilchuck, both 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Lynnwood vs. Mountlake Terrace at Edmonds District Stadium, 5 p.m.; Mariner vs. Shorewood at Shoreline Stadium, Shorecrest vs. Kamiak at Goddard Stadium, both 7 p.m.
Non-conference: Archbishop Murphy vs. Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco at Nevada-Las Vegas, 5:30 p.m.; Arlington at Wenatchee, Granite Falls at Chelan, Jackson at Eisenhower, La Conner at Coupeville, Lynden Christian at Lakewood, North Mason at South Whidbey, Sultan at Cashmere, all 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Non-conference: King’s at Gold Beach, Ore.; Sands, B.C., at Cedarcrest, Highland Christian at Wellpinit, all 1 p.m.; Darrington vs. Seattle Lutheran at West Seattle Stadium, 1:15 p.m.
John McDonald is The Herald’s prep editor
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