As the season winds down, some teams vying for a shot at the state playoffs face must-win games against fellow contenders tonight.
In the Wesco North, Arlington and Stanwood will be trying to tie Marysville-Pilchuck for first place. But to do so, they must knock off teams desperate to stay in the race.
Arlington hosts Oak Harbor and the Wildcats can catch the Eagles in the standings with a road win. Otherwise, it’s a third league loss and the postseason becomes a distant possibility even with a home game against M-P next week.
Cascade already has three league losses and can’t catch Stanwood, but the Bruins, who still have Arlington to play, can stay alive with a win and an Arlington loss.
The situation in the Wesco South awaits an eligibility ruling by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Kamiak could wrap up the top spot in the division with a win over Edmonds-Woodway, but the Knights could forfeit two games, throwing the South into a six-team race.
E-W could do itself a lot of good and do some serious damage to the Knights’ playoff hopes with an upset tonight.
Meanwhile, the Everett-Meadowdale winner will put itself in position to tie Kamiak for first place if the forfeits are assessed.
In the Cascade Conference, Lakewood can clinch a district playoff berth with a victory over King’s.
Here’s a look at some key games and the rest of this week’s schedule:
Oak Harbor At Arlington
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Arlington H.S.
Records: Oak Harbor is 4-2 in the Wesco North, 4-3 overall. Arlington is 5-1, 6-1.
Last year: Oak Harbor rushed for 280 yards and five TDs and held Arlington to 23 yards rushing in a 42-13 victory. QB Kenny Gunter threw for one of Arlington’s two TDs.
Players to watch: Oak Harbor QB Marshall Lobbestael has completed 60 of 117 passes for 925 yards and eight TDs. Receiver James Blunk has 26 catches for 368 yards and four TDs. Running back Gabe Vest has 81 carries for 605 yards and four TDs.
Gunter has completed 46 of 90 attempts for 762 yards and three TDs. He has a trio of accomplished receivers to throw to, including Thomas Payne, Tim Acker and Taylor Brown. Running back Jake Webb is averaging nearly 100 yards a game.
Breaking down the game: Two very similar offenses square off in this one. Just like last year, the outcome might depend upon which offense can control time of possession and keep the other guys off the field.
Little-known fact: Brown, Acker and Payne have combined for 33 catches for 600 yards.
Pick: Arlington 21-14.
Cascade At Stanwood
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Stanwood H.S.
Records: Cascade is 3-3 in the Wesco North, 4-3 overall. Stanwood is 5-1, 5-2.
Last year: Jon Rockstad scored all of Stanwood’s points in a 14-0 victory. He kicked field goals of 20 and 23 yards, ran 30 yards for a TD and ran for a two-point conversion.
Players to watch: Cascade back J.P. Oliver has 69 carries for 580 yards and 10 TDs.
Rockstad has 123 carries for 788 yards and 10 TDs. Fullback Darin Schwarze has 98 carries for 435 yards. QB Aaron Boehme has completed 27 of 66 passes for 361 yards and three TDs.
Breaking down the game: Both teams lean more on the run than the pass. Cascade is smaller, but has more speed. The Spartans will pound the line. Control of the line of scrimmage will be telling.
Little-known fact: Rockstad and Schwarze have combined for 1,223 rushing yards.
Pick: Stanwood 17-14.
Kamiak At Edmonds-Woodway
Kickoff: 5 tonight at Edmonds Stadium.
Records: Kamiak is 7-0 in the Wesco South and overall. Edmonds-Woodway is 5-2, 5-2.
Last year: Kamiak employed ball control to defeat E-W 28-8. Ahead 14-0, Kamiak consumed eight minutes at the beginning of the third quarter in driving to a third TD. Tony Virata carried 16 times for 89 yards.
Players to watch: Kamiak QB Mark Iddins is 95-for-142 for 1,349 yards and 10 TDs. His favorite receiver is Rebel Hall (six TDs). Virata leads the Knights in rushing, but fellow back Austin Curran (12 carries, 191 yards) has rushed for two TDs in each of the Knights’ last two games.
E-W’s Travis Smith leads the Wesco South in rushing with 1,038 yards on 176 carries. Teammate Josh Heard has 39 carries for 457 yards. QB John Dawson is 42-for-87 for 505 yards and four TDs. Receiver Kyle Baeder has 16 catches for 164 yards.
Breaking down the game: This game features the two most productive offenses in the Wesco South. Kamiak has amassed 241 points this season while Meadowdale has scored 242. But the Kamiak defense is a little stingier, allowing just 99 points compared to 132 by the Meadowdale defense.
The Kamiak coaches have to work to keep the forfeiture situation from becoming a distraction for their players.
Little-known fact: Iddins-to-Hall is the top passing combo in the South. Smith is the division’s leading rusher.
Pick: Kamiak 35-24.
Meadowdale At Everett
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM).
Records: Meadowdale is 5-2 in the Wesco South and overall. Everett is 5-2, 5-2.
Last year: Meadowdale’s Travis Anderson carried 16 times for 102 yards in the Mavericks’ 35-19 victory.
Players to watch: Anderson is Meadowdale’s top rusher again this season at around 100 yards a game. QB Demetri Huffman (600-plus yards passing) and receiver Jake Linton (five TD catches) comprise an accomplished passing duo.
Backs Justin Boyce (133 carries, 869 yards) and Justin Hudson (67 carries, 459 yards) are the dynamic duo in the Everett offense.
Breaking down the game: With Jackson still to play, this is a must-win game for Everett. Meadowdale can’t afford to lose, either, but the Mavericks should have an easier time winning next week. Meadowdale’s passing game gives the Mavericks an edge. The Seagulls must string together some drives and keep the Meadowdale offense off the field.
Little-known fact: Huffman is among the league leaders in passing and rushing.
Pick: Meadowdale 35-28.
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Monroe (0-6, 0-7) at Lake Stevens (1-6, 1-6), Snohomish (4-2, 5-2) at Mount Vernon (0-6, 0-7), 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Mountlake Terrace (1-6, 1-6) vs. Shorewood (25, 2-5) at Shoreline Stadium, Shorecrest (2-5, 2-5) vs. Mariner* (3-4, 3-4) at Goddard Stadium, 7 p.m.; Jackson (5-2, 5-2) vs. Lynnwood (0-7, 0-7) at Edmonds Stadium, 8 p.m.
*KRKO radio (1380 AM), delayed at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Non-conference: Marysville-Pilchuck (6-1) at Enumclaw (4-3), Mount Baker (5-2) at Cedarcrest (4-3), 7 p.m.
Cascade Conference: King’s (2-2, 3-3) at Lakewood (3-0, 7-0), Archbishop Murphy (4-0, 7-0) at Sultan (0-3, 2-5), South Whidbey (1-3, 2-5) at Granite Falls (0-3, 2-5), 7 p.m.
Northwest 1A/B: Darrington (1-3, 2-5) at Coupeville (1-3, 2-5), Friday Harbor (4-0, 6-0) at Cedar Park Christian (1-3, 3-4), Charles Wright (0-4, 1-5) at La Conner (2-2, 3-3), 7 p.m.
Games Saturday
Northwest 1A/B: Concrete (3-1, 4-3) at Orcas Island (4-0, 5-2), 1 p.m.
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