Did you write off the Stanwood High School football team?
Bad move.
After going winless in their first four games this season, the Spartans appeared to be in a downward spiral. But since its 0-4 start Stanwood is 3-0, with all three wins coming in Western Conference North Division contests.
With two games to go in the regular season, Stanwood (3-2 Wesco North, 3-4 overall) has a chance to make the playoffs. It has a half-game lead over Arlington (2-2, 3-4) for the division’s final Class 4A quad-district berth.
Guided by first-year head coach Aaron Cupp, Stanwood plays a non-league home game tonight against Ferndale (5-2) and then travels to Arlington for an extra-intriguing Stilly Cup rivalry game on Oct. 30.
What fueled Stanwood’s turnaround? For one, the Spartans got more comfortable with their new spread offense and started to fulfill their potential, Cupp said.
“We’ve just been making plays,” he said. “That potential was there early, but we just didn’t always make the plays.”
Stanwood’s front-loaded schedule didn’t help either. In the first four weeks, Stanwood lost to Jackson (7-0), Meadowdale (7-0), Lake Stevens (4-3) and Marysville-Pilchuck (7-0) — teams with a combined record of 25-3. Two of Lake Stevens’ losses came against Jackson and M-P, currently No. 4 and No. 10, respectively, in the Associated Press Class 4A state rankings. Meadowdale is ranked No. 7 in Class 3A.
“Looking back, it’s just brutal,” Cupp said of the schedule. But the early tests against high-level foes taught the Spartans they could play with anyone, he said.
A reliable offensive line (left tackle Dexter Charles, left guard Michael Randall, center Cody Landau, right guard Zak Jones and right tackle Alex Hatley) and the development of senior quarterback Michael McCune have helped propel Stanwood. McCune has been sacked just a handful of times all year, giving him time to learn a new scheme and develop chemistry with his receivers, who have been more sure-handed during Stanwood’s resurgence.
McCune’s breakthrough came in Stanwood’s 34-19 win over Monroe on Oct. 2. The senior completed nine of 11 passes for more than 200 yards. It was a “very efficient, surgical performance” and a big turning point for McCune, Cupp said.
Stanwood followed that with a wild, back-and-forth 47-39 victory at Oak Harbor and a 36-3 blowout against Snohomish.
Cupp also praised hard-nosed running back Brad Gee, who leads Stanwood with 10 rushing touchdowns, and inside linebacker Jay Steik.
Steik, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery last week, “has been playing like a wild man,” Cupp said.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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