This is what every high school football team hopes for, a game at the end of the season with a playoff berth at stake.
Tonight’s Jackson-Everett winner earns the Wesco South’s No. 2 seed to next Saturday’s quad-district playoffs.
If Jackson wins, the best Everett can hope for is a Tuesday tiebreaker for the South’s No. 3 spot.
If Everett wins, Jackson will be in a battle for the third spot with Mariner, Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace.
That’s right, Mountlake Terrace.
The Hawks, who’ve never made a state playoff appearance, would be one district victory away if they win tonight, Jackson wins and Meadowdale loses.
Here’s a look at the key games and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Jackson at Everett
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Records: Both teams are 5-3 in the Wesco South and overall.
Last year: Everett ran for 382 yards in a 40-28 win.
Last week: Jackson quarterback Jake Gelakoska rushed for 102 yards and threw for 153 in a 48-6 win over Lynnwood.
Everett’s Andrew Skorney rushed for 130 yards on seven carries and had TD runs of 90 and 14 yards in a 34-14 win over Meadowdale.
Players to watch: Gelakoska has 1,705 yards passing and has thrown 16 TD passes. Kawika Emsley-Pai is the leading receiver in the Wesco South with 47 catches for 690 yards and five TDs. Anthony Davis is the Timberwolves’ leading rusher with 63 carries for 361 yards and eight TDs.
Justin Boyce leads Everett in rushing with 795 yards on 137 carries and seven TDs. Skorney is right behind with 625 yards on 68 carries and 10 TDs. Quarterback Bryce Levin is 29-for-62 for 418 yards and five TDs.
Breaking down the game: The Jackson passing game should put a lot of pressure on the Everett defensive backs. The Seagulls’ offense can relieve some of that by controlling the ball on the ground and keeping it out of Gelakoska’s hands as it did last year.
Little-known fact: Both teams finished 6-3 last year in a three-way tie with Kamiak, but the Knights held the head-to-head advantage and went to the quad-district playoffs.
John McDonald’s pick: Everett 31-28.
Mike Cane’s pick: Jackson 24-20.
Cascade at Arlington
Kickoff: 7 tonight at Larson Stadium, Arlington H.S.
Records: Cascade is 5-2 in the Wesco North, 6-2 overall. Arlington is 6-1, 7-1.
Last year: Arlington quarterback Kenny Gunter ran for three TDs in a 28-7 win.
Last week: Cascade’s J.P. Oliver ran for 154 yards and two TDs in a 35-14 win over Stanwood.
Arlington quarterback Brett Smith threw for 358 yards and three TDs in a 42-26 loss to Oak Harbor.
Players to watch: Oliver (929 yards, 185 carries) is closing in on a 1,000-yard season. Travis Warren has 556 rushing yards for the Bruins. Quarterback Dirk Snel is 30-for-70 for 456 yards and five TDs.
Smith is the division’s top passer with 130 completions in 198 attempts for 1,722 yards and 15 TDs. Tim Acker (40 catches, 516 yards) and Andy Cohoon (40 catches, 514 yards) are the North’s top two receivers.
Breaking down the game: Arlington is still without leading rusher Jake Webb (127 carries, 1,001 yards, 14 TDs). His absence virtually leaves the Eagles without a running game. Their prolific passing game wasn’t enough to compensate against Oak Harbor. Three interceptions hurt, too. Cascade will run the football, run the clock and try to keep the Arlington offense off the field as much as possible.
Little-known fact: Last year, Arlington was the odd man out in a three-way tie for second with Oak Harbor and Marysville-Pilchuck in the Wesco North.
John McDonald’s pick: Cascade 28-21.
Mike Cane’s pick: Cascade 28-27.
Mariner at Edmonds-Woodway
Kickoff: 8 tonight at Edmonds Stadium.
Records: Mariner is 4-4 in the Wesco South and overall. E-W is 7-1, 7-1.
Last year: E-W claimed the division’s top seed with a 21-2 victory.
Last week: Mariner’s Raymond Fry carried 29 times for 337 yards and three TDs in a 69-60 loss to Shorecrest.
E-W’s Grady Harmon caught a TD pass and kicked a field goal and three extra-points in a 24-7 win over Kamiak.
Players to watch: Fry ranks right behind division rushing leader Jesse Hoffman of Shorecrest with 1,467 yards on 154 carries. He leads the division with 25 rushing TDs. Quarterback Tyler Tuiasosopo is the division’s No. 3 passer with 55 completions in 101 attempts for 923 yards and five TDs.
E-W’s Josh Heard is the division’s fourth-leading rusher with 1,104 yards on 146 carries. Eric Greenwood is the division’s third-leading receiver with 32 catches for 504 yards. Quarterback Randy Anderson is the division’s second-leading passer with 70 completions in 123 attempts for 1,026 yards and eight TDs.
Breaking down the game: Fry will do his thing no matter what. But E-W can counter with Heard, a decent passing game and a better defense.
Little-known fact: E-W is South No. 1 for the second year in a row.
John McDonald’s pick: E-W 21-14.
Mike Cane’s pick: E-W 27-19.
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Snohomish (4-3, 5-3) at Stanwood (4-3, 5-3), Monroe (3-4, 3-5) at Mount Vernon (0-7, 0-8), Oak Harbor (6-1, 7-1) at Marysville-Pilchuck (1-6, 1-7), 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Shorecrest (7-1, 7-1) vs. Lynnwood (0-8, 0-8) at Edmonds Stadium, 5 p.m.; Mountlake Terrace (4-4, 4-4) vs. Kamiak (3-5, 3-5) at Goddard Stadium, Meadowdale (4-4, 4-4) vs. Shorewood (1-7, 1-7) at Shoreline Stadium, 7 p.m.
Cascade Conference: Lakewood (2-2, 4-4) at Granite Falls (1-3, 2-6), South Whidbey (0-5, 0-8) at Sultan (3-1, 5-3), Cedarcrest (2-3, 3-5) at King’s (3-2, 6-2), 7 p.m.
Northwest 1A/B: Coupeville (4-1, 5-2) vs. Cedar Park Christian (2-3, 3-4), 5 p.m.; Concrete (1-4, 2-6) at La Conner (4-1, 6-2), 7 p.m.; Darrington (0-5, 1-7) at Friday Harbor (5-0, 8-0), 7:30 p.m.
Non-conference: Lake Stevens (3-5) at Sumner (5-3), Nooksack Valley (1-7) at Archbishop Murphy (8-0), 7 p.m.
Games Saturday
Northwest 1A/B: Charles Wright (2-3, 4-3) at Orcas Island (2-3, 5-3), 1 p.m.
Prep Editor John McDonald is 17-11 on his picks this season. Prep Writer Mike Cane is 12-16.
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