It’s rivalry week in Snohomish County.
The second week of Wesco’s abbreviated five-week high school football season is highlighted by a handful of rivalry games, including Lake Stevens-Monroe, Glacier Peak-Snohomish and the Stilly Cup.
Here’s a preview of this week’s top matchups and a complete schedule of every local game, along with staff picks. Click on the matchup to access the game’s streaming link:
GAMES OF THE WEEK
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Monroe H.S.
The skinny: This long-standing rivalry ultimately determined the Wesco 4A title in three of the last four seasons. Monroe is now a Class 3A school, but the teams are set to square off again for the 50th consecutive season and the 81st time overall, according to monroebearcatshistory.com. Lake Stevens has won 13 of the last 14 matchups, including seven straight by an average of 35.3 points. The Vikings steamrolled to a 73-28 rout in last season’s clash.
About the Vikings: The seven-time defending Wesco 4A champions opened their season with a 26-7 win over 2A powerhouse Archbishop Murphy last week in the first-ever meeting between the two Snohomish County juggernauts. The game was scoreless through the midway point of the third quarter, due in large part to Lake Stevens’ red-zone struggles in the first half. But in the second half, the Vikings leaned on their ground attack and rattled off four consecutive touchdown drives to pull away. Jay Roughton led the way with 188 yards on 17 carries and three touchdown runs, including a 65-yarder. Two-way standout Gabe Ramsey added seven catches for 147 yards, as well as two interceptions on defense. Lake Stevens allowed just 182 total yards and 3.4 yards per play.
About the Bearcats: Monroe began its season with a 14-0 shutout win over Arlington. The Bearcats mustered just 170 total yards of offense, but used a stingy defensive performance to notch a victory in longtime assistant Scott Darrow’s head-coaching debut. The game was scoreless until the third quarter, when Brycen Blankenship broke the deadlock on a touchdown pass to Trey Lane. Later in the third, Riley Rudolfo intercepted a pass deep in Arlington territory and then caught a touchdown pass from Blankenship moments later to extend the lead. Rudolfo finished with three interceptions and Branden Rodriguez posted four sacks to lead the Bearcats’ defense.
Herald pick: Lake Stevens
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium
The skinny: Glacier Peak aims to continue its mastery of crosstown rival Snohomish. The Grizzlies have won all eight meetings since these schools began playing in 2012, including a 24-3 win last year when they held the Panthers to just 211 total yards. Just two of the eight matchups in this rivalry have been decided by single digits.
About the Panthers: The two-time defending Wesco 3A South champions opened their season with a 41-0 shutout win over Mariner. Snohomish led 12-0 at halftime before pulling away with three third-quarter touchdowns. Joshua Vandergriend ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Silas Strehle and Kale Hammer each threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Trey Leckner caught two touchdown passes.
About the Grizzlies: Glacier Peak is coming off an impressive 35-7 season-opening win over defending Wesco 3A champion Marysville Pilchuck, which reached the 3A state quarterfinals in 2019. Two-way standout Ryan Black led the Grizzlies’ rushing attack with 133 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Senior quarterback Tyson Lang, a University of Washington preferred walk-on, was an efficient 18-of-24 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
Herald pick: Glacier Peak
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Stanwood H.S.
The skinny: Arlington owns a 10-game win streak over Stanwood in the annual Stilly Cup. This rivalry has produced some down-to-the-wire finishes in recent years, including the Eagles’ dramatic one-point win in 2017 on a last-second blocked field goal. But Arlington left no doubt last season with a 44-10 rout.
About the Eagles: Arlington opened its season with a 14-0 shutout loss to Monroe, which was the Wesco 4A runner-up in 2019. The Eagles played much of the game without starting quarterback Trent Nobach, who suffered a broken collarbone on a sack in the second quarter. The offensive struggles overshadowed a stong performance from Arlington’s defense, which held the Bearcats to just 170 total yards.
About the Spartans: Stanwood rolled to a 50-7 win last week over Jackson, which was coming off a winless 2019 season. The Spartans’ defense posted a pair of first-quarter safeties and allowed just 72 total yards and 1.2 yards per play in a suffocating performance. Stanwood also scored a pair of touchdowns on end-zone fumble recoveries — one on special teams and another on defense. Wyatt Custer threw five touchdown passes, including two to fellow sophomore Ryder Bumgarner.
Herald pick: Arlington
OTHER LOCAL GAMES
7 p.m. Thursday at Civic Stadium (Bellingham)
Herald pick: Bellingham
5 p.m. Friday at Everett Memorial Stadium
Herald pick: Lakewood
5 p.m. Friday at Edmonds Stadium
Herald pick: Lynnwood
6 p.m. Friday at Goddard Stadium
Herald pick: Mariner
Edmonds-Woodway vs. Shorecrest
6 p.m. Friday at Shoreline Stadium
Herald pick: Edmonds-Woodway
Meadowdale at Archbishop Murphy
7 p.m. Friday at Archbishop Murphy H.S.
Herald pick: Archbishop Murphy
Marysville Pilchuck vs. Marysville Getchell
7 p.m. Friday at Quil Ceda Stadium
Herald pick: Marysville Pilchuck
Cedar Park Christian at Sultan
7 p.m. Friday at Sultan H.S.
Herald pick: Cedar Park Christian
8 p.m. Friday at Everett Memorial Stadium
Herald pick: Cascade
Cedarcrest vs. Mountlake Terrace
8 p.m. Friday at Edmonds Stadium
Herald pick: Mountlake Terrace
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