Having a midseason open date on the schedule is a rareity for a high school team.
College teams usually have one a year and try to place them ahead of a big rivalry game, like Lake Stevens has this week against Arlington.
The Vikings were unable to fill the open date in their schedule this year and did not play last weekend. Hence, they’ve had two weeks to prepare for tonight’s game against the Eagles.
Whether that’s judged a good thing or a bad thing may be decided by tonight’s outcome.
“I don’t know if we’ll be rusty or not,” Lake Stevens coach Ken Collins said Wednesday. “I guess we’ll have to wait until Friday night to find out.”
Of course, everyone associated with the Lake Stevens football team would rather have seen the Vikings play a game last weekend.
“It’s been a long two weeks,” Collins said. “I’ve never had a bye before. When I was in the NFL, we went on strike for nine weeks. That’s as close as I can come to this.
“It’s been strange. I thought we handled it well. The kids are getting a little squirrely. They’re ready to hit somebody. It’s like camp all over again.”
Collins said the team did a few things differently last week. It practiced in pads on Thursday, which it normally wouldn’t, and it practiced on Friday.
“We’ve been able to concentrate on a few things and put some wrinkles in,” Collins said.
Collins remained home Friday night with his wife, who gave birth to their third child, a son, earlier in the week. He said it was the first time since he was a child that he has had a Friday night off during the football season.
His assistant coaches scouted Arlington and Stanwood, the Vikings’ next two opponents.
Here’s a look at Lake Stevens’ first game in two weeks and a couple of other contests of interest.
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Lake Stevens High School.
Records: Arlington is 2-1 in league and overall. Lake Stevens is 2-0 in league and overall.
Last year: Lake Stevens won 35-14.
Players to watch: Arlington quarterback Kevin McCormack threw for 105 yards and a touchdown last week in a 28-7 loss to Snohomish.
Lake Stevens quarterback Mitch Canham completed 12 of 16 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown two weeks ago in a 14-7 victory over Snohomish.
Breaking down the game: Lake Stevens won going away last year and got a big second-half effort from running back Justin Balunsat, who was subbing for an injured Matt Williams.
The two quarterbacks ought to cancel each other out, leaving it up to the running game to decide the outcome. Arlington had a hard time on the ground against Snohomish last week, gaining just 29 yards. Running against Lake Stevens won’t be any easier.
Little-known fact: The winner of this game has gone on to win a league championship each of the past two seasons.
Pick: Lake Stevens 28-7.
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Goddard Stadium.
Records: Jackson is 3-0 in league and overall. Mariner is 2-1 in league and overall.
Last year: Did not play.
Players to watch: Jackson running back C.J. Marsh had 131 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns last week in a 43-12 victory over Lynnwood.
Mariner running back Markee Broussard had two touchdown runs last week in a 17-14 victory over Shorewood.
Breaking down the game: Both teams have had similar results against two common opponents, suggesting that this will be a very evenly matched contest. If Jackson wins, it would be tied for first in the Wesco South with the Kamiak-Shorecrest winner. A Mariner win would give the Kamiak-Shorecrest winner first place outright and create a possible four-way tie for second.
Little-known fact: Mariner can exceed its win total of last season with a victory. Jackson can equal its 2000 win total.
Pick: Mariner 24-21.
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Shoreline Stadium.
Records: Both teams are 3-0 in league and overall.
Last year: Kamiak won 52-7.
Players to watch: Kamiak quarterback John Mack completed 13 of 23 passes for 297 yards and three TDs a week ago in a 56-7 victory over Meadowdale.
Shorecrest running back Eric Duenas carried 24 times for 248 yards and had a 79-yard TD run last week in a 35-14 victory over Everett.
Breaking down the game: Shorecrest hasn’t seen a team like Kamiak yet. The Knights just keep getting better and more versatile on offense each week. They’ve had one common opponent so far. Shorecrest beat that team by three points. Kamiak won by 49. Need I say more?
Little-known fact: First-year Shorecrest assistant coach Brandon Christensen played high school ball at Kamiak.
Pick: Kamiak 56-7.
Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Records: Stanwood is 0-3 in league and overall. Snohomish is 1-1 in league, 1-2 overall.
Last year: Did not play.
Players to watch: Stanwood’s Brandon Murr ran 42 yards on a reverse to set up a touchdown and caught a pass from Jake Herigstad for a 65-yard TD last week in a 27-21 loss to Cascade.
Snohomish quarterback John Knutsen threw for 67 yards and ran for 48 last week in a 28-7 victory over Arlington.
Breaking down the game: Stanwood is coming off a heartbreaking, last-play loss and must beat one of the area’s perennial powers on the road in order to avoid an 0-4 start. Not an easy task.
After starting the season with two close defeats, Snohomish broke into the win column last week against a previously unbeaten Arlington squad. The Panthers’ defense has gotten stingier each week. It allowed a season-high 18 points in Week 1, reduced that to 14 points in Week 2 and held Arlington to seven points last week. Snohomish held Arlington to 29 yards rushing and 134 overall. Stanwood may have trouble running the ball and scoring against the Panthers.
Little-known fact: Snohomish coach Mark Perry is in his seventh year as the Panthers’ head coach and his 18th overall with the program.
Pick: Snohomish 35-14.
Wesco: Mountlake Terrace (0-3, 0-3) vs. Meadowdale (0-3, 0-3) at Edmonds Stadium, 5 p.m.; Mount Vernon (2-0, 3-0) at Oak Harbor (2-1, 2-1), Lynnwood (0-3, 0-3) vs. Everett (1-2, 1-2) at Everett Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.; Shorewood (1-2, 1-2) vs. Edmonds-Woodway (2-1, 2-1) at Edmonds Stadium, 8 p.m.
North Cascades: Mount Baker (1-1, 2-1) at South Whidbey (0-3, 0-3), Nooksack Valley (3-0, 3-0) at Blaine (1-1, 2-1), Meridian (3-0, 3-0) at Granite Falls (0-3, 0-3), Lakewood (2-1, 2-1) at Lynden Christian (2-0, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.
Kingco 4A: Inglemoor (3-0, 3-0) vs. Woodinville (2-1, 2-1) at Pop Keeney Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Non-conference: Life Christian at Coupeville (1-2), 6 p.m.; Darrington (2-1) at Concrete (3-0), 7 p.m.; Timberline at Marysville-Pilchuck (2-1), Archbishop Murphy (2-1) at King’s (1-2), La Conner (3-0) at Charles Wright (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
Non-conference: Brewster at Orcas Island (3-0), 1 p.m.; Sultan (0-3) at Vancouver College, B.C., Friday Harbor (0-3) at Tacoma Baptist, 1:30 p.m.
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