There’s something about going undefeated.
I’m sure it bothers last year’s Oak Harbor players not a wit that they lost a game. Winning a state championship can compensate for a lot of deficiencies.
But the only way this year’s players can top last season’s achievement is to win another state title — this time without a blemish.
The Wildcats can take another big step in that direction tonight by beating Lake Stevens, the only team to take Oak Harbor’s measure last year.
They might want to get even, too.
Here’s a look at tonight’s key Wesco North clash and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Lake Stevens at Oak Harbor
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Memorial Stadium, Oak Harbor
Records: Lake Stevens is 4-1 in the Wesco North, 5-1 overall. Oak Harbor is 5-0, 6-0.
Last year: Lake Stevens senior wide receiver Danny Long made a circus catch for a touchdown with 14 seconds to play as the Vikings dealt Oak Harbor its only defeat of the 2006 season, 24-21.
Last Week: Lake Stevens receiver Dustin Adams had five fourth-quarter catches and intercepted a pass with seven seconds to play to kill Arlington’s last drive in an 18-14 Vikings’ victory. Lake Stevens scored two TDs in the last two minutes. Vikings’ quarterback Ian Baker was 10-for-16 for 143 yards.
Oak Harbor QB Johnny Encinas was 11-for-22 for 233 yards and four TDs and running back Chris Valencia carried 13 times for 136 yards and a TD in a 45-7 victory over Stanwood.
Players to watch: Lake Stevens RB Isaac Molstre has 116 carries for 858 yards and six TDs. Baker is 52-for-89 for 757 yards and six TDs. Adams has 22 catches for 416 yards and six TDs.
Encinas is 97-for-152 for 1,226 yards and 19 TDs. Valencia has 76 carries for 387 yards and three TDs. RB Donovan Hunt has 36 carries for 322 yards and two TDs. WR Rodrick Rumble leads the North with 32 catches for 459 yards and eight TDs. WR Michael Bell has 34 catches for 340 yards and seven TDs.
Breaking Down the Game: Lake Stevens pulled off the miracle finish last year, but the Vikings may have exhausted their supply of last-minute heroics last week against Arlington. Only Meadowdale, which held Oak Harbor to 14 points, has found a way to slow the Wildcats’ potent offense, which averages nearly 39 points a game.
John McDonald’s prediction: Oak Harbor 35-14.
Mike Cane’s prediction: Oak Harbor 27-19.
Tom Lafferty’s prediction: Oak Harbor 35-14.
Cascade at Marysville-Pilchuck
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Quil Ceda Stadium, Marysville
Records: Cascade is 3-2 in the Wesco North, 4-2 overall. M-P is 4-2, 4-2.
Last year: Cascade RB Lorne Bridgford ran back the opening kickoff for a TD and had two rushing TDs in Cascade’s 34-7 victory.
Last Week: Bridgford carried 14 times for 139 yards and four TDs in a 35-0 win over Shorewood. The Cascade defense posted its third shutout and held the Thunderbirds to 92 total yards.
M-P RB Travis Sanderson carried 14 times for 88 yards and the Tomahawks’ defense held Monroe to 118 total yards in a 20-0 win.
Players to watch: Bridgford has 124 carries for 876 yards and 10 TDs.
M-P QB Denay Stell has rushed 68 times for 360 yards and three TDs and completed 15 of 44 passes for 347 yards and five TDs. Sanderson has 50 carries for 382 yards for two TDs. Fellow back Caleb Posey has 65 carries for 343 yards and four TDs. WR Levi Cartas has six catches for 158 yards and three TDs.
Breaking Down the Game: Lake Stevens (4-1 in league) and Snohomish (4-1 in league) have yet to meet, so a team with two losses still has a shot at the playoffs … a team with three, maybe not so much. M-P, the surprise team of the season so far, seems to be more multi-dimensional than Cascade.
John McDonald’s prediction: M-P 14-10.
Mike Cane’s prediction: M-P 20-14.
Tom Lafferty’s prediction: M-P 14-10.
Kamiak at Jackson
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Records: Kamiak is 4-1 in the Wesco South, 5-1 overall. Jackson is 3-2, 4-3.
Last year: Kamiak RB Bryson Kelly had 27 carries for 148 yards and both TDs in the Knights’ 13-2 victory. Three turnovers stifled the Knights’ offense. Kamiak’s defense held Jackson to 74 yards.
Last Week: Kamiak RBs Kaniala Manzano (67 yards) and Justin Glenn (47 yards) had the bulk of the Knights’ offense in a 35-7 loss to Edmonds-Woodway.
Jackson RB Taylor Cox carried 22 times for 178 yards and two TDs in a 38-7 win over Mountlake Terrace.
Players to watch: Glenn has 77 carries for 688 yards and 10 TDs. Kamiak QB Jacob Jansen is 49-for-85 for 939 yards and 11 TDs. WR Tommy Benz has 15 catches for 207 yards and two TDs. Glenn has 12 catches for 183 yards and four TDs. WR Skylar Stormo has 11 catches for 186 yards and two TDs.
Cox has 142 carries for 831 yards and seven TDs. RB Ricky Carr has 57 carries for 350 yards and five TDs. QB Andy Gay is 41-for-71 for 514 yards and four TDs. Cox has nine catches for 211 yards and two TDs. Carr has seven catches for 123 yards and one TD.
Breaking Down the Game: Jackson is the only remaining threat to Kamiak’s postseason advancement. That ought to be enough incentive to get the Knights to bounce back from last week’s disappointment against E-W.
John McDonald’s prediction: Kamiak 27-14.
Mike Cane’s prediction: Kamiak 31-17.
Tom Lafferty’s prediction: Jackson 27-24.
Orcas Island at Darrington
When: 4 p.m. today
Where: Darrington H.S.
Records: Orcas Island is 0-3 in the Northwest 2B, 0-6 overall. Darrington is 3-0, 6-0.
Last year: Orcas won both meetings, 35-12 and 7-0.
Previously this year: Darrington QB Mark Jones ran for two TDs and threw for another in a 41-7 Loggers’ victory.
Last Week: Orcas fell 44-14 to previously winless La Conner.
Corey Hoveskeland caught a 61-yard TD pass from Jones and Justin O’Dell ran in the two-point conversion to give the Loggers a 15-14 win over Concrete.
Players to watch: Jones, O’Dell and fullback Joe Dolph comprise the heart of the Darrington offense.
Breaking Down the Game: Injuries have weakened an already young Orcas team, so Darrington should have no trouble repeating its success of earlier this season. The game represents a changing of the guard, however. Orcas was undefeated in league play last season to capture the championship. Darrington can duplicate that achievement with a win today and victories down the road against La Conner and Concrete.
John McDonald’s prediction: Darrington 42-0.
Mike Cane’s prediction: Darrington 34-7.
Tom Lafferty’s prediction: Darrington 44-0.
Other games tonight
Wesco North: Monroe (0-5, 0-6) at Arlington (2-3, 2-4), Stanwood (1-5, 1-5) at Snohomish (4-1, 5-1), both 7 p.m.
Wesco South: Shorewood (0-5, 0-6) vs. Edmonds-Woodway (6-0, 6-0) at Edmonds District Stadium, 5 p.m.; Lynnwood (2-4, 2-4) at Mariner (4-1, 4-2), 7 p.m.; Mountlake Terrace (1-4, 1-5) vs. Meadowdale (3-2, 3-3) at Edmonds District Stadium, 8 p.m.
Cascade Conference: Coupeville (0-4, 2-4) vs. King’s (0-4, 0-6) at Shoreline Stadium, 4 p.m.; Cedarcrest (3-1, 5-1) at Lakewood (2-2, 2-4), Archbishop Murphy (4-0, 6-0) at Granite Falls (1-3, 3-3), South Whidbey (4-0, 6-0) at Sultan (2-2, 2-4), all 7 p.m.
Northwest 2B: La Conner (1-2, 1-5) at Concrete (2-1, 3-3), 7 p.m.
Non-conference: Everett (1-5) vs. Shorecrest (1-5) at Shoreline Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Herald Prep Editor John McDonald was 3-1 on his picks last week. Herald Prep Writer Mike Cane and KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty were both 2-2. Cane is 18-6 on the season. McDonald is 17-7. Lafferty is 16-8.
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