Wesco South’s top guns face each other tonight

Published 11:44 pm Thursday, September 6, 2007

Wow! Edmonds-Woodway at Mariner. It doesn’t get much better than that.

With all due respect to Kamiak, tonight’s contest is the title game in the Wesco South.

And it’s no Rocky I with an underdog trying to knock off the prohibitive favorite. These two are fully loaded fighter aces facing off at Top Gun school.

Both schools feature proven experienced quarterbacks. E-W’s Kyle McCartney was the leading passer in the division last season (121-for-188, 2,095 yards, 21 touchdowns), Mariner’s Tyler Tuisasosopo wasn’t far behind (72-for-136, 1,145 yards, 17TDs).

Both sport fine returning running backs. Mariner’s Matt Jones had 98 carries for 690 yards and 10 TDs. E-W’s Tony Heard, a secondary back to his senior brother Josh, carried 79 times for 546 yards and four TDs.

Heard was also E-W’s second-best receiver last season with 18 catches for 350 yards and one TD. He complements wide receiver Antoinne Wafer (34 catches, 498 yards, four TDs last year), who had a sensational opener with seven catches for 112 yards and two TDs. Mariner attempted just seven passes last week, but has its top receiver, Joey Dillon (20 catches, 323 yards, six TDs), back as well.

Here’s a look at the classic showdown and the rest of the weekend schedule:

Edmonds-Woodway at Mariner

Kickoff: 7 tonight at Goddard Stadium.

Records: Both teams are 1-0 in the Wesco South and 1-0 overall.

Last year: E-W won 34-33 when Heard stopped Tuiasosopo on a two-point conversion run with 32 seconds to play.

Last week: E-W scored on its first three possessions to put Meadowdale in a 21-0 hole en route to a 35-13 win.

Mariner ran 37 times for 460 yards and eight TDs in a 52-7 win over Shorewood.

Players to watch: Last week E-W QB McCartney was 12-for-20 for 170 yards and two TDs. Heard carried 22 times for 138 yards and three TDs.

Mariner running back Shaundell Burns amassed 138 yards on just five carries (27.6 yards per carry) and scored two TDs last week. Jones gained 111 yards on nine carries.

Breaking down the game: Whenever you get two evenly matched teams like this, the game hinges on mistakes a turnover, a breakdown on special teams. Without one, the overtimes could be endless.

Little known fact: Mariner’s other losses last season were to Kamiak (19-7) and state champion Oak Harbor (43-42 OT in the state playoffs).

John McDonald’s pick: Mariner 35-34.

Mike Cane’s pick: Mariner 33-28

Tom Lafferty’s pick: Mariner 28-24.

Cascade at Everett

Kickoff: 7 tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Records: Cascade is 0-1 in the Wesco North and overall. Everett is 1-0, 1-0.

Last year: Andrew Stiger’s 1-yard TD run with 6:50 to play put Everett ahead to stay in its 10-6 win.

Last week: A fumbled punt which Snohomish recovered at the Cascade 1 and converted into a TD was the turning point in the Bruins’ 27-14 loss to the Panthers.

Everett converted Monroe turnovers at the Bearcats 6- and 1-yard lines into TDs in a 14-3 win.

Players to watch: Cascade RB Lorne Bridgford had 18 carries for 97 yards last week.

Everett QB Brice Herrick threw a TD pass to Brent Swezey and Alex Schaller ran for the Seagulls’ other TD.

Breaking down the game: Cascade will take better care receiving the ball on punts this week (Monroe, too), which means Everett is going to have to mount drives longer than 6 yards. The Bruins have a ton of speed in the backfield.

Little known fact: Everett has won the past two meetings (2003, 2006).

John McDonald’s pick: Cascade 21-7.

Mike Cane’s pick: Cascade 27-7

Tom Lafferty’s pick: Cascade 45-17.

Marysville-Pilchuck at Snohomish

Kickoff: 7 tonight at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)

Records: M-P is 0-1 in the Wesco North and overall. Snohomish is 1-0, 1-0.

Last year: Snohomish had four drives of 10 plays or longer to dominate time of possession in a 20-3 win.

Last week: Snohomish RB Derek Jones carried 34 times for 208 yards and two TDs in a 27-14 win over Cascade.

M-P QB Denay Stell ran 12 times for 69 yards and a TD in a 37-27 loss to Oak Harbor.

Players to watch: Those are the guys: Jones and Stell.

Breaking down the game: On paper, this shouldn’t be much of a contest. Snohomish appears to be a playoff caliber team while M-P is starting over under a new coach after a two-win season. But the Tommies comported themselves better than expected last week against the defending state champs. They could surprise again, especially if Snohomish gets wrapped up in the hype surrending the halftime dedication of the Dick Armstrong statue.

Little known fact: What do you do when you can’t name your stadium after your legendary coach? You build him a statue. Armstrong was the state’s winningest coach at 272-95-9 until recently when he was passed by Tumwater’s Sid Otton and Terry Ennis of Archbishop Murphy.

John McDonald’s pick: Snohomish 36-20.

Mike Cane’s pick: Snohomish 24-12

Tom Lafferty’s pick: Snohomish 21-7.

Arlington at Oak Harbor

Kickoff: 7 tonight at the new Memorial Stadium.

Records: Arlington is 0-1 overall and playing its first Wesco North game. Oak Harbor is 1-0 in division and overall.

Last year: Josh Grinstead and Tony Thulin each scored two rushing TDs for Oak Harbor in a 42-13 win.

Last week: Arlington was driving toward a potential tying or go-ahead score when it lost a fumble at the Wenatchee 6-yard line and the ball was returned 94 yards for a Wenatchee TD in a 20-6 loss.

Oak Harbor QB Johnny Encinas (11-for-16, 124 yards) threw three TD passes and ran for a TD in a 37-27 win over M-P.

Players to watch: Arlington QB Brandon Gunter was 25-for-38 for 181 yards and a TD against Wenatchee.

Oak Harbor RB Chris Valencia ran 15 times for 103 yards and caught a TD pass against M-P.

Breaking down the game: The Wildcats are opening their new stadium and playing at home for the first time since winning last year’s state championship. It should be an emotionally-charged atmosphere for them. That’s too much for Arlington to overcome.

Little known fact: The stadium dedication will include a tribute to the Whidbey NAS sailors killed in Iraq and a flyover by Prowlers from the base.

John McDonald’s pick: Oak Harbor 41-14.

Mike Cane’s pick: Oak Harbor 35-19

Tom Lafferty’s pick: Oak Harbor 35-10.

Other games tonight

Wesco North: Monroe (0-1) at Stanwood (0-1), 7 p.m.

Wesco South: Jackson (0-1) vs. Meadowdale (0-1) at Edmonds Stadium, 5 p.m.; Shorewood (0-1) vs. Shorecrest (0-1) at Shoreline Stadium, 7 p.m.; Kamiak (1-0) vs. Lynnwood (1-0) at Edmonds Stadium, 8 p.m.

Non-conference: Mountlake Terrace (0-1) at Lake Stevens (1-0), Cedarcrest (1-0) at Lakeside (0-1), Coupeville (1-0) at Concrete (1-0), Cleveland (0-1) at Granite Falls (1-0), Lakewood (0-1) vs. Squalicum (1-0) at Bellingham Civic Stadium, Cascade-Leavenworth (1-0) at Sultan (0-1), 7 p.m.

Games Saturday

Non-conference: King’s (0-1) at Friday Harbor (1-0), 1 p.m.; Black Hills (0-1) at Archbishop Murphy (1-0), 2 p.m.; Orcas Island (0-1) at Nooksack Valley (1-0), 2:30 p.m.; Lake Stevens sophs at Darrington (1-0), 7 p.m.

Herald Prep Editor John McDonald was 2-1 on his picks last week. Herald Writer Mike Cane and KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty were 3-0.