Welcome to the Wild, Wild Wesco North.
How crazy and unpredictable has the Western Conference 4A North Division been this season? Consider this: In The Herald’s preseason coaches’ poll, the Monroe High School football team was picked to finish last in the six-team league. But going into the final North games of the season tonight, Monroe has a chance not just to make the playoffs but to win the division!
Following its come-from-behind homecoming victory last week over Arlington, Monroe controls its own destiny. If the Bearcats (3-1 Wesco North, 3-4 overall) beat Marysville-Pilchuck (2-2, 4-3) tonight they will earn no worse than a share of the division title, clinch a spot in next week’s Wesco 4A championship game and secure a Week 10 quad-district playoff berth. (The top three finishers in the North and the South advance to Week 9 crossover seeding games.)
It would be an incredible achievement for Monroe, which has not made the playoffs since 1992 and has never won a state playoff game, according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s online database.
Third-year Monroe football coach Dave Telford said every victory — not just the recent triumph over Arlington — is a BIG deal in the community.
“This place is so hungry for wins of any kind that every one has been extra special,” Telford said.
Monroe returned just a handful of starters on offense, including quarterback Joey Roppo, from its 2009 team that went 1-5 in division play and 3-7 overall. In 2008, Telford’s debut season, the Bearcats were 2-8 (0-6 Wesco North). The year before that Monroe was winless, one of many woeful seasons in the program’s history.
But now there is a different attitude. Players are more coachable and more confident, Telford said. Although Monroe is a young team and starts quite a few sophomores and juniors, senior leaders like Roppo and wide receiver/defensive back Jake Pratt have been in Telford’s pass-happy system for three years and have a strong grasp of the offense. Roppo has passed for 1,169 yards (No. 2 in the North) and eight touchdowns (tied for second in the North), while Pratt (24 receptions, four TDs) leads the division with 401 yards receiving.
Describing his entire team, coach Telford said: “They just believe that as long as we keep playing hard we (will succeed).”
M-P bounced back, could have Pina tonight
Monroe’s opponent tonight is Marysville-Pilchuck, the two-time defending North champion, which had a surprising stumble a few weeks ago against previously winless Snohomish but bounced back with a decisive 38-21 win over Lake Stevens. Against Snohomish, M-P wasn’t mentally prepared, Tomahawks coach Brandon Carson said. But after that disappointing outcome M-P had a great week of practice, knocked off Lake Stevens and is in the mix for a playoff berth.
“We have some prideful kids who have been around the success we’ve had the past couple years and they’re playing for their playoff lives,” Carson said. “They will be doing that again this week.”
If M-P wins, Arlington beats Snohomish and Lake Stevens beats Stanwood, the Tomahawks will be the North No. 2 seed thanks to their head-to-head wins over Lake Stevens and Monroe. See the attached graphic for other possible Wesco 4A scenarios.
Ignited by tough senior Tyler Thompson, M-P’s three-running back offensive attack rolled last week despite the absence of team season rushing leader Andre Pina. The speedy junior served a one-game suspension for school-related discipline but is expected to play tonight, coach Carson said on Wednesday. Pina has rushed for 688 yards (10.1 yards per carry) and six TDs.
Can Archbishop Murphy slow down King’s QB Vincent?
Class 2A top-ranked Archbishop Murphy survived a Cascade Conference test against Lakewood a few weeks ago. Now Murphy (5-0 in conference) — coming off back-to-back blowout wins over Granite Falls and Coupeville — takes on unbeaten, 1A No. 3 King’s (6-0 in conference), led by always-dangerous quarterback Thomas Vincent.
Murphy has never lost a Cascade Conference game on the field. Can King’s break through behind the leadership of Vincent? The versatile senior QB is among the area’s top passers (1,387 yards, 19 TDs) and rushers (800 yards, 15 TDs, 8.5 yards per carry)
“You almost have to assign two guys to spy him,” Archbishop Murphy coach Dave Ward said, “and then if you do that you’re a little thin in the coverage.”
The outcome will likely hinge on whether Murphy’s massive, powerful linemen can control the line of scrimmage against King’s smaller but resilient squad.
“Football is played with speed, strength and size,” said King’s coach Jim Shapiro. “Hopefully we can leverage one of those attributes on the front line.”
This is King’s final conference game. Murphy wraps up conference play Oct. 28 at Sultan.
Wesco South outlook
One thing is certain in the Wesco South 4A: Mariner, Edmonds-Woodway and Jackson will advance to next week’s crossovers. However, seeding is still in question. Division leader Mariner (3-0 South) can clinch the No. 1 seed by beating Jackson (2-1 South) tonight at Goddard Stadium. In that case, E-W (3-1 South), which plays a non-league game at Redmond tonight, would be the No. 2 seed thanks to its overtime win over Jackson on Oct. 1.
But if Jackson, winner of the last two South championships, defeats Mariner there will be a three-way tie for first. The teams would be division co-champs, but Jackson would get the No. 1 seed, E-W the No. 2 seed and Mariner the No. 3 seed because of the team’s respective tiebreaker numbers determined by a preseason draw.
Quick slants
King’s middle linebacker Michael McCardle is out with an injury he suffered against Lakewood and Knights receiver/defensive back Curtis Clauson (also injured versus Lakewood) will be a game-time decision, coach Shapiro said. … Check out the Wesco football tiebreaker procedure at http://tinyurl.com/238en4j. … See the Week 8 Tacoma News Tribune football rankings at http://tinyurl.com/29wajop.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam and follow Cane on Twitter at MikeCaneHerald.
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