When Oak Harbor defeated Snohomish last year, observers began to suspect that the Wildcats were a pretty special team with a pretty special quarterback.
Marshall Lobbestael threw for a school-record six touchdowns the week before in a 49-7 win over Meadowdale and followed up that performance with a five-TD effort against the Panthers.
But Lobbestael now plays for Washington State and tonight’s 7 p.m. showdown is at Snohomish, perhaps the toughest venue in the Western Conference for a visiting team.
Receiver Rodrick Rumble, who caught three TD passes last year against Snohomish, returns, but he’s catching throws from a new starting QB. However, Johnny Encinas’ numbers are almost as impressive as Lobbestael’s. He leads the Wesco North with 543 yards passing and nine TDs.
Snohomish has both its leading rusher (Derek Jones) and starting QB (Brad Perry) back and the Panthers should be eager for a regime change.
Lake Stevens and Cascade are still in the mix, but this could be the title game in the division.
Here’s a look at the Oak Harbor-Snohomish tilt and the rest of the weekend schedule:
Oak Harbor at Snohomish
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium
Records: Oak Harbor is 2-0 in the Wesco North, 3-0 overall. Snohomish is 3-0, 3-0.
Last year: Lobbestael completed 13 of 23 passes for 243 yards and five touchdowns in a 34-14 Wildcats’ victory.
Last week: Encinas was 21-for-34 for 224 yards and a TD and ran for a TD in a 14-9 win over Meadowdale. Jones ran for 235 yards and a TD in a 29-25 victory over Arlington.
Players to watch: Jones leads the Wesco North in rushing with 589 yards on 79 carries. Encinas leads the division in passing with 49 completions in 76 attempts for 543 yards and nine TDs.
Breaking down the game: As we speak, Snohomish coach Mark Perry is reminding his players that last year’s loss started the Panthers on a five-game skid, knocking them out of the playoffs. The Panthers have to be motivated to do a better job on pass defense. They gave up two TD throws in the first half to Arlington last week, then closed off the end zone to TD passes. Oak Harbor has to worry about containing Jones and the fact that they didn’t look dominant last week against a 3A opponent.
John McDonald’s pick: Snohomish 28-21.
Mike Cane’s pick: Snohomish 24-21.
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Oak Harbor 35-21.
Cedarcrest at Archbishop Murphy
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Ennis Stadium
Records: Both teams are 1-0 in the Cascade Conference, 3-0 overall.
Last year: After Cedarcrest took a 6-0 lead, Murphy ran off four consecutive TDs and racked up 333 yards rushing en route to a 28-12 victory.
Last week: Murphy fullback Henry Woods had 14 carries for 115 yards and a TD in a 60-22 win over Coupeville. Cedarcrest RB Brady Paxman ran for 159 yards and three TDs in a 37-7 win over Granite Falls.
Players to watch: Paxman cotinues to lead the conference in rushing with 548 yards. Woods (354 yards) and Russel Stiegler (209 yards) have the majority of Murphy’s 1,075 rushing yards.
Breaking down the game: After the emotion of playing their first game without coach Terry Ennis last week, the Wildcats must gear up again to play their first game of the season in Ennis Stadium. And, oh yeah, it’s likely to be the title game in the conference this year. Murphy’s task is a little easier. The Wildcats know which back to focus on defensively. Cedarcrest will see six or more ballcarriers.
John McDonald’s pick: Murphy 35-20.
Mike Cane’s pick: Murphy 35-27.
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Cedarcrest 21-20.
Cascade at Lake Stevens
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Lake Stevens Stadium
Records: Cascade is 2-1 in the Wesco North and overall. Lake Stevens is 2-0, 3-0.
Last year: The Bruins had a goal-line stand and a pass interception in the fourth quarter to preserve a 14-10 victory.
Last week: Cascade RB Lorne Bridgford carried 24 times for 178 yards and two TDs in a 28-7 win. Lake Stevens RB Isaac Molstre carried 10 times for 129 yards and a TD in a 34-14 win over Monroe.
Players to watch: Molstre is the second-leading rusher (behind Jones) in the Wesco North with 514 yards. Bridgford is No. 3 with 424 yards.
Breaking down the game: Cascade held Stanwood to 113 total yards of offense last week and shut out Everett in week two. Lake Stevens defenders Clark Ferruci and Dylan Youngblood combined for 25 tackles last week. So this has all the earmarks of a defensive struggle.
John McDonald’s pick: Lake Stevens 14-10.
Mike Cane’s pick: Lake Stevens 22-21.
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Cascade 14-13.
Meadowdale at Mariner
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Goddard Stadium
Records: Meadowdale is 1-1 in the Wesco South, 1-2 overall. Mariner is 2-1, 2-1.
Last year: Mariner’s Matt Jones intercepted a Meadowdale pass at his own 10-yard line and returned it 90 yards for a clinching TD in a 34-21 victory.
Last week: Jones went out with a first-quarter knee injury, but backs Adrien Black (five carries, 53 yards), Chhaylee Khat (five, 49) and Shaundell Burns (nine, 46) picked up the slack in a 28-7 win over Jackson. Conner Nelson kicked three field goals in a 14-9 loss to Oak Harbor.
Players to watch: Burns is Mariner’s leading rusher with 198 carries on 19 carries. QB Tyler Tuiasosopo is 21-for-39 for 254 yards and two TDs. Meadowdale RB Nick Montanari has 59 carries for 393 yards and two TDs. Tonna Njoku has 34 carries for 225 yards and two TDs. QB Matt McDonagh is 15-for-38 for 171 yards and a TD.
Breaking down the game: Meadowdale’s two losses are to 4A state champion Oak Harbor and 2006 semifinalist Edmonds-Woodway. So the Mavericks may still be a team to be reckoned with. The three 4A South teams behind Mariner in the standings are winless. So the Marauders are almost assured of a district playoff berth. Still, it would be a mistake to relax against Meadowdale.
John McDonald’s pick: Meadowdale 28-27.
Mike Cane’s pick: Mariner 21-17.
Tom Lafferty’s pick: Mariner 42-7.
Other games tonight
Wesco South: Shorewood (0-3, 0-3) vs. Mountlake Terrace (0-2, 0-3) at Edmonds District Stadium, 5 p.m.; Jackson (0-2, 0-3) vs. Shorecrest (1-2, 1-2) at Shoreline Stadium, 7 p.m.; Edmonds-Woodway (3-0, 3-0) vs. Lynnwood (2-1, 2-1) at Edmonds Stadium, 8 p.m.
Wesco North: Marysville-Pilchuck (1-2, 1-2) at Stanwood (1-2, 1-2), Arlington (0-2, 0-3) vs. Everett (12-2, 1-2) at Everett Memorial Stadium (KRKO radio, 1380 AM), both 7 p.m.
Non-conference: Kamiak (3-0) at Monroe (0-3), 7 p.m.
Cascade Conference: King’s (0-1, 0-3) at Lakewood (0-1, 0-3), Coupeville (0-1, 2-1) at Sultan (1-0, 1-2), South Whidbey (1-0, 3-0) at Granite Falls (0-1, 2-1), all 7 p.m.
Northwest 2B: Concrete (0-0, 1-2) at La Conner (0-0, 0-3), 7 p.m.
Games Saturday
Northwest 2B: Darrington (0-0, 3-0) at Orcas Island (0-0, 0-3), 1 p.m.
Northwest 1B: Highland Christian (0-1, 1-2) at Lummi (1-0, 3-1), 4:30 p.m.
Prep Editor John McDonald and Prep Writer Mike Cane were 5-0 on their picks last week. KRKO broadcaster Tom Lafferty was 4-1. Cane is 11-1 on the season. McDonald and Lafferty are 10-2.
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