Prep games of the week: Shorewood, Shorecrest start off with South’s best

Welcome to the first installment of a new feature — Games of the Week.

Each week we’ll take a look at the top matchups in the Western Conference South Division and the Cascade Conference. We’ll tell you which players to watch and what we think are the keys to the game. We’ll also be donning our prognosticators’ hats.

So let’s get started.

Mariner at Shorewood

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday at Shoreline Stadium.

Last year’s records: Mariner (6-2 conference, 8-3 overall), Shorewood (1-7, 1-9).

Last year’s result: Mariner 49, Shorewood 14

Players to watch: Mariner senior quarterback Tyler Tuiasosopo (72-136 for 1,145 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2006) and senior fullback Mike Jones (98 carries, 690 yards, 10 TDs) lead the way for the potent Marauder offense. Shorewood has its second-leading rusher last year, senior Nathan Cook, in the backfield along with senior Dorian Lair. The Thunderbirds have an untested quarterback in Jon-O Hendricks.

Breakdown: Shorewood has its hands full with Mariner which starts the season ranked No. 2 in the state 4A WashingtonPreps.com poll. To stay in the game, the T-birds will have to contain the Mariner offense early and pick up some first downs with their own running game. If Jones breaks off some big runs and Tuiasosopo is on target, it could be a very long night for Shorewood.

Enterprise pick: Mariner 41, Shorewood 7

Shorecrest at Kamiak

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday at Goddard Stadium.

Last year’s records: Shorecrest (3-5 conference, 5-6 overall), Kamiak (7-1, 8-2).

Last year’s result: Kamiak 21, Shorecrest 14

Players to watch: Kamiak’s Justin Glenn (91 carries, 589 yards, four touchdowns last year), a University of Washington recruit, leads the Knights’ running game while Cub Jansen (76-151, 946 yards, 10 TDs), a three-year starter at quarterback, leads the passing attack with tight end Skylar Stormo a main target. Shorecrest’s offense is led by fullback Marek Domanski, tailback/receiver Jordan Brown and quarterback Lars Swenson.

Breakdown: Kamiak, which starts the season ranked ninth in 4A by WashingtonPreps.com, returns a core of key players led by playmakers Justin Glenn and Cub Jansen. They face a Shorecrest team that returns only one offensive and three defensive starters.

The game was close last year, but four Shorecrest turnovers proved to be the Scots undoing. They’ll have to take care of the ball to have a chance.

Enterprise pick: Kamiak 31, Shorecrest 13

King’s at Gold Beach

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday at Gold Beach.

Last year’s records: King’s (2-5 conference, 4-7 overall); Gold Beach (5-0 conference, 11-2 overall).

Last year’s result: Did not play.

Players to watch: Junior Travis Moore, who gained 1,255 yards rushing last year, senior tailback Herbie Smith and junior Jeffrey Knox lead the Panther offense. Senior quarterback Kevin Tranter starts his first game for King’s with a backfield by committee consisting of Josh Fuller, Garrett Totten, Terrell Calloway and Zack Berg.

Breakdown: Gold Beach made Oregon 3A state semifinals (equivalent to 1A in Washington) last year and has nearly everyone back against a King’s team that has a lot of new faces at the skill positions in a newly installed offense. The King’s defense will have to step up to slow down a high-octane Gold Beach offense. King’s scheduled the game to give its players the experience of a road trip with a playoff-like atmosphere.

Enterprise pick: Gold Beach 34, King’s 15.

Lynnwood at Mountlake Terrace

Game time: 5 p.m. Friday at Edmonds Stadium

Last year’s records: Lynnwood (0-9 conference, 0-10 overall), Mountlake Terrace (2-6 conference, 2-8 overall).

Last year’s result: Mountlake Terrace 21, Lynnwood 6

Players to watch: Lynnwood senior quarterback Andrew Beatty (80-142, 783 yards and six touchdowns) has a talented and veteran receiving corps that includes Scott Hill (14 catches, 267 yards and two touchdowns) and Curtis Wisser. Junior Geoff Meinken (6-2, 235) switches from backup quarterback to running back and brings both speed and power to the Royals’ running game. Mountlake Terrace senior Tony Ellersick (41-106, 436 yards and five touchdowns) assumes more of a leadership role in the backfield after the loss of starting running back Casey Finnicum, who is likely out for the season with an ankle injury. Ellersick will look to throw the ball to wide receiver David Vodegel. Running back Casey Ellersick brings speed, while teammate Jace Holmlund is more of a power back.

Breakdown: Both teams return plenty of starters on both sides of the ball and are looking to rebound following disappointing 2006 campaigns. The team that scores first could have a significant mental advantage over the other. The play of the line will be key and Mountlake Terrace appears to have an edge with the return of first-team, all-league offensive lineman Randy Dolman. Lynnwood last won a game in 2004 and while it would make for a great feel-good story to start the season with a victory, Mountlake Terrace is still the larger school (4A vs. 3A). Big generally wins over less big in football.

Enterprise pick: Mountlake Terrace 24, Lynnwood 20

Meadowdale at Edmonds-Woodway

Game time: 8 p.m. Friday at Edmonds Stadium

Last year’s records: Meadowdale (5-3 conference, 5-5 overall), Edmonds-Woodway (8-0 conference, 12-1 overall).

Last year’s result: Edmonds-Woodway 42, Meadowdale 20

Players to watch: Edmonds-Woodway senior quarterback Kyle McCartney (121-189 for 2,095 yards and 28 TDs) leads what should be a still potent offense with junior running back Tony Heard (79 carries, 546 yards) ready to take over for older brother Josh. McCartney’s favorite receiver is likely to be senior Antoinne Wafer (34 catches, 498 yards). The Meadowdale offense isn’t quite as established with all new personnel in the backfield. Junior quarterback Matt McDonagh did see some playing time last year and should be comfortable running the offense. Senior Tonna Njoku looks to make up for missing last year with an injury.

Breakdown: The veteran Meadowdale defense should be a good test for the high-powered Edmonds-Woodway offense. The Warriors may not have as many playmakers as last year’s team, but they still return the league’s top quarterback and potentially a first-team, all-league running back. The Meadowdale offense has to start off fast and must keep up with its Edmonds-Woodway counterparts. Experience usually makes a difference and the Warriors have the edge there.

Enterprise pick: Edmonds-Woodway 35, Meadowdale 28

Jackson at Eisenhower

Game time: 8 p.m. Friday at Eisenhower High School

Last year’s records: Jackson (4-4 conference, 4-6 overall), Eisenhower (4-2 Columbia Basin League, 7-2 overall).

Last year’s result: Eisenhower 28, Jackson 19

Players to watch: Jackson junior Gabe Rochon is scheduled to make his debut as the starting quarterback. He’ll be joined by senior running back Daniel Reimer and sophomore running back Riley Carr in the backfield. Look for Rochon to throw to senior Mason Mazza, sophomore Mike Wishko and junior Trevor Bray. Eisenhower graduated most of its starters from a year ago. Taylor Elmo, a 6-3, 190-pound junior, looks to be the heir apparent at quarterback.

Breakdown: Jackson returns only a handful of starters, so head coach Joel Vincent is eager to see how his new players respond to their first taste of varsity action. Not having junior running back Taylor Cox will hurt the offense, so other players need to fill the void. Vincent said that Cox is serving a one-game suspension. The Timberwolves will have to cut down on turnovers, which led to three Eisenhower touchdowns in last year’s game.

Enterprise pick: Eisenhower 21, Jackson 14

Arch. Murphy vs. Arch. Riordan

Game time: 5:30 p.m. Friday at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Last year’s records: Archbishop Murphy (7-0 conference, 11-1 overall), Archbishop Riordan (2-4 West Catholic Athletic League).

Last year’s result: Did not play

Players to watch: Archbishop Murphy senior running back Henry Woods (58 carries, 377 yards, nine touchdowns) leads the offense while linebackers J.J. Quinlan and Ryan Bourke anchor the defense. Archbishop Riordan is led by Daniel Cannon, a first-team West Catholic Athletic League FS/WR.

Breakdown: The Wildcats run their version of the Wing-T as well as anyone and coach Terry Ennis always has them prepared for a big game like this. Archbishop Riordan operates out of the shotgun and a spread set on offense and runs a three lineman-five linebacker set on defense. If the Wildcat defense can minimize the big plays and the offense moves the ball effectively, they’ll win their third opener in a row.

Enterprise pick: Archbishop Murphy 27, Archbishop Riordan 20