Meadowdale and Shorecrest are both off to slow starts at 1-3 and face each other in a game with Class 3A playoff implications tonight at Edmonds Stadium. With Lynnwood playing well, a 3A district playoff spot is no guarantee for either team this season. The two teams with the best conference records out of the five Wesco South and North 3A squads make it to districts.

Shorecrest

at Meadowdale

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

Records: Shorecrest 1-3, Meadowdale 1-3

Last week: Jackson 22, Shorecrest 10; Mariner 49, Meadowdale 17.

Last year’s result: Meadowdale 25, Shorecrest 24

Players to watch: As Shorecrest quarterback Lars Swenson (109 yards on 13 carries last week) goes, so goes the Shorecrest offense. Running back Rico Trevino will not play because of an injured shoulder, so it will be up to running backs Michael Harris and Benny Olson, the latter who just rejoined the team, to carry the load. Meadowdale back Sam Werner scored all 17 points for the Mavericks last week. The sophomore scored on a 58-yard touchdown run, caught a 15-yard touchdown reception and added a 32-yard field goal. He also connected on both point-after attempts. Tonna Njoku, who has 225 yards rushing, was held out of last week’s game as a precaution after complaining of a headache, but will play this week. The Mavericks’ leading rusher, Nick Montanari (393 total yards rushing), was injured in last week’s game and is not expected to play tonight.

Breakdown: This is a pivotal game between the two 3A squads since it will help determine postseason playoff positions. The two teams with the best records out of the five 3A squads in the Wesco North and South advance. Right now, the top team is Lynnwood, which has never been a contender until now. For that reason, this game is huge. Shorecrest committed four turnovers against Jackson last week which led to two touchdowns and can’t afford to do that again.

Enterprise pick: Meadowdale 27, Shorecrest 21.

Lynnwood

at Jackson

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

Records: Lynnwood 2-2, Jackson 1-3.

Last week: Edmonds-Woodway 35, Lynnwood 6; Jackson 22, Shorecrest 10.

Last year’s result: Jackson 35, Lynnwood 0.

Players to watch: Lynnwood quarterback Andrew Beatty is coming off a tough game against Edmonds-Woodway. He was picked off three times. Junior running back Geoff Meinken likely is to be the focal point for the Royals’ ground game. Jackson junior running back Taylor Cox played an integral role in the Wolfpack’s first win of the season over Shorecrest. Cox ran for 115 yards and caught two passes for 88 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Riley Carr rushed for 84 yards and two scores.

Breakdown: The Lynnwood defense wasn’t able to contain Edmonds-Woodway running back Tony Heard, who rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns. The Royals face an equally tough task in controlling Jackson running backs Taylor Cox and Riley Carr. On offense, Lynnwood likely will rely on quarterback Andrew Beatty’s arm and running back Geoff Meinken’s legs to keep Jackson off-balance. Last week’s victory over Shorecrest should be a big boost for a young squad that included six sophomores on offense, including quarterback Andy Gay. The Jackson defense held Shorecrest to only one first down in the second half. Lynnwood, however, has far more offensive weapons.

Enterprise pick: Lynnwood 28, Jackson 24.

Mountlake Terrace at Edmonds-Woodway

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

Records: Edmonds-Woodway 4-0, Mountlake Terrace 1-3.

Last week: Edmonds-Woodway 35, Lynnwood 6; Mountlake Terrace 35, Shorewood 0

Last year’s result: Edmonds-Woodway 56, Mountlake Terrace 7

Players to watch: No team has been able to stop Edmonds-Woodway junior running back Tony Heard, who scotched Lynnwood for 347 yards and four touchdowns last week. Senior quarterback Kyle McCartney is a threat through the air or on the ground. Mountlake Terrace quarterback Tony Ellersick is coming off his best game of the season. He completed 6 of 13 passes for 86 yards and one touchdown. Ellersick also ran for 102 yards on three carries and ran for one TD. Junior running back Billy Lechtenberg ran for 110 yards on 11 carries.

Breakdown: The Edmonds-Woodway offense continues to roll through the Western Conference South Division. You might be able to contain quarterback Kyle McCartney or running back Tony Heard but you won’t be able to stop both of them. Warriors coach John Gradwohl wasn’t pleased with the number of penalties his team was flagged for against Lynnwood. Look for a more disciplined effort from Edmonds-Woodway. Mountlake Terrace put together a solid four-quarter performance in its win over Shorewood. The Hawks will need to contain the Warriors’ potent offense early and put up some points.

Enterprise pick: Edmonds-Woodway 35, Mountlake Terrace 17.

Kamiak

at Shorewood

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

Records: Kamiak 3-0 Wesco South, 4-0 overall; Shorewood 0-4 Wesco South and overall.

Last week: Mountlake Terrace 35, Shorewood 0; Kamiak 30, Monroe 0.

Last year’s result: Kamiak 49, Shorewood 13.

Players to watch: Kamiak running back Justin Glenn rushed for 128 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown in the Knights’ shutout win over Monroe. Quarterback Cub Jansen threw for 156 yards, completing 6 of 9 passes including a 52-yard strike to Tommy Benz. Jansen also scored on a 1-yard run. Shorewood running back Nathan Cook weighs only 140 pounds but he’s the T-birds leading rusher this season. He racked up 114 yards on 18 carries against Mountlake Terrace. Jon-O Hendricks has earned the starting quarterback job for Shorewood.

Breakdown: Kamiak has been hit by the injury bug with five starters out including all-league linebacker Marcel Seely who is done for the season with torn ligaments in one of his knees. Despite his team’s 4-0 record, veteran coach Dan Mack said he’s had to play a lot of inexperienced players and said the Knights have been inconsistent and need to cut down on their mistakes. Winless Shorewood is still a work in progress under first-year coach Andrew Hershey. Kamiak has yet to be seriously challenged this year, but expect Mack to have his team ready. The Knights offense should roll, while Shorewood’s offense is still trying to find its way.

Enterprise pick: Kamiak 42, Shorewood 14.

King’s

at South Whidbey

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday at South Whidbey High School.

Records: South Whidbey 2-0 Cascade Conference, 4-0 overall; King’s 0-2 conference, 0-4 overall.

Last week: Lakewood 18, King’s 7; South Whidbey 13, Granite Falls 7.

Last year’s result South Whidbey 31, King’s 20.

Players to watch: Tailback Levi Sawyers (82 yards on 21 carries against Granite Falls) and fullback Hunter Hawkins (touchdown runs of 12 and 3 yards against Granite Falls) lead a senior-laden Falcon squad that is undefeated and ranked 10th in the state 2A Associated Press poll. Speedy King’s running back Josh Fuller has emerged as a top option out the backfield along with freshman Zack Berg.

Breakdown: South Whidbey coach Mark Hodson hopes his Falcons can continue their winning ways against his alma mater. Hodson was a two-time all-state lineman and linebacker at King’s in the mid-1980s. Fourteen three-year starter seniors give the Falcons a tremendous advantage over a King’s squad full of varsity newcomers. Expect the experienced Falcons to stay unbeaten while King’s will have to wait for its first win.

Enterprise pick: South Whidbey 34, King’s 14.

Lakewood at Archbishop Murphy

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday at Terry Ennis Stadium.

Records: Lakewood 1-3; Archbishop Murphy 4-0

Last week: Lakewood 18, King’s 7; Archbishop Murphy 28, Cedarcrest 0.

Last year’s result: Archbishop Murphy 77, Lakewood 6.

Players to watch: Lakewood’s Ernest Miller ran 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Cougars to their first victory over the season. Archbishop Murphy’s Henry Woods rushed for 142 yards against Cedarcrest. But the Wildcats also like to spread the ball around to teammates Russel Stiegler and Tyler Allen. Quarterback Patrick Kelly has completed 8 of 9 passes for 189 yards this season.

Breakdown: Lakewood overcame a 6-0 deficit and scored three unanswered touchdowns to beat King’s. The Cougars can’t afford to fall behind against the powerful Wildcats. Archbishop Murphy only had a 6-0 lead at halftime last week against Cedarcrest but then put the game out of reach in the second half. Expect the Wildcats to start out strong and put the game out of reach by halftime.

Enterprise pick: Archbishop Murphy 50, Lakewood 7.

Enterprise sports staff picks

Last week: 4-2

Season: 24-3