FRIDAY'S GAMES
NOOKSACK VALLEY AT FRIDAY HARBOR
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Friday Harbor High School
Pioneers update: No. 5 Nooksack Valley (5-1) won its fifth straight, beating NWC 1A rival Lynden Christian 42-8 last week. The Pioneers got the lopsided victory despite generating only 189 yards of total offense - about half their season average. The defense forced four turnovers, including a 75-yard interception return for a TD by Matt Aure. Bret Rediger caught two passes for a season-high 46 yards and a TD, while Trey Handy leads the NWC with 834 yards receiving.
Wolverines update: Friday Harbor (2-4) suffered a 42-8 loss at Meridian last week. The Wolverines gained only 172 yards of total offense, led by Jacob Justiniano's 45 yards on four rush attempts. Nathan Steenkolk also scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter against the Trojans. The Wolverines allowed Meridian 443 yards of total offense in the game.
Key to the game: Nooksack Valley won the season's first meeting between the two schools 47-14 on Sept. 23, and the Wolverines know they have to at least slow up some of Nooksack Valley's offensive weapons this time around.
Player to watch: Nooksack Valley quarterback Trevon Myhre passed for 282 yards and four touchdowns the first time the two teams met and is coming off a three-TD effort against LC.
SEDRO-WOOLLEY AT FERNDALE
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Ferndale High School
Cubs update: Sedro-Woolley (6-0) keeps finding ways to win games, scoring 21 straight points to open the second half in a comeback 35-32 victory over Bellingham last week. Alec Wortner led the charge, as he rushed for a season-high 205 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Aaron Stroosma also caught six passes for a season-high 165 yards and a TD and is second in the NWC with 707 yards receiving.
Golden Eagles update: Ferndale (2-4) dropped its fourth game in its past five, as Mount Baker came back for a 21-14 win last week. For the second game in the past three weeks, Ferndale's passing game was almost nonexistent, as the Golden Eagles completed one pass for 17 yards. Kyle Prather did have his second 100-yard rushing game in three weeks, though, as he posted 119 yards on 11 carries.
Key to the game: The Golden Eagles have got to put the disappointing start to their season behind them, as games start to mean something now. Win this week and in two weeks at Mount Vernon, and Ferndale is the top seed into the 3A Northwest District playoffs.
Player to watch: With a Wing-T base offense, Ferndale is obviously going to focus on running the ball. But quarterback Jake Frost and his receiving corps have got to give the Golden Eagles a little more balance and a threat for a big play now and then.
SQUALICUM AT SEHOME
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Civic Stadium
Storm update: Squalicum (1-5) suffered a 49-7 NWC 2A loss to Lynden last week. The Storm was outgained 472-222 by the Lions in the game, including 314-136 through the air. Freshman quarterback Clark Hazlett has shown growth in taking care of the ball - after throwing seven interceptions in the first three weeks of the season, he's thrown only one the past three. Blaze Yetter is averaging 7.0 yards per carry (217 yards and 31 attempts).
Mariners update: Sehome (2-4) couldn't get anything going offensively in a 22-0 NWC 2A loss at Anacortes last week. The Mariners were held to a season-low 126 yards of total offense, including 88 on the ground. Quarterback Austin Rapp rushed for half of that total and passed for 38 yards. In spite of the low output last week, the Mariners are still averaging 161.7 yards per game on the ground this year. The Mariner defense looks to clamp down after allowing 283 yards rushing to Anacortes last week.
Key to the game: While Sehome can lock up the City Championship with a win, both teams are most interested in getting an important win to help boost their postseason outlook. Expect this rivalry game to have a little bit of a playoff atmosphere to it as each team tries to pick up its second NWC 2A win of the year.
Player to watch: Sehome running back Titi Lamositele rushed for 117 yards and a TD in the Mariners' 40-7 loss to Squalicum last year. The punishing runner has 439 yards and six TDs so far this year.
MOUNT BAKER AT LYNDEN
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Lynden High School
Mountaineers update: Mount Baker (5-1) won its fifth straight, scoring the final 14 points in a 21-14 victory over Ferndale last week. Quarterback Andrew Zender rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown in the game and passed for 135 yards and another score. Zan Roman was his top target with 97 yards and a TD. Levi Wigg surpassed 100 yards (107, 1 TD) for the fourth straight week and is fourth in the NWC with 744 yards and 10 TDs this year.
Lions update: Top-ranked Lynden (6-0) won its 27th straight NWC 2A game dating to 2007, claiming a 49-7 victory over Squalicum last week. Lions quarterbacks combined to pass for 314 yards and five touchdowns in the game, while Kyle Hanson provided some offensive balance with his third 100-yard rushing performance (110 yards, 1 TD). The Lynden defense, meanwhile, held an opponent to seven or fewer points for the third straight week and the fourth time overall.
Key to the game: Lynden has three receivers - Zach Vis (635 yards, nine TDs), Nate Wielenga (292, four TDs) and Dak Shagren (290, four TDs) - that rank among the top 10 in the NWC, so the Mount Baker secondary is going to have to step up.
Player to watch: Lynden linebacker Blake Korthuis and the Lynden defense have been great so far, but expect them to be tested by Wigg and the Mounties' potent rush attack in this showdown of the final two teams with unblemished NWC 2A records.
MERIDIAN AT LYNDEN CHRISTIAN
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Lynden Christian
Trojans update: Meridian (4-2) rebounded from a Week 5 loss with a 42-7 NWC 1A victory over Friday Harbor last week. Quarterback Max McGuinn passed for 212 yards and rushed for a touchdown in the game. Casey Smith rushed for 60 yards and a TD and scored a second on an interception return for a TD. The Meridian defense limited Friday Harbor to 172 yards of total offense and held an opponent to seven or fewer points for the third time this year.
Lyncs update: Lynden Christian (0-6) suffered a 42-8 loss to Nooksack Valley last week. Will Scholten is emerging as the Lyncs' top rushing threat, as he gained 47 yards on eight carries last week. Levi Vander Yacht caught six passes for 92 yards and his first touchdown of the season, helping make up for the loss of top receiving threat Chad Heerspink to a season-ending knee injury. The LC defense held Nooksack Valley to 189 yards of total offense.
Key to the game: Meridian rushed for 362 yards and six touchdowns in the first meeting between the teams on Sept. 23 - a game the Trojans won 52-6 - and Lynden Christian can't allow that to happen again.
Player to watch: Trojans running back John Murphy had his second three-touchdown effort of the year last week - his first came against LC. He is third in the NWC with 850 yards and 10 TDs rushing.
ANACORTES AT BURLINGTON-EDISON
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Burlington-Edison High School
Seahawks update: Anacortes (2-4) grabbed its second win in three weeks, beating Sehome 22-0 in an NWC 2A game last week. The Seahawks had three running backs rush for 80 or more yards, including quarterback Cody Culp (85 yards) and Cody Phipps (80 yards, TD). The Anacortes defense has been playing relatively well, limiting opponents to 16.0 points per game. The Seahawks allowed only 126 yards of offense last week against Sehome.
Tigers update: Burlington-Edison (3-3) held off a furious fourth quarter rally to beat Blaine 21-19 in an NWC 2A game last week. Tyler Morrison led the way with 66 yards rushing and a touchdown. Chris Burt and quarterback Dalton Schwetz also ran for scores in the game. Schwetz is sixth in the NWC with 858 yards passing and seven TDs this season. His favorite target has been Peter Isaacson, who has 288 yards and a TD.
Key to the game: Both teams, which are coming off important NWC 2A wins, would be in the 2A Northwest District playoffs if the season were to end after Week 6, and both would like to solidify their position with a win this week, especially with some tough games on the horizon.
Player to watch: Anacortes running back Orlando Stoneham reached 100 yards for the third time this season and scored a touchdown last week against Sehome. The Seahawks have won two of the three games he has reached the plateau.
GLACIER PEAK AT MOUNT VERNON
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Mount Vernon High School
Grizzlies update: Glacier Peak (4-2) beat Mountlake Terrace 52-14 in a Wesco game last week. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 35-0 lead by halftime as quarterback David Linney passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another. Evan Nelson caught four passes for 132 yards and one TD, while Sean Elledge caught five passes for 73 yards. Elledge also blocked a punt that the Grizzlies were able to pounce on for a TD.
Bulldogs update: The Bulldogs' three-game win streak ground to a halt, as Oak Harbor scored the game's final 25 points in a 53-33 victory last week. Marchael Acode rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 909 yards and 13 rushing TDs this season - he's second in the NWC. Adam West caught six passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the game for the Bulldogs, who are second in the NWC with 225 points scored this year.
Key to the game: Mount Vernon has one more week left before it starts to play meaningful games. While Sedro-Woolley and Ferndale play in the first NWC 3A game, the Bulldogs must wait until next week to start playing for a postseason spot.
Player to watch: Quarterback Bennett Gibson is fourth in the NWC with 1,195 yards passing to go along with his 10 touchdowns and five passes. He's definitely got plenty of targets to get the ball to.
SATURDAY'S GAMES
LUMMI AT QUILCENE
Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Quilcene High School
Blackhawks update: Top-ranked Lummi (6-0) grabbed an 81-32 Northwest 1B Football League victory over Evergreen Lutheran last week. Deion Hoskins has been a scoring machine for the Blackhawks this year, as he already has 110 points, including 14 touchdowns. He had 20 points last week. Add in dangerous receiver Austin Brockie, who scored 13th and 14th touchdowns of the season, and it's no wonder Lummi is averaging 58.5 points per game. The defense has limited opponents to 29.7.
Rangers update: Quilcene (3-2) ended a two-game losing streak with a 58-44 victory over Muckleshoot last week in Northwest 1B Football League play. Colby Schreier scored four touchdowns in the game - two rushing and two receiving - while quarterback Jacob Pleines passed for three TDs and rushed for another. Pleines also intercepted three passes.
Key to the game: Quilcene surrendered 100 points its losses to Evergreen Lutheran and Lopez. Facing the Blackhawks' high-powered offense, which has averaged 58.5 points per game, that doesn't figure to end up well for the Rangers.
Player to watch: Lummi quarterback Jared Tom averaged 244.6 yards passing through the first five weeks of the season and passed for six touchdowns last week to up his season total to 24.
BLAINE AT BELLINGHAM
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Civic Stadium
Borderites update: Blaine's fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell just short in a 21-19 NWC 2A loss to Burlington-Edison last week. Freshman quarterback Nathan Kramme passed for a pair of touchdowns in the game, giving him five in the past two weeks. Andrew Price has caught four of them over that span, including one last week after being held without a TD on eight catches for 69 yards the first four weeks. Despite its 1-3 NWC 2A mark, Blaine can control its own destiny with wins the next three weeks.
Red Raiders update: Bellingham (1-5) jumped out to an early lead but watched Sedro-Woolley come back to score a 35-32 victory. Though the Red Raiders have lost five straight, they've played much better the past two weeks and still have a legitimate shot to reach the playoffs. Quarterback Justin Pruett passed for 251 yards and four TDs last week. Oliver Dougherty, Jaleel Woods, Conner Phelps and Darice Haywood were on the receiving end of those scoring throws.
Key to the game: Bellingham has allowed more then 200 yards rushing in each of the past four weeks, and that sounds awfully good to a team that enters with the NWC's leading rusher. The Red Raiders need to clamp down up front and wrap up to slow up the Borderites.
Player to watch: Blaine running back Mario Gobbato, who leads the conference with 1,303 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, surpassed the 200-yard barrier for the fourth time this season with 220 yards and a TD last week.
