FRIDAY'S GAMES
NEAH BAY AT LUMMI
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Lummi Nation School
Red Devils update: Fifth-ranked Neah Bay (6-1) beat Quilcene 70-27 last week in a Northwest 1B League game. The Red Devils have not lost since a 38-36 loss to visiting Lummi in the season opener. Josiah Greene scored seven touchdowns in last week's win. He also rushed for 167 yards on six carries and passed for 115 yards.
Blackhawks update: Top-ranked Lummi (8-0) beat Highland Christian 56-14 in a Northwest 1B League game last week. The Blackhawks were without running back Deion Hoskins (437 yards, 10 TDs), but still amassed 159 yards and two TDs on only 11 carries. Receiver Austin Brockie also had an effective day, catching three passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns, while Hank Hoskins caught two passes for 63 yards and two scores. Lummi is seeking its 20th straight win, dating back to Sept. 17, 2010.
Key to the game: This will be the eighth meeting between the two schools in the past three seasons. Lummi has won all but one of those games - a 28-22 non-conference loss at Neah Bay in 2009. Dino Williams' interception in the end zone with 26 seconds remaining secured the two-point win in Week 1 win for the Blackhawks, but this week's game will decide the league title.
Player to watch: Quarterback Jared Tom passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns last week, upping his season totals to 1,886 yards and 28 TDs. He has only two interceptions in 124 attempts so far this year.
CLASS 1A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN AT NOOKSACK VALLEY
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Nooksack Valley High School
Lyncs update: Lynden Christian (1-7) enters as the NWC 1A No. 3 seed. The Lyncs picked up their first win of the season 36-35 over visiting Friday Harbor last week. LC running back Caleb Park, who is from South Korea, had his biggest night as a Lync, rushing for 105 yards and three touchdowns. William Kok added 45 yards and another touchdown on the ground, while quarterback Isaac Reimer passed for 180 yards and a TD. Truman Van Dalen caught three passes for 106 yards and a TD.
Pioneers update: Nooksack Valley (6-2) enters as the NWC 1A No. 1 seed. The Pioneers suffered a 48-13 loss to Meridian last week. The Nooksack Valley run game was nonexistent, as Meridian held the Pioneers to minus-9 yards. The Trojans, meanwhile, rushed for 372 yards. Pioneers quarterback Trevon Myhre passed for 178 yards and two touchdowns. NWC leading receiver Trey Handy caught four passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns last week, giving him 1,040 yards and 11 TDs this season.
Key to the game: Nooksack Valley won the two regular-season meetings between the two teams by a combined 82-8 score, so LC has got to find a way to keep things close. If the Lyncs can run the ball like they were able to do last week, that should give them a shot to do that.
Player to watch: Nooksack Valley running back Tito Nolasco is second on the team with 335 yards and seven rushing TDs, but he was held to minus-3 yards on one attempt last week. He's got to be more of a factor this week and in the future.
MERIDIAN AT COUPEVILLE
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Oak Harbor High School
Trojans update: Fourth-ranked Meridian (6-2) enters as the NWC 1A No. 2 seed. The Trojans are coming off a big 48-13 victory at Nooksack Valley last week. They rushed for a season-best 372 yards and five touchdowns in the victory, led by 171 yards and two TDs from John Murphy - the NWC's No. 2 rusher (1,102 yards). The Meridian defense was equally as impressive, holding the Pioneers to 169 yards total offense, including minus-9 yards on the ground.
Wolves update: Coupeville (1-7) enters as the Cascade Conference 1A No. 2 seed. The Wolves lost 35-0 to South Whidbey last week and have lost seven straight since opening the year with a win at Port Townsend. The Wolves lost three fumbles last week. They also lost linebacker Dalton Engle to a broken fibula and several other players to a variety of injuries last week. Coupeville managed just 150 yards of total offense in the game.
Key to the game: With Coupeville missing a key run stopper in Engle and Meridian coming off a 372-yard rushing performance against Nooksack Valley, expect the Trojans to pick up big chunks of yardage on the ground.
Player to watch: Meridian quarterback Max McGuinn rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown and passed for 127 yards and two more scores in last week's win over Nooksack Valley. The Trojans would love to see another big game from him.
