Whatcom County will have a pair of top-10 football showdowns on Friday, Oct. 19.
Mount Baker (6-1) finally gained enough recognition from a statewide panel of sports writers and editors to move into the Class 1A top 10 at No. 10 following its 36-7 victory over Friday Harbor on Friday, Oct. 12.
The Mountaineers joined Blaine (6-1) in the 1A poll, which continued to rank King's No. 1 even though Royal earned a first-place vote. The Borderites moved up one place to seventh after they held on for a 34-27 victory over Meridian on Friday.
The two teams will meet in a 7 p.m. game on Friday in a showdown that will determine which team will clinch at least a share of the NWC 1A title and likely give the winner a bye from the district and tri-district playoffs and a spot in the first round of the Class 1A State Playoffs, though Meridian could still have a say in that should Mount Baker win.
On any other week, that game would obviously be the game that all of Whatcom County was keeping an eye on. But not this week, as Ferndale and Lynden also will battle on Friday night in Lynden, with the winner claiming at least a share of the NWC 2A/3A title.
The Golden Eagles (7-0) and Lions (6-1) each moved up in their respective polls.
Ferndale, which debuted last week in the 3A poll tied with Oak Harbor for sixth, slid up to fourth following its 54-0 victory over Bellingham. The Golden Eagles trail unanimous No. 1 Bellevue, Eastside Catholic and Mount Si.
Lynden also jumped one spot to second place in the 2A poll after its 34-7 victory at Burlington-Edison last week. The Lions, who are now one point ahead of previous No. 2 Lakewood, received one first-place vote, while the other 13 put Othello atop the poll.
Despite beating Muckleshoot Tribal and Clallam Bay by a combined 144-46 score last week, Lummi dropped a spot to fifth in the 1B poll. Liberty Christian remained atop the poll with seven first-place votes, while second-place Neah Bay received two.
Skyline was a unanimous No. 1 in 4A, while Morton White Pass remained atop 2B.
PRE-SALE TICKETS
? Mount Baker at Blaine: Tickets available for purchase at both schools from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 18-19. Ticket gates and the stadium will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, with kickoff at 7 p.m.
? Ferndale at Lynden: Tickets available for purchase at both schools' ASB offices between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Tickets cost $5 for adults, $3 for students with ASB card and $2 for senior citizens.
AP WASHINGTON STATE FOOTBALL POLL
Selected by a statewide panel of sports writers and editors
Class 4A
1. Skyline (12) 7-0 120
2. Federal Way 7-0 105
3. Camas 7-0 93
4. Gonzaga Prep 7-0 84
5. Kentwood 7-0 68
6. Bellarmine Prep 6-1 63
7. Mead 6-1 52
8. Ferris 6-1 30
9. Curtis 6-1 18
(tie) Skyview 5-2 18
Class 3A
1. Bellevue (12) 7-0 120
2. Eastside Catholic 7-0 102
3. Mount Si 6-1 93
4. Ferndale 7-0 73
5. Oak Harbor 6-1 58
6. Glacier Peak 6-1 45
7. O'Dea 5-2 44
8. Meadowdale 6-1 40
9. Timberline 6-1 33
10. North Thurston 6-1 19
Others receiving 6 or more points: 11. Kennedy 18; 12. Kamiakin 8.
Class 2A
1. Othello (13) 7-0 139
2. Lynden (1) 6-1 116
3. Lakewood 7-0 115
4. Prosser 6-1 95
5. Tumwater 6-1 86
6. Capital 5-2 76
7. Mark Morris 6-1 50
8. W. F. West 5-2 36
9. Spokane West Valley 6-1 34
10. Sumner 6-1 8
Class 1A
1. King's (12) 7-0 120
2. Royal (1) 7-0 114
3. Cashmere 7-0 104
4. Hoquiam 7-0 80
5. Cascade Christian 6-1 74
6. LaCenter 7-0 58
7. Blaine 6-1 38
8. Charles Wright Academy 6-0 32
(tie) Cle Elum 6-1 32
10. Mount Baker 6-1 13
Others receiving 6 or more points: 11. Montesano 12; 12. Connell 8; 13. River View 7.
Class 2B
1. Morton White Pass (10) 7-0 100
2. Waitsburg-Prescott 6-1 95
3. DeSales (1) 5-1 72
4. Lind-Ritzville Sprague 6-0 71
5. Willapa Valley 7-0 69
6. Colfax 4-1 52
7. Wahkiakum 6-1 41
8. Tekoa-Oakesdale Rosalia 6-1 36
9. LaConner 5-1 12
10. Darrington 5-1 9
Others receiving 6 or more points: 11. Raymond 7; 11. Orcas Island 7.
Class 1B
1. Liberty Christian (7) 7-0 88
2. Neah Bay (2) 7-0 74
3. Cusick 7-0 64
4. Almira Coulee-Hartline 6-1 50
5. Lummi 5-2 49
Others receiving 6 or more points: 11. Mary Knight 7; 12. LaCrosse-Washtucna 7.
