3A CROSSOVER PLAYOFF
HAZEN AT FERNDALE
Time: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3
Site: Civic Stadium
Highlanders update: Hazen (5-4) enters as the No. 2 seed out of the Seamount Conference. The Highlanders wrapped up the regular season with a 38-7 victory over Renton last week and have won two straight. Running backs Joe Glaefke and Jordan Abdullah each scored a pair of touchdowns last week, and they lead the team with 683 and 427 yards, respectively. Marquise Lee has also put up some good numbers with 514 yards and three TDs. Like Ferndale, Hazen is definitely a run-oriented team, as it has amassed 2,247 yards on the ground and only 404 through the air.
Golden Eagles update: No. 7 Ferndale (8-1) enters as the No. 3 seed out of the Northwest District. The Golden Eagles rebounded from their first loss of the season and finished off the regular season with a 55-13 win at Anacortes last week. It was the fifth time they scored 50 or more points in a game. Running back Alex Conley has been the top points producer with 25 touchdowns to go along with his 1,175 yards rushing. Richmond Baardson has added 536 yards and five scores, as the Golden Eagles have amassed 370.7 yards per game and 8.2 per attempt. The Ferndale passing game has generated only 302 yards so far this year.
Key to the game: With both teams' offense centered around the run, this game will no doubt be won in the trenches. Whichever team can control the line of scrimmage, open holes for their backs and stuff the run on defense should receive District 1's No. 3 seed to state. Unfortunately, that means a likely date with No. 1 Bellevue.
Player to watch: While most of the Hazen defense will deservedly be focusing on Conley, they better not forget about Ferndale running back Hank Hilts, who has rushed for 620 yards and nine touchdowns this year - all of it in the last seven weeks. He brings a physical style between the tackles.
2A NW DISTRICT PLAYOFF
SULTAN AT LYNDEN
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Lynden High School
Turks update: Sultan (4-5) enters as the No. 3 seed out of the Cascade Conference. The Turks wrapped up the regular season on a two-game win streak, including a 34-8 win over Coupeville last week. Sultan rushed for 307 yards in the game, led by Bryce MacDicken's 112 yards. Antonio Rivas scored on runs of 34 and 51 yards, while Jay Leverett rushed for 85. The Turks held a 27-0 lead at halftime. The Turks' only game against a Northwest Conference opponent this year was in Week 2 at Mount Baker, when they suffered a 33-0 loss. Lynden beat the Mountaineers 55-14 a week later.
Lions update: No. 2 Lynden (8-1) enters as the No. 1 seed out of the Northwest Conference. The Lions won their eighth straight and wrapped up an outright NWC 2A/3A title with a 49-7 win at Squalicum. Running back Luke Christianson rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries and now is only 61 yards shy of 1,000 for the season. Quarterback Josh Kraght had his best night through the air, passing for 397 yards and three TDs. Since allowing 42 points in a season opener against King's, Lynden has surrendered only 67 points in its last eight games (8.4 per game), and 39 of them have come in the second half of lopsided games.
Key to the game: Lynden is a playoff-tested team that is seeking its seventh straight trip to the state playoffs. The Turks have not been to state since 2000 and have not been in a postseason game since they lost 34-12 at Lynden in the 2006 2A Northwest District Playoffs.
Player to watch: Lynden offensive lineman/defensive end Matt Meyer is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound beast on both sides of the ball. Not only is he one of the biggest and strongest players on the field at any time, he has the athleticism to disrupt offenses and get downfield to block for his backs.
2A NW DISTRICT PLAYOFF
SQUALICUM AT ARCHBISHOP MURPHY
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Everett Memorial Stadium
Storm update: Squalicum (6-3) enters as the No. 3 seed out of the Northwest Conference. After winning six of its first seven games, the Storm has dropped two straight to Burlington-Edison and 49-7 to Lynden last week. After averaging 232.5 yards per game on the ground the fist eight weeks, Squalicum was held to 47 on 28 attempts (1.7 average) last week by Lynden without Luke Weber. Weber is not expected back this week, but Squalicum has plenty of backs to pick up the slack, led by Nick Manchester (422 yards, 4 TDs), Brandon LeDoux (222 yards, 2 TDs) and Mac Novak (176 yards, 2 TDs). The Storm also would benefit from improving upon the 90.6 yards per game it has averaged through the air this year.
Wildcats update: No. 8 Archbishop Murphy (6-2) enters at the No. 2 seed out of the Cascade Conference. The Wildcats won their fourth straight last week, beating Granite Falls 35-7. It's been an unusual year for ATM, to say the least, with an offseason coaching change, a midseason resignation by new coach Bill Marsh and interim coach Michael Allison being placed on paid administrative leave while the Archdiocese of Seattle reviewed allegations of misconduct that occurred while Allison was at a high school in Oregon. The Wildcats still are plenty powerful, though, with running backs like Alex Galgano (97 yards, 2 TDs last week) and Hans VanderWell (143 yards, 2 TDs last week).
Key to the game: While Squalicum is seeking its first trip to the state playoffs in school history, Archbishop Murphy is battle-tested. Not only have the Wildcats made four straight trips to the semifinals and two straight appearances in the title game, they've been through a lot this year.
Player to watch: As luck would have it, Squalicum will be facing its second straight 2A state finalist from last year. The Storm must cut down on the 604 yards they allowed Lynden last week, and that means they'll need a big game from players like linebacker Jacob Hamm.
1A TRI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF
MERIDIAN AT EATONVILLE
Time: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3
Site: Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
Trojans update: Meridian (7-4) enters as the No. 3 seed out of the Northwest District, after beating Coupeville 34-6 and Meridian 15-14 in the 1A Northwest District Playoffs on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The win over Meridian came in dramatic fashion, as Relijah McMillen caught a 12-yard touchdown pass on a double pass play with 11 seconds remaining, and Trevin Todd caught a 2-point conversion throw from Max McGuinn to put Meridian ahead. McMillen caught another TD against Coupeville and leads Meridian with 628 yards receiving and 10 TDs. The Trojans got a pair of defensive scores in the district half games, as Chad Richter returned a fumble for a TD against Coupeville and Neal Tilbury did the same against Blaine. Junior Castro is Meridian's top running back with 538 yards and 2 TDs, though Letrez Jones (373 yards, 5 TDs) is a valuable second option.
Cruisers update: Eatonville (7-2) enters as the No. 2 seed out of the West Central District, after winning the Nisqually League Division 1 title. The Cruisers had a seven-game win streak snapped last week with a 7-6 loss to Charles Wright, when they were held to 150 yards of total offense. Senior running back Brandon Akins has been their top offensive threat this year, averaging 102.1 yards per game and scoring 11 TDs. Quarterback Zach Fairhart has passed for 107.6 yards per game at 17 TDs, with his favorite target Brendan Davis (67.2 yards per game, 7 TDs). Eatonville is allowing only 9.0 points per game this season, while scoring 34.3.
Key to the game: This will be the fourth time in 10 days that the Trojans have had to pull on the pads, so fatigue and injuries could play a role in this one. If Meridian can tough it out, it could earn its sixth trip to state in seven years. Eatonville, which moved down from 2A this year, is seeking its first trip since 2004. The winner gets the tri-district's No. 4 seed and will travel to meet the Southwest District's No. 1 seed in the first round.
Player to watch: Meridian receiver Sam Chambers always seems to come up with the big catch, but on Tuesday it was the big throw, as he hit McMillen on the game-winning double-pass touchdown. That was his first pass attempt of the year, but he has 24 catches for 254 yards and two TDs this year.
1B TRI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF
QUILCENE AT LUMMI
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Lummi Nation School
Rangers update: Quilcene (5-3) enters as the No. 1 seed out of the Northwest Football League South Division. The Rangers have won five straight games since a 50-22 loss at Lopez on Sept. 15, including a 68-28 win over Evergreen Lutheran two weeks ago. Jacob Pleines returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and also caught two TD passes, ran for a score and threw for another. Eddie Perez ran for three TDs, while Josh King threw for two, caught one and ran for another. With the return of running back/defensive back Josh Steele from a fractured rib, the Rangers expect to be completely healthy.
Blackhawks update: No. 4 Lummi (8-2) enters as the No. 2 seed out of the Northwest Football League North Division. The Blackhawks have won five straight, including a 128-68 win over Tulalip last week when they tied the national record for points scored in an 8-man game. Jared Tom returned after missing two games and ran for three touchdowns and threw for 415 yards and nine more scores. Dimitri Sampson, who also threw for a TD, had three receptions for 171 yards and three scores and rushed for 89 yards and a TD on two carries. Despite all the offense, one area Lummi needs to clean up is its kick coverage, as it allowed Tulalip to return five kickoffs for touchdowns.
Key to the game: Though the winner will receive the tri-district's No. 2 seed to state and will be on the road for the first round, the loser is not eliminated. It will instead move on to the quad-district playoffs and face either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed out of the Southwest District.
Player to watch: Always a big-play threat, Lummi receiver Austin Brockie had a break-out performance just in time for the postseason, as Lummi seeks its ninth-straight trip to state. He caught three passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns last week.
2A NW DISTRICT PLAYOFF
LAKE WASHINGTON AT BURLINGTON-EDISON
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Burlington-Edison High School
Kangaroos update: Lake Washington (5-4) enters as the No. 1 seed out of the KingCo, beating Sammamish 55-0 to clinch the spot last week. Despite the big shut out win, the Kangaroos have been shutout three times this season. Daniel Porras is the team's leading rusher, while Shawn Grey has been the QB.
Tigers update: Burlington-Edison (6-3) enters as the No. 2 seed out of the Northwest Conference. They won two straight, including a 14-7 victory over Sedro-Woolley last week, to clinch a postseason spot. Quarterback Dalton Schwetz scored the go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter and passed for 124 yards.
Key to the game: The Tigers are looking to return to state after a one-year absence, while Lake Washington hasn't been since 2003.
Player to watch: With Jae Evans limited the last couple of weeks, Tyler Morrison has stepped up for Burlington-Edison, rushing for 223 yards the last two weeks and a TD last week.
2A NW DISTRICT PLAYOFF
SEDRO-WOOLLEY AT LAKEWOOD
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Lakewood High School
Cubs update: Sedro-Woolley (4-5) enters as the No. 4 seed out of the Northwest Conference. The Cubs lost their season finale 14-7 at Burlington-Edison last week and were held to 95 yards of total offense in the game. Quarterback Braden Blouin has passed for 982 yards and 10 TDs this year. Mason Elms (394 yards, 8 TDs) is his top target.
Cougars update: No. 6 Lakewood (8-1) enters as the No. 1 seed out of the Cascade Conference, but suffered its first loss 55-42 to King's last week. Justin Peterson passed for a TD, caught a TD and ran for two others. Brandon Stott had a 73-yard TD run and caught a 36-yard pass for another score.
Key to the game: Sedro-Woolley has got to play a perfect game against a team that reached the state quarterfinals last year.
Player to watch: Running back Shawn Kennedy leads the Cubs with 897 yards and seven TDs this year.
Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.
