NOOKSACK VALLEY AT PORT TOWNSEND
Time: 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Port Townsend High School
Pioneers update: Nooksack Valley (6-3) tied for second in the NWC 1A standings, but was the odd team out in a three-team series of Kansas Tiebreakers on Saturday, Oct. 27, losing 8-6 to Blaine and 3-0 to Meridian. They won their regular-season finale 34-28 over Blaine to force the playoff. Joey Scheffer caught eight passes for 123 yards and two TDs in that game.
Redskins update: Port Townsend (4-5) finished third in the Nisqually League Division 1, and suffered a 27-25 loss to Chimacum in five overtimes last week. The Redskins offense managed only seven points in regulation, but its defense also only gave up that many. Jacob King hit Skyler Coppenrath for a TD in the fifth overtime.
Key to the game: It's been an emotional week for the Pioneers on and off the field. How much do they have left in the tank for a game that is for little more than pride?
Player to watch: Despite being informed only five minutes before kickoff that his grandfather had died, Nooksack Valley quarterback Tanner Myhre had the game of his life against Blaine, throwing for 294 yards and four TDs and rushing for 142 yards and another score. Expect big things from him as a junior next year.
SAMMAMISH AT SEHOME
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Civic Stadium
Totems update: Sammamish (0-9) finished last in the KingCo after a 55-0 loss to Lake Washington last week. It marked the sixth time the Totems, who scored 41 points this year, had been shut out. Meanwhile, they've allowed opponents to score 459 (51.0 per game) so far.
Mariners update: Despite an ugly 18-6 win over Bellingham last week, Sehome (3-6) finished out of the postseason picture because of a loss a week earlier at Sedro-Woolley. Running back Titi Lamositele rushed for 163 yards on 19 carries against Bellingham, while quarterback Austin Rapp passed for 121 yards.
Key to the game: With a win, Sehome would eclipse the three wins it has put up each of the past two seasons. Not bad for a program under first-year head coach Bob Norvell.
Player to watch: Willy Lallas became more involved in the Sehome offense last week, rushing four times for 30 yards and catching an 11-yard pass.
BLAINE AT CEDAR PARK CHRISTIAN
Time: 7 p.m. Friday Nov. 2
Site: Juanita High School
Borderites update: Blaine (6-4) finished as the No. 2 seed out of the NWC 1A, but was eliminated from the playoffs with a last-minute 15-14 loss to Meridian in 1A Northwest District Playoffs. Sophomore quarterback Nate Kramme has passed for 801 yards this year. His top target is Brett Allen, who has 22 catches for 305 yards and six TDs.
Eagles update: Cedar Park Christian (5-3) finished second in the Nisqually League Division 2 and suffered a 14-0 loss to Cascade Christian last week. It was the second time in three weeks the Eagles were shut out by the Cougars, but this loss cost them a trip to the postseason.
Key to the game: Both teams are coming off tough losses that ended their postseason hopes, so whichever comes emotionally ready to play should emerge with the win.
Player to watch: This one is likely all about Blaine running back Mario Gobbato - at least as far as the Borderites are concerned. Last year he missed the state's single season rushing record by only 7 yards. Though Interlake's Jordan Todd pushed that mark to 2,681 last year, Gobbato is only 340 yards shy of tying that mark.
CEDARCREST AT ANACORTES
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2
Site: Anacortes High School
Red Wolves update: Cedarcrest (1-8) finished last in the Cascade Conference and suffered its eighth-straight loss with a 41-16 defeat at South Whidbey last week. Since beating Sammamish 41-28 in the first week, the Red Wolves have allowed 46.6 points per game while scoring only 14.6.
Seahawks update: Anacortes (0-9) finished last in the NWC 2A/3A standings and suffered a 55-13 loss to Ferndale last week. Running back Nick Monroe leads the Seahawks with 469 yards rushing and four TDs, while Derek Chase has 326 yards and a touchdown.
Key to the game: Anacortes desperately wants to pick up a win this season, and this might be their best shot.
Player to watch: Anacortes receiver A.J. Yost caught seven passes for 110 yards and a TD last week.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN AT BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN
Time: 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3
Site: Lake Washington High School
Lyncs update: Lynden Christian (3-6) wrapped up a winless NWC 1A season with a 38-14 loss to Friday Harbor last week. Levi Vander Yacht caught three passes for 75 yards and a TD, while Conor Nordstrom caught three passes for 65 yards in the game. Josh Friberg is the team's leading rusher with 301 yards and six TDs this season.
Vikings update: Bellevue Christian (2-7) finished fourth in the Nisqually League Division 1 standings. After winning their first two game, the Vikings dropped seven straight, including a 34-20 loss to Life Christian last week. Kemper McQuaid passed for 13 yards and rushed for 62 in the game, while Josh Hazen rushed for 131 yards.
Key to the game: The Lyncs have not dropped a game against a non-NWC 1A opponent so far this year. In addition to losing their five league games, they also lost a non-conference game to Friday Harbor. Good news is Bellevue Christian is not an NWC 1A team.
Player to watch: LC quarterback Daulton Hommes passed for a season-high 205 yards last week and rushed for a TD. He has 653 yards passing, while Isaac Reimer has 873.
Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.
