2A STATE QUARTERFINAL

LYNDEN AT SUMNER

Time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Site: Sumner High School

Lions update: Lynden (10-1) entered as the No. 2 seed out of the Northwest District and breezed through the first round, beating Mark Morris 42-14 on Saturday, Nov. 10. Running back Luke Christianson has rushed for 305 yards on 26 carries (11.7 average), caught four passes for 88 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in the Lions' two playoff victories this year. Quarterback Josh Kraght passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns last week, upping his season totals to 1,804 yards and 22 TDs. He's also rushed for 711 yards and 10 TDs. Despite missing the first five weeks of the season with a broken collarbone, Zach Vis is Lynden's top receiver with 28 catches for 461 yards and five TDs. That's saying a lot, as Christianson, Dak Shagren and Jalani Phelps each have more than 300 yards and at least four TDs. The Lynden defense also has been stout, limiting opponents to 10.9 points per game since a 42-39 season-opening loss at King's, and most of that has come once the starters left the game.

Spartans update: Sumner (9-2) entered as the No. 1 seed out of the West Central District and beat Kingston 26-9 in the first round on Friday, Nov. 9. Like they have throughout the season, the Spartans relied on defense last week, limiting Kingston to 266 yards of total offense. Sumner has allowed 15.7 points per game this season. Linebacker Jeremy Jackson returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown in the first half, while Brandon Tuilaepa also recorded an interception. The Sumner offense has averaged 26.4 points per game. Last week, the Spartans had a pair of 100-yard running backs in Lokahi Kamau (143 yards on 22 carries) and DeJon Lynch (100 yards, 14 carries). Lynden also had a 52-yard TD run. Sumner is 4-2 in games decided by two touchdowns or less. This is the Spartans first trip to the quarterfinals since 1978.

Key to the game: Sumner's defense has been pretty solid through the first 11 weeks of the season, but they haven't seen an offense of Lynden's caliber yet. The Lions have averaged 43.5 points per game and have usually pulled their starters early to mid third quarter.

Player to watch: Gabe Kaemingk and the rest of the Lynden defensive line have done a good job at occupying blockers and allowing the Lions' defensive ends and linebackers to make plays. Facing a pair of running backs coming off 100-yard performances, that will again be big this week.

2012 LYNDEN RESULTS

Aug. 31 at King's L 42-39

Sept. 7 at Anacortes* W 42-0

Sept. 14 Mount Baker W 55-14

Sept. 21 Sedro-Woolley* W 42-12

Sept. 28 at Sehome (at Civic Stadium)* W 41-0

Oct. 5 Bellingham* W 43-13

Oct. 12 at Burlington-Edison* W 34-7

Oct. 19 Ferndale* W 49-14

Oct. 25 at Squalicum (at Civic Stadium)* W 49-7

CLASS 2A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

Nov. 2 Sultan W 42-28

CLASS 2A STATE PLAYOFFS

Nov. 10 Mark Morris (at Civic Stadium) W 42-14

2012 SUMNER RESULTS

Aug. 31 Auburn Mountainview W 20-7

Sept. 7 Bonney Lake L 28-21

Sept. 14 at Steilacoom W 28-27

Sept. 21 Clover Park W 42-12

Sept. 28 Franklin Pierce W 42-19

Oct. 5 at Orting W 14-13

Oct. 12 at Washington W 31-12

Oct. 19 Fife L 24-14

Oct. 26 at White River W 14-9

CLASS 2A WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

Nov. 2 North Mason W 38-13

CLASS 2A STATE PLAYOFFS

Nov. 9 Kingston W 26-9

1A STATE QUARTERFINAL

MOUNT BAKER AT LA CENTER

Time: 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Site: Battle Ground District Stadium

Mountaineers update: Mount Baker (9-1) entered as the No. 2 seed out of the District 1/3 tri-district and beat Woodland 21-14 in the first round on Friday, Nov. 9. After a week off, the Mountaineers didn't look their sharpest, but they got 216 yards and three touchdowns on the ground from Jake Schleimer. The senior now has 1,464 yards and 24 TDs this year. Izaiha Schwinden, who rushed for 102 yards on 13 carries last week, has been a good complement to Schleimer, as he has recorded 787 yards and nine TDs. Mount Baker has rushed for 2,983 yards and quarterback Andrew Zender has passed for 637. The Mountaineers are averaging 38.5 points per game and are allowing 14.6. The Mount Baker defense has limited opponents to 4.2 yards per carry. Against Woodland, the Mountaineers allowed 157 yards on 17 first-half carries, but clamped down to hold the Beavers to 73 yards on 27 attempts in the second half. Mount Baker is seeking its first trip to the state semifinals in school history.

Wildcats update: La Center (11-0) entered as the No. 1 seed out of the Southwest District and beat Meridian 29-13 in the first round on Saturday, Nov. 10. The Wildcats got 195 yards and touchdown runs of 53 and 60 yards from Taylor Dreyer last week, as they averaged 6.9 yards per attempt overall. Quarterback Dylan King completed only two passes, but they went for 62-yard and 21-yard touchdowns to Jared Huddleston. La Center is averaging 41.7 points per game and is allowing only 11.3, though that number has swelled to 20.0 the past four weeks. The Wildcats held Meridian to 145 yards rushing on 36 carries (4.0 average) last week. Max McGuinn did pass for 236 yards and two touchdowns, but the Wildcats intercepted him three times. La Center is looking to advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2003. This is the second time the two schools have met in the state playoffs, as Mount Baker won 24-8 at Vancouver in the first round of the 2004 2A State Playoffs.

Key to the game: Mount Baker has got to look sharper than it did last week, when it lost two first-half fumbles, had a touchdown called back by a penalty and had another sure score slip away with a dropped pass. The Mountaineers aren't coming off a bye week, but they do have a 41/2-plus hour bus trip to overcome.

Player to watch: Mount Baker defensive lineman Hunter Gates was an absolute terror in the Woodland offensive backfield last week, recording three sacks and numerous hurries. The Mountaineers could sure use a similar effort this week.

2012 MOUNT BAKER RESULTS

Aug. 31 Bellingham W 55-12

Sept. 7 Sultan W 33-0

Sept. 14 at Lynden L 55-14

Sept. 21 Cedarcrest W 56-6

Sept. 28 Nooksack Valley* W 59-14

Oct. 5 at Lynden Christian* W 43-26

Oct. 12 Friday Harbor* W 36-7

Oct. 19 at Blaine* W 38-14

Oct. 26 Meridian* W 30-8

CLASS 1A STATE PLAYOFFS

Nov. 9 Woodland W 21-14

2012 LA CENTER RESULTS

Aug. 31 Ilwaco W 56-6

Sept. 7 at Stevenson W 46-6

Sept. 14 at Kalama W 41-16

Sept. 21 Castle Rock W 28-3

Sept. 28 Colmbia W 36-7

Oct. 5 Tenino W 40-6

Oct. 12 Seton Catholic W 71-0

Oct. 19 Toledo W 35-32

Oct. 26 at Woodland W 29-21

CLASS 1A SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

Nov. 2 Elma W 48-14

CLASS 1A STATE PLAYOFFS

Nov. 10 Meridian (at Battle Ground) W 29-13

1B STATE FIRST ROUND

LUMMI AT TAHOLAH

Time: 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Site: Stewart Field, Aberdeen

Blackhawks update: Lummi (9-2) enters as the District 1/3 tri-district No. 2 seed after finishing second in the Northwest Football League 1B North Division standings and beating Quilcene 80-26 on Nov. 2. The Blackhawks are an offensive machine, averaging 63.1 points and 480.1 yards per game. Running back/receiver Dimitri Sampson leads the team with 198 points scored, as he has rushed for 664 yards and 16 touchdowns and has 725 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving. Running back Deion Hoskins isn't far behind with 113 points. He has rushed for 664 yards and 11 TDs. Quarterback Jared Tom has passed for 1,474 yards and 24 touchdowns and has only three interceptions. Behind Sampson, Austin Brockie is Lummi's top receiving threat, as he has 27 catches for 682 yards and 10 TDs. The Lummi defense has allowed 26.4 points per game. Lummi is seeking its first state playoff win since it beat Cusick 55-30 in the 2010 1B state championship game.

Chitwhins update: Taholah (7-3) enters as the top seed out of the District 1/4 quad-district after finishing third in the Southwest 1B League standings and beating Quilcene 52-16 in last week's quad-district playoffs. Lummi beat the Chitwhins 59-24 on Sept. 14, but the team was missing three players, including 6-foot-4, 250-pound center/defensive lineman Joseph Winn. The Chitwhins have won seven straight since losing to Lummi. Running back Justin Curleybear rushed for 247 yards and two touchdowns last week. He also caught a 26-yard TD. Keanu Curleybear passed for 146 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 53 yards and another score. Cleve Jackson caught a pair of TDs and accumulated 78 yards of total offense. Taholah did turn the ball over three times in the game, though, but the Chitwhins defense held Quilcene to 74 yards of total offense during the first three quarters.

Key to the game: Lummi has got to focus on stopping the running of the Curleybear brothers. So far this season, the Blackhawks are allowing 5.3 yards per carry, and that could create trouble against a pair of talented runners. The Chitwhins lost 63-18 to Lummi in the first round of the 2010 state playoffs and are seeking their first state win since 2001.

Player to watch: Eli Wall and the rest of the Blackhawks offensive front should receive a stiffer challenge now that Winn is a part of the Taholah lines. If they can control the line of scrimmage, there is no reason to think that Lummi can't head to the state semifinals for the sixth time in eight years.

2012 LUMMI RESULTS

Sept. 1 Pomeroy W 64-28

Sept. 7 at La Conner L 26-14

Sept. 14 Taholah W 59-24

Sept. 22 at Evergreen Lutheran (at Mountainview) W 69-18

Sept. 28 Neah Bay* L 48-28

Oct. 6 at Crescent* W 58-6

Oct. 11 at Muckleshoot W 71-28

Oct. 13 Clallam Bay* W 73-18

Oct. 20 at Lopez* W 50-0

Oct. 25 Tulalip* W 128-68

CLASS 1B TRI-DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

Nov. 2 Quilcene W 80-26

2012 TAHOLAH RESULTS

Aug. 31 Neah Bay L 66-26

Sept. 7 Wishkah Valley L 56-38

Sept. 14 at Lummi L 59-24

Sept. 21 Washington School for the Deaf W 2-0 (forfeit)

Sept. 29 at Lake Quinault W 34-20

Oct. 5 Oakville W 86-28

Oct. 13 at King's Way Christian W 108-42

Oct. 20 Wishkah Valley W 52-14

Nov. 13 at Mary M. Knight W 34-26

CLASS 1B QUAD-DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

Nov. 10 Quilcene W 52-16

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.