2A STATE SEMIFINALS
LYNDEN VS. CAPITAL
Time: 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23
Site: Tacoma Dome
Lions update: Lynden (11-1) has blown through the first two rounds of the state playoffs, beating Mark Morris 42-14 in the first round and winning 42-7 at Sumner on Saturday, Nov. 17. The defending state champions are playing in the semifinals for the sixth time in seven years and the 15th time overall. They have a 9-5 record overall in the round. Since a season-opening loss to King's, Lynden has started the running clock in nine of its last 11 games. They did it again for the third straight time in the playoffs, as they scored 42 points in the first half. Josh Kraght passed for 290 yards and five TDs and rushed for another TD. Zach Vis (93 yards, 2 TDs) and Jalani Phelps (127 yards, 3 TDs) each had big games against a Sumner defense looking to stop the run. The Lions have proven they can run the ball as well, with Luke Christianson (1,289 yards, 20 TDs) running behind a big, athletic, experienced front. Often overlooked is a Lynden defense that held Sumner to 223 yards of total offense last week. Opponents have averaged 13.2 points per game, but that is deceptively high. Since the loss to King's, Lynden has allowed only 28 points in the first half, with most of the other 88 points coming with the first string watching from the sidelines.
Cougars update: Capital (10-2) already has rolled past two Northwest District foes in the first two rounds of the state playoffs, beating Lakewood 47-36 in the first round and Burlington-Edison 46-19 in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Cougars' two losses have come against 2A semifinalist Tumwater (35-28 on Sept. 22) and 4A semifinalist Bellarmine Prep (24-14 on Oct. 5). Capital is making its 10th appearance in the state semifinals and its third in five years. It holds a 3-6 record in the semifinals and is looking for its first trip to the championship game since 2002. Running back Kai Van Sickle rushed for 277 yards and five touchdowns last week, giving him 627 yards and 11 TDs so far in the state playoffs. He has 2,591 yards and 37 TDs this season - 230 yards shy of the state record of 2,821 Blaine's Mario Gobbato set this year. Ryan Rieta is a valuable second option out of the backfield for the Cougars, who also are big and athletic up front on offense. Quarterback Derrick Becker is considered one of the better junior signal callers in the state. The Cougars have allowed 16.3 points per game this season while scoring 37.8 per game.
Key to the game: Nobody has been able to slow up either team offensively much this year. Lynden has scored at least 41 points in all but two games, and Capital hasn't been held below that total since the first week of October. Whichever defense and can hold and get off the field a couple of extra times puts their team in great position to win.
Player to watch: The Lions need to find a way to slow up Van Sickle, and defensive end Caleb Newman might be just the man to do that. The 6-foot-3, 220 pounder with a tremendous motor has made it a habit of getting into an opponent's backfield and disrupting plays.
LYNDEN 2012 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 47-28
CLASS 2A STATE PLAYOFFS
Nov. 10 Mark Morris (at Civic Stadium) W 42-14
Nov. 17 at Sumner W 42-7
CAPITAL 2012 RESULTS
Aug. 30 at Newport W 29-22
Sept. 7 at Olympia W 19-0
Sept. 14 Bothell W 27-11
Sept. 22 Tumwater L 35-28
Sept. 28 at Centralia W 48-3
Oct. 5 at Bellarmine Prep L 24-14
Oct. 12 Black Hills W 56-7
Oct. 19 at Chehlais W.F. West W 42-14
Oct. 26 River Ridge W 55-18
CLASS 2A WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAYOFFS
Nov. 2 Ridgefield W 42-6
CLASS 2A STATE PLAYOFFS
Nov. 10 at Lakewood (at Everett) W 47-36
Nov. 17 Burlington-Edison W 46-19
1A STATE SEMIFINALS
MOUNT BAKER VS. MONTESANO
Time: 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Site: Tacoma Dome
Mountaineers update: Mount Baker (10-1) has come back from a couple of slow starts to beat Woodland 21-14 in the first round and La Center 24-9 in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Battle Ground. The Mountaineers are making their first appearance in the state semifinals. Mount Baker's defense stepped up big last week, limiting La Center to 140 yards of total offense. Hard-hitting linebacker Tyrel Cronk is usually at the middle of most plays defensively, but Mount Baker has been getting outstanding play up front from tackles Sterling Honeycutt and Matt Scoles and ends Dalton Munsell and Hunter Gates. The Mountaineers have allowed 15.0 points per game, while the offense has scored 37.2. Running back Jake Schleimer is Mount Baker's top offensive threat, and he rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown last week to give him 1,615 yards and 25 TDs this season. Izaiha Schwinden, who rushed for 70 yards and a TD against La Center, is only 143 yards shy of giving Mount Baker two 1,000-yard rushers this season. Andrew Zender passed for 77 yards and a TD last week and has completed 50 of 98 pass attempts for 714 yards with eight TDs and six interceptions.
Bulldogs update: Montesano (10-2) won a couple of close ones in the first two rounds of the state playoffs, beating Charles Wright 31-21 in the first round and upsetting top-ranked Kings' 17-7 in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Bulldogs are making their 11th appearance in the state semifinals and their second straight. They lost to Cascade Christian last year in triple overtime and hold a 3-7 mark overall in the semifinals. Defense played a key role in the Bulldogs' win last week, as they held BYU-bound quarterback Billy Green to 8-for-30 passing and 132 yards. They also got interceptions by Kenny Roy and Richard Smith. Quarterback Matthew Jensen passed for 100 yards and rushed for 54 more and a 3-yard TD, but his top target, Ben Ohashi, left with an injury in the fourth quarter. Tucker Ibabao had a 37-yard TD run for the Bulldogs, and Elliot Mendenhall gives them two solid backs. The Bulldogs have averaged 39.5 points per game this year, while allowing 11.0 with three shutouts.
Key to the game: Montesano uses a number of different offensive formations, so Mount Baker's defense better have done its homework before. The Mountaineers need to make sure they are lined up properly on each play and everybody carries out their assignments. The good news is Meridian ran a similar number of formations, and Mount Baker handled that well in its regular-season finale.
Player to watch: Before last week, Mount Baker receiver Dylan Howard had only three receptions for 41 yards. Last week with Zan Roman sidelined by a shoulder injury, Howard accounted for every reception and receiving yard for the Mountaineers (6 catches, 77 yards) and even scored a crucial TD early in the second half to give his team the lead.
MOUNT BAKER 2012 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
Nov. 17 at La Center (at Battle Ground) W 24-9
MONTESANO 2012 RESULTS
Aug. 31 Aberdeen W 38-0
Sept. 8 Cascade Christian L 28-25
Sept. 14 Hoquiam L 41-14
Sept. 21 at Woodland W 49-7
Sept. 28 Forks W 42-7
Oct. 5 at Rochester W 44-7
Oct. 12 at Tenino W 50-7
Oct. 19 Rainier W 70-0
Oct. 26 at Elma W 47-7
CLASS 1A SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS
Nov. 2 Castle Rock W 47-0
CLASS 1A STATE PLAYOFFS
Nov. 9 at Charles Wright (at Clover Park) W 31-21
Nov. 17 King's (at Aberdeen) W 17-7
1B STATE SEMIFINALS
LUMMI VS. NEAH BAY
Time: 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Site: Tacoma Dome
Blackhawks update: Lummi (10-2) entered as the No. 2 seed out of District 1/2/3 and, after a slow start, scored 40 points in the third quarter to beat Taholah 63-26. The Blackhawks will be playing in the semifinals for the third time in four years and the sixth time overall. The have a 3-2 record overall in the round. Though he didn't get the start last week, quarterback Jared Tom led the way to victory with 136 yards and two touchdowns rushing and 321 yards and three TDs passing. His top target was Dimitri Sampson, who caught six passes for 211 yards and two TDs. Sampson also rushed 13 times for 96 yards and another score. He is only 165 rushing yards and 64 yards shy of reaching 1,000 yards in both categories this season and has scored 34 touchdowns. Austin Brockie also is a top receiving threat with 722 yards and 10 touchdowns. The veteran, athletic offensive line of Eli Wall, Jeremy Spottedbear and Kevin Cultee allows Lummi's many skill position players an opportunity to shine. The high-powered Lummi attack has averaged 67.5 points per game this year in its 11 eight-man games. The defense has played well, especially during the Blackhawks' two postseason games, holding opponents to 26.0 points per game in wins over Quilcene and Taholah.
Red Devils update: Neah Bay (11-0) entered as the top seed out of District 1/2/3 and beat Mary M. Knight 50-0 in the first round on Saturday. This marks the fourth straight trip to the semifinals by the Red Devils and the seventh trip overall. The defending state champions are 3-3 overall in the semifinal round, but two of their three losses have come against Lummi. The 48 points Lummi held Neah Bay to in a Sept. 28 meeting is the least the Red Devils have scored this year, as they have averaged 66.4 per game. Quarterback Josiah Greene is a big part of the reason why, as he passed for five touchdowns and ran for another in last week's win. He ran for 89 yards and three TDs and passed for another in the first meeting with Lummi. Cody Cummins rushed for 100 yards and a TD in that game, while Joey Monje had 104 yards and a TD. The Neah Bay defense has been equally as impressive as the offense, allowing only 16.0 points per game this season. The Red Devils held Lummi to a season-low (in eight-man games) 352 yards in the first meeting.
Key to the game: In a 58-40 state quarterfinal victory over Lummi last year, Neah Bay won the turnover battle 4 to 2. In a 48-28 win at Lummi on Sept. 28, it was 4 to 0 in favor of the Red Devils. The Blackhawks, which had won six straight over their rivals before that quarterfinal loss, know they simply can't afford to turn the ball over.
Player to watch: Lummi running back Deion Hoskins played a big role in the Blackhawks' run to the 1B state title in 2010, and he has 707 yards and 12 TDs on the ground so far this year. Last year's quarterfinal changed its complexion in the third quarter when both he and Tom went out with injury, allowing Greene and the Neah Bay offense to take over.
LUMMI 2012 RESULTS
Sept. 1 Pomeroy W 64-28
Sept. 7 at La Conner (11-man) 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
CLASS 1B STATE PLAYOFFS
Nov. 10 Taholah (at Aberdeen) W 63-26
NEAH BAY 2012 RESULTS
Aug. 31 at Taholah W 66-26
Sept. 7 Evergreen Lutheran W 54-8
Sept. 15 Wishkah Valley W 80-46
Sept. 21 Muckleshoot W 2-0 (forfeit)
Sept. 28 at Lummi W 48-28
Oct. 5 Tulalip Heritage W 65-20
Oct. 13 at Lopez W 50-0
Oct. 19 Crescent W 96-12
Oct. 26 at Clallam Bay W 65-14
CLASS 1B TRI-DISTRICT PLAYOFFS
Nov. 3 Lopez (at Oak Harbor) W 90-6
CLASS 1B STATE PLAYOFFS
Nov. 17 Mary M. Knight (at Olympic) W 50-0
Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.
