Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

PREP FOOTBALL: Preview capsules for Oct. 23

GAME OF THE WEEK

SQUALICUM AT BELLINGHAM

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Civic Stadium

Storm update: Squalicum got the shot of confidence it needed last week with a dominating 48-0 win over Anacortes in a heavy rain. The Storm took care of the ball despite some tough conditions and took care of things at the line of scrimmage. The performance of the offensive line was good to see. Squalicum's success still starts with its ability to run the ball and its ability to stop the run. The team did well at both in the win and will look to keep it going. Big plays by Nikko Walker and Christian Foster also helped.

Red Raiders update: Bellingham finally picked up its first win of the season with a 51-7 thrashing of Sehome. The impressive victory might not erase all of the heartache brought on by the previous weeks' disappointments, but it's a good start for the Red Raiders. Bellingham ran all over Sehome, rolling to 359 yards, and had five players rush for at least 30 yards. It's going to take a lot of luck, but Bellingham isn't out of the playoff picture yet and that's how they have to be approaching this.

Key to the game: This game will be won or lost by the linemen. There's going to be a lot of beef colliding in this one on both sides of the ball.

Player to watch: Squalicum's Nikko Walker provided a nice change of pace with 93 yards last week.

Player to watch: Bellingham's Wes Sitser had more than 100 yard rushing by halftime last week.

BURLINGTON-EDISON AT MOUNT BAKER

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Mount Baker High School

Tigers update: Each week Burlington-Edison keeps finding ways to win. This time it was a stunning 31-28 victory over Blaine. The Tigers still have an outside chance to claim the top seed from Class 2A in the Northwest Conference and have a strong hold on the second seed. The team has turned to the running game almost exclusively at this point, but it's good enough to make it work. The defense has also been good enough to make up for any mistakes the offense commits.

Mountaineers update: Mount Baker did its best against a tough Lynden team last week but came out on the losing side, falling 31-0. While the Mountaineers still have some things to improve upon, they also showed they might not be that far off. The defense forced the Lions into four turnovers, and with the exception of a long touchdown pass, made Lynden work for its points. The offense struggled at times against that Lynden defense but so has just about everybody else.

Key to the game: Mount Baker won't be able to stop the Tigers' running game completely but it can't allow many big plays.

Player to watch: Mountaineers linebacker/running back David Kashubin will be asked to do a lot this week.

NOOKSACK VALLEY AT LYNDEN CHRISTIAN

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Lynden Christian High School

Pioneers update: Nooksack Valley's defense picked up its first shutout of the season with a 52-0 win over Friday Harbor last week. The Pioneers rolled on both sides of the ball and were never really challenged during a Class 1A contest with postseason implications. Once again, quarterback Tyler Perry ran the offense with precision, rushing for two scores and throwing for another. Nooksack Valley also scored another special teams touchdown, this time when Anthony Reese returned a punt 38 yards for a score.

Lyncs update: For three quarters last week, Lynden Christian gave Meridian all it could handle before the Trojans' offense broke out for 21 points in the final quarter to take a 36-7 win. The game showcased just why the Lyncs should be considered a dangerous team to any opponent. Lynden Christian could still play the spoiler this season and Nooksack Valley has to be cautious. The Lyncs will have to watch the turnovers, though.

Key to the game: Both teams have been playing good defense lately - really Nooksack Valley has all season - so taking advantage of any errors will be key.

Player to watch: Nooksack Valley's Anthony Reese has scored a touchdown just about every possible way this season.

ANACORTES AT LYNDEN

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Lynden High School

Seahawks update: The injuries are starting to mount for Anacortes. For a team that didn't have much depth to begin with, that makes things tough. The Seahawks couldn't do much on offense last week against a fired up Squalicum team, falling to the Storm 48-0. Anacortes could have something special in quarterback Cody Culp, but he's only a sophomore and it shows at times. It is a young team that's a year or two away.

Lions update: With all the talk about Lynden's offense it can be easy to look past its defense, but that's a mistake. The Lions recorded their third shutout of the season and second straight with a 31-0 win over Mount Baker last week. The 77 points they've allowed this season are the fewest in the Northwest Conference. Amazingly 34 of those points came in a Week 1 loss to Archbishop Murphy.

Key to the game: For Lynden, the key will be staying healthy. The starters need to take care of business early and then enjoy the show.

Player to watch: It might be time for Lynden's Brett Bajema to find the end zone again.

SEHOME AT BLAINE

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Blaine High School

Mariners update: Sehome showed last week that even though it hasn't won a game this season, it's not about to quit. The Mariners scored for the first time in nearly five games during a 51-7 loss to Bellingham. More importantly the team showed some signs of good things to come. It collected eight first downs and nearly 200 yards of total offense in defeat, and that's better than it has done in the past few weeks.

Borderites update: Blaine was clearly disappointed after a 31-28 loss to Burlington-Edison last week. Just about everything that could go wrong in the first half did for the Borderites, yet they still rallied to grab a 28-24 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers scored last and the rest is history. Blaine will be fired up for this one. The team needs a lift now and another Class 2A win.

Key to the game: Blaine has hopes that extend past Week 10, so it needs to stay healthy in this one.

Player to watch: Blaine's Caleb Statham has scored a touchdown in five straight games.

FERNDALE AT STANWOOD

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Stanwood High School

Golden Eagles update: Ferndale showed that it knows how to take care of business when it needs to with a crucial 41-12 win over Sedro-Woolley last week. The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 28-6 lead at halftime and took away any thoughts the Cubs might have had of an upset. With four scoring plays of 20 or more yards, they showed their offense is still capable of making big plays while the defense did a good job keeping the Cubs out of the end zone.

Spartans update: Stanwood has come on strong in recent weeks. After starting the season with four losses the Spartans have won their last three games and are beginning to make some noise in Class 4A. They knocked off Snohomish 36-3 last week and really seem to have grabbed some momentum. Running back Brad Gee is a bruiser who has racked up 456 yards this season. They also have two other backs with 200 or more yards. Receiver Kale Schmidt is a big-play threat.

Key to the game: Ferndale gave up more than 200 yards rushing last week, and that's something it might need to fix this week against a Stanwood team that likes to run.

Player to watch: Quarterback Jacob Frost is becoming more and more confident under center.

MOUNT VERNON AT SEDRO-WOOLLEY

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Sedro-Woolley High School

Bulldogs update: Mount Vernon made some believers out of the skeptics last week with a 20-19 overtime loss to Meadowdale last week. The Bulldogs cut down on the turnovers and did a solid job limiting Mavericks running back Naji Moore-Taylor, one of the better halfbacks in the state. This week Mount Vernon should have it a little easier against a beat up Cubs team.

Cubs update: Sedro-Woolley has dropped three straight after a hot start and is still struggling to replace the production of injured quarterback Derek Garcia. The Cubs' running game looked solid in a 41-12 loss to Ferndale last week, but even after gaining 223 yards on the ground, it wasn't enough to win. Running backs Ian O'Bryan and Joe Janicki have become the focal point of the offense. It's put some extra pressure on the offensive line, but they've responded well.

Key to the game: Sedro-Woolley has to keep the game close, and Mount Vernon can't afford a slew of turnovers.

Player to watch: If the Cubs are going to win it might be up to Ian O'Bryan to make it happen.

MERIDIAN AT FRIDAY HARBOR

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Site: Friday Harbor High School

Trojans update: Meridian got the tough game it has come to expect from Lynden Christian, but still pulled out a 36-7 win on the road last week. Mitchell Tripp's two touchdowns and a long TD run by Jordan Warren provided the breathing room the Trojans needed. LC and Meridian know each other so well it's always hard to get a good read on either team when they meet, but the Trojans' line did a solid job in the win and the defense clearly did a good job limited the Lyncs.

Wolverines update: After last week's 52-0 loss to Nooksack Valley, it's pretty obvious Friday Harbor has some work to do to catch up to some of the top Class 1A teams in the area. The Wolverines' Tanner Buck did an OK job passing the ball, but after falling behind 28-0 in the first half they didn't have much choice. Friday Harbor gets another tough challenge this week.

Key to the game: Meridian cruised in the first meeting earlier in the season. Staying focused despite the travel could be the biggest challenged.

Player to watch: Running back Jordan Warren might have a shot at another 100-yard rushing day.

LUMMI AT CLALLAM BAY

Time: 7 p.m.

Site: Clallum Bay High School

Blackhawks update: For the second week in a row Lummi runs into a team searching for its first win of the season. Last week it was Highland Christian that came in looking for an upset, but the Blackhawks turned the Knights away and went on to win 53-8. It wasn't Lummi's best performance but it didn't need to be. The Blackhawks ran the ball effectively and the passing game was as explosive as usual. They play fun football.

Bruins update: It's been a rough season for Clallam Bay. The Bruins haven't picked up a win yet and worse than that they haven't been close. Last week they lost to Crescent 61-20, and that score has been pretty typical of their games this season. Clallam Bay has allowed 60 points or more in three of their four contests already this year. Its closest game was a 52-22 loss to Lopez.

Key to the game: It could take the Blackhawks a series or two to get used to playing at night under the lights.

Player to watch: Ty Jameson had the hot hand at quarterback last week, throwing for 211 yards and four touchdowns.