Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Playoff picture will clear up soon

There's was little movement in relation to football teams from the Northwest Conference in this week's Associated Press Washington prep football poll released on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

In Class 2A, Lynden remained No. 3 while Burlington-Edison moved into a tie for No. 9. In Class 1A, Nooksack Valley stepped up to No. 6 and Meridian entered the poll at No. 10.

The top teams in each classifications remained the same. Skyline (4A), Lakes (3A), Ellensburg (2A), Montesano (1A), Colfax (2B) and Cusick (1B) all topped their respective polls.

With Week 9 signaling the end of the regular season and several local football teams harboring postseason hopes, here's a look at the scenarios the teams from the Northwest Conference are facing heading into their games on Thursday, Oct. 29 and Friday, Oct. 30.

CLASS 3A

If Ferndale beats Mount Vernon, the Golden Eagles will take the No. 1 seed from the NWC and host the Metro League's No. 4 the following week. The winner of that game claims the District One No. 2 seed into the state tournament.

In that scenario Mount Vernon is eliminated and Sedro-Woolley is the NWC's No. 2 seed. The Cubs then play the Wesco No. 3 in a play-in game to the district tournament. The winner meets the SPSL No. 1 (likely Lakes High School) in a winner-to-state match.

Should Mount Vernon beat Ferndale on Thursday, Oct. 29, there will be a three-way tie for first in the NWC and a mini-playoff will occur on Saturday at Mount Vernon High School.

The three teams will be playing for two spots to the postseason and the contests will be held in a Kansas tiebreaker format, similar to the way an overtime game is decided. Once the top two teams have been decided it will play as described above.

CLASS 2A

A number draw in the spring has eliminated the need for a mini-playoff among the Class 2A teams in the NWC, but there's still a lot of question about seeding.

If Lynden beats Burlington-Edison, Squalicum beats Mount Baker, and Blaine beats Bellingham, things will be pretty easy to figure out. The Lions will be No. 1, Blaine, No. 2, Burlington-Edison, No. 3, Squalicum No. 4, and Mount Baker No. 5.

Despite what will be a three-way two for second place under that scenario, the Borderites take the No. 2 seed based on the number draw done by the athletic directors.

If B-E beats Lynden then the Tigers take the No. 1 seed and Lynden falls to No. 2. Blaine would then be No. 3 should it win out and Squalicum also wins based on the draw.

Mount Baker can move up to No. 4 with a win over Squalicum, but Blaine would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over both the Storm and the Mountaineers and be the No. 3 seed should it happen to lose to Bellingham and Mount Baker beats Squalicum.

The Storm still has an outside chance to grab the No. 2 seed if B-E and Blaine both lose and they beat Mount Baker. Squalicum would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tigers.

Confused yet?

CLASS 1A

This is the easiest of the bunch. The Class 1A Northwest District Tournament has already been decided based on the number draw. Nooksack Valley takes the No. 1 seed from the NWC and hosts No. 3 Lynden Christian. NWC No. 2 Meridian travels to play Cascade Conference No. 2 Coupeville, and NWC No. 4 Friday Harbor heads to CC No. 1 King's. If it doesn't go to seed to the Tri-District Tournament then the scenarios get complicated.

How a state panel of sports writers voted in the weekly Associated Press poll with won-loss record and total points (first place votes in parentheses):

Class 4A

1. Skyline (7) 7-1 79

2. Bothell (1) 8-0 73

3. Auburn 8-0 64

4. Jackson 8-0 55

5. Curtis 8-0 41

6. Wenatchee 8-0 39

7. South Kitsap 8-0 38

8. Eisenhower 8-0 18

9. Marysville-Pilchuck 8-0 14

10. Mead 6-2 9

Others receiving 6 or more points: 11. Bethel 7.

Class 3A

1. Lakes (6) 8-0 96

2. Bellevue (4) 6-2 93

3. Union 7-1 77

4. Liberty (Renton) 7-1 67

5. Timberline 8-0 54

6. O'Dea 7-1 53

7. Mt. Spokane 7-1 40

8. Meadowdale 8-0 39

9. Camas 7-1 20

10. Peninsula 7-1 8

Others receiving 6 or more points: none.

Class 2A

1. Ellensburg (10) 8-0 100

2. Archbishop Murphy 7-1 87

3. Lynden 7-1 82

4. Othello 7-1 66

5. W. F. West 8-0 54

6. West Valley (Spokane) 8-0 51

7. Black Hills 7-1 34

8. Mark Morris 7-1 29

9. Interlake 6-2 17

(tie). Burlington-Edison 7-1 17

Others receiving 6 or more points: 11. Selah 9.

Class 1A

1. Montesano (7) 8-0 88

2. Connell (2) 8-0 83

3. Cascade Christian 8-0 71

4. Cashmere 6-1 62

5. Zillah 7-1 54

6. Nooksack Valley 7-1 46

7. Cascade (Leavenworth) 6-1 33

8. Vashon Island 7-1 21

9. Royal 6-2 20

10. Meridian 5-3 8

Others receiving 6 or more points: none.

Class 2B

1. Colfax (5) 7-0 59

2. LaSalle (1) 8-0 54

3. Asotin 8-0 47

4. Adna 7-0 44

5. Tacoma Baptist 8-0 36

6. Waitsburg-Prescott 6-1 22

7. Willapa Valley 7-1 21

8. Napavine 6-2 20

9. Kittitas 6-1 17

10. Naselle 7-1 7

Others receiving 6 or more points: none.

Class 1B

1. Cusick (7) 8-0 70

2. Colton 7-0 62

3. Almira Coulee-Hartline 7-1 54

4. Neah Bay 8-0 51

5. Columbia (Hunters) 7-1 30

Others receiving 6 or more points: 11. Tri-Cities Prep 13.