Lynden-Ferndale rivalry game highlights Week 7 schedule (w/video)
Lynden (4-2, 3-1 NWC) at Ferndale (4-2, 3-1 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Ferndale High School
Lions update: Lynden scored 20 unanswered points during the second and third quarter and took advantage of turnovers to earn a key 34-16 home Northwest Conference win over Burlington-Edison last week. Sterling Somers threw for 174 yards and a touchdown and ran for 108 yards and another score. Jordan Wittenberg scored three TDs.
Golden Eagles update: Austin Honeycutt ran for a game-high 140 yards on 20 carries and despite an impressive defensive effort, Ferndale suffered a 12-7 Northwest Conference loss to Squalicum last week. The Golden Eagles’ defense allowed only 67 rush yards, but Ferndale’s offense couldn’t come up with big plays when it needed to.
Key to the game: Lynden will have to find a way to handle Ferndale’s dominant defensive front. The Lions will need to establish some type of run, or Sterling Somers will have to get the ball out if his hands quickly.
Player to watch: In a game in which the Lions will need to make some big plays in order win, they’ll need Jordan Wittenberg to be at his best.
Prediction: Ferndale 28-21
Burlington-Edison (3-3, 1-3 NWC) at Blaine (4-2, 2-2 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Blaine High School
Tigers update: Burlington-Edison made some costly mistakes and allowed too many big plays during a 34-16 Northwest Conference road loss to Lynden last week. Taran Lambert provided much of the Tigers’ offense, rushing for 199 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and he also logged 51 receiving yards and caught a touchdown pass.
Borderites update: Quarterback Jalen Kortlever threw three second-half touchdown passes and rallied Blaine to a 35-28 home Northwest Conference win over Anacortes last week. Anthony Ball caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns, and Riley Fritsch ran for 238 yards and two TDs on 38 carries.
Key to the game: The Borderites started very slow last week and they won’t be afforded that luxury this week against a much better Burlington-Edison team. If Blaine starts fast and slows down the Tigers’ run game, it has a good chance.
Player to watch: Blaine needs a great defensive effort, and linebacker Tucker Jensen will be one of those who will need to play big.
Prediction: Burlington-Edison 28-17
Mount Baker (5-1, 3-0 NWC) at Nooksack Valley (0-6, 0-3 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Nooksack Valley High School
Mountaineers update: Jed Schleimer added another chapter to his impressive season, running for 235 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries during a 38-22 Northwest Conference home win against Lynden Christian. Schleimer even threw a touchdown pass. Carson Engholm chipped in 76 yards on 12 carries.
Pioneers update: Nooksack Valley fell behind by four touchdowns by halftime but outscored Meridian 28-22 during the second half, as the Pioneers suffered a 49-28 Northwest Conference home loss to the Trojans.
Key to the game: There’s no secret here. Nooksack Valley has to stop, well, at least slow down, Mount Baker’s run game. The Pioneers yielded 671 rush yards the first time these teams played. That number needs to be cut in half.
Player to watch: Jed Schleimer set a state record the first time Baker played Nooksack Valley. Could there be an encore performance?
Prediction: Mount Baker 56-14
Bellingham (3-3) at Orcas Island (4-2)
Time: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
Site: Lopez Island High School
Red Raiders update: Joseph Worley caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Nick Knutson in overtime and then kicked the game-winning extra point to earn a thrilling 34-33 home win over Bellevue Christian last week. Chris Thompson, who led Bellingham with 41 yards on 14 carries, scored late in the fourth to send the game into OT. Ethan Fields scored a defensive touchdown and caught a TD pass.
Vikings update: Orcas Island beat Friday Harbor 39-7 last week and got a big 39-34 win over LaConner the week before. The Vikings, like the Red Raiders, are riding a three-game winning streak.
Key to the game: Bellingham showed a lot of vulnerability against the run game last week, giving up 267 yards. The Red Raiders will need to shore that up this week.
Player to watch: After not playing last week Isiah Harrington’s availability is in question, so Chris Thompson will need to step up again.
Prediction: Orcas Island 42-28
Squalicum (6-0, 4-0 NWC) at Sehome (2-4, 1-3 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Civic Stadium
Storm update: Ben Peterson scored on a 9-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter, and Squalicum’s defense turned away Ferndale on its final drive to earn a 12-7 home Northwest Conference win against the Golden Eagles. Triston Smith scored on a 36-yard first-quarter touchdown run, and Garrett Sorenson threw for 155 yards.
Mariners update: Sehome hung with Sedro-Woolley throughout the first half but struggled during the final two quarters, taking a 34-6 road Northwest Conference loss to the Cubs. QB Jace Rinker threw for 141 yards, a touchdown to Michael Evans and an interception. The Mariners only amassed 22 rush yards on 31 attempts and yielded 336 rush yards.
Key to the game: The Mariners’ defense has fallen apart the past two weeks, giving up a combined 81 points while the Storm will be looking to bounce back offensively. Sehome will need to shut down Squalicum’s athletes out wide, and that’s no easy task.
Player to watch: Storm linebacker Brian Pullman made a strong defensive impact last week. Look for him to help slow down Sehome’s run game.
Prediction: Squalicum 42-7
Lynden Christian (4-2, 1-2 NWC) at Meridian (3-3, 2-1 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Meridian High School
Lyncs update: Lynden Christian fell into a deep hole early and suffered a 38-22 Northwest Conference road loss to Mount Baker. With David Bladies out, Gavin Mumford led LC’s rush attack with 79 yards on 13 carries. Lucas Roetcisoender threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns, and Nate Hielkema tallied 196 receiving yards and two TDs.
Trojans update: Quarterback Simon Burkett put together a terrific performance against Nooksack Valley last week, throwing for 138 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 118 yards and two scores to lead the Trojans to a 49-28 NWC road win against the Pioneers. Meridian’s defense limited Nooksack Valley to 54 rush yards on 29 attempts, and Nick Dritsas ran for 135 yards and caught a TD pass.
Key to the game: Dritsas accounted for five touchdowns the last time Meridian and LC played, so undoubtedly, the Lyncs will need to key on No. 26 all night.
Player to watch: Alan Eyoub is more than a kicker. He proved that last week, catching a touchdown pass and returning an interception for a score. Look for him to figure into this game’s outcome, too.
Prediction: Meridian 38-17
Lummi (4-1) at Neah Bay (4-0)
Time: 5 p.m.
Site: Neah Bay High School
Blackhawks update: Quarterback Jonathan Casimir threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns, and Trazil Lane caught two TD passes and returned an interception 97 yards for a score. Dashaun Lawrence ran for two touchdowns and 33 yards on 10 carries.
Red Devils update: Neah Bay quarterback Rwehabura Munyagi threw for 141 yards and three touchdowns, and Cole Svec ran for a team-high 121 yards on seven carries to help lead the Red Devils to a 70-12 win over Tulalip Heritage last week.
Key to the game: Both teams will put up points, and the winner of this rivalry game is the one who usually commits the least amount of turnovers.
Player to watch: Free Borsey will be one of the Blackhawks who will need to play big on defense.
Prediction: Neah Bay 42-30
Sedro-Woolley (4-2, 2-2 NWC) at Anacortes (2-4, 0-4 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Anacortes High School
Cubs update: Sedro-Woolley scored 27 straight points during the second half, using its dominant running game to earn a 34-6 home Northwest Conference win over Sehome. Carter Crosby ran for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and Quinn Carpenter ran for a game-high 104 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
Seahawks update: Anacortes couldn’t hang on late for what would have been its first NWC win and took 35-28 NWC road loss to Blaine. Camden McLaughlin threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and Trystan Lowry logged 132 receiving yards and ran back an INT for a score.
Key to the game: Anacortes must force some turnovers and keep the momentum going in its pass game if it expects to contend with Sedro-Woolley.
Player to watch: Carter Crosby has rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns since his return two weeks ago. Look for the dynamic playmaker to keep it going against the Seahawks.
Prediction: Sedro-Woolley 49-14
This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Lynden-Ferndale rivalry game highlights Week 7 schedule (w/video)."