State-title rematch between Lynden, Sedro-Woolley highlights Week 8
Sedro-Woolley (5-2, 3-2 NWC) at Lynden (5-2, 4-1 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Lynden High School
Cubs update: Four different Sedro-Woolley running backs scored touchdowns, and quarterback Devin Willard threw for two touchdowns to lead the Cubs to a 48-21 NWC win last week against Anacortes. Thor Wagoner ran for a touchdown and caught four passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Carter Crosby ran for 93 yards and a TD on four rushes.
Lions update: Quarterback Sterling Somers threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 103 yards and a score to lead the Lions to a 34-7 NWC road win against rival Ferndale. Jordan Wittenberg, Ben Colwell and Davis Bode each caught touchdown passes, and Lynden’s defense limited Ferndale to 190 rush yards on 51 attempts.
Key to the game: Like last week, the key for the Lions will be shutting down another deceptive run game, and Lynden did a masterful job against the Golden Eagles. If the Lions can corral the likes of Carter Crosby, Quinn Carpenter and Bryce Hornbeck, they have a great chance to get a win.
Player to watch: Brody Weinheimer made a big impact at linebacker last week. Look for him to be active again this week.
Prediction: Lynden 31-21
Blaine (4-3, 2-3 NWC) at Squalicum (7-0, 5-0 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Civic Stadium
Borderites update: Blaine yielded 31 points during the opening 17 minutes of its game against Burlington-Edison last week and took a rough 45-21 NWC home defeat to the Tigers. Riley Fritsch only had six yards on 14 carries, and Jalen Kortlever threw for two touchdowns.
Storm update: Triston Smith ran for a game-high 96 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns, combining with a solid defensive effort to help Squalicum earn a 27-0 NWC win over rival Sehome. Squalicum’s defense limited the Mariners to 34 rush yards on 29 attempts.
Key to the game: Blaine needs to establish its run game and keep the Storm offense off the field. If Riley Fritsch can get it going, it would help the Borderites immensely.
Player to watch: Damek Mitchell can make an impact in the pass game as a receiver, in the run game as a running back and plays outstanding at outside linebacker.
Prediction: Squalicum 35-14
Sehome (2-5, 1-4 NWC) at Ferndale (4-3, 3-2 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Ferndale High School
Mariners update: Sehome couldn’t get its run game going and turned the ball over four times during a 27-0 NWC loss to rival Squalicum last week. No Sehome running back had more than 10 yards rushing, and Jace Rinker completed 11 passes for 123 yards.
Golden Eagles update: Ferndale came out flat last week and suffered a 34-7 NWC home loss to rival Lynden. The Golden Eagles’ only touchdown was an Austin Honeycutt 1-yard run once the game was out of hand. Honeycutt led Ferndale with 101 rush yards on 18 attempts.
Key to the game: Sehome needs to find some sort of offense if it hopes to hang with Ferndale. If Rinker and running back Kevin Sun can provide some explosive plays, the Mariners could make it a game.
Player to watch: Austin Honeycutt is a force to tackle, but after last week, odds are he’ll be even harder to bring down with the extra motivation on his side.
Prediction: Ferndale 35-7
Bellingham (4-3) at La Conner (5-1)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: LaConner High School
Red Raiders update: QB Nick Knutson threw for 168 yards and TDs to Ethan Fields and Zach Lorenz to help Bellingham earn a hard-fought 20-13 road win over Orcas Island last week. The victory was the Red Raiders’ fourth straight. Dakota Johanson led Bellingham’s rushing attack with 103 yards and 15 carries.
Braves update: Running back Seth Schuh ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns to lead Class 2B La Conner to a 35-18 win over Concrete last week. The Braves trailed 6-0 early but led the rest of the way. Budda Luna and Brady Nelson also scored for the Braves.
Key to the game: Bellingham has a lot of La Conner playmakers to shut down, so if the Red Raiders can play with the same defensive intensity it had last week, Bellingham could be on track for five straight.
Player to watch: Dakota Johanson had a breakout game running the ball last week, and Bellingham will need him again this week.
Prediction: Bellingham 24-17
Meridian (4-3, 3-1 NWC) at Mount Baker (6-1, 4-0 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Mount Baker High School
Trojans update: Running back Nick Dritsas replicated his first five-touchdown effort against Lynden Christian with another five-TD performance against the Lyncs last week, as the senior helped Meridian earn a 41-18 NWC home win. Dritsas ran for 220 yards on 21 carries. The victory marked head coach Bob Ames’ 300th career win. The Trojans racked up 369 rush yards and held LC to 80 rush yards.
Mountaineers update: Quarterback Mason Bass completed 7 of 11 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and Thomas Barbo caught three passes for 150 yards and two scores to help Baker earn a 57-14 NWC road win against Nooksack Valley last week. Jed Schleimer ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, and Vadim Kotsyuba had 67 rush yards and two TDs.
Key to the game: Last time Baker and Meridian met, they put together the game of the year. The Trojans shut down Jed Schleimer but were crippled by Bass’ passing. Meridian needs to be effective against the run and pass in order to get a win.
Player to watch: Dritsas and Schleimer have a combined 39 touchdowns. Both should be well worth the watch.
Prediction: Mount Baker 35-28
Lynden Christian (4-3, 1-3 NWC) at Nooksack Valley (0-7, 0-4 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Nooksack Valley High School
Lyncs update: Lucas Roetcisoender threw for 181 yards and touchdowns to Nate Hielkema and Zach Roetcisoender, but LC’s defense gave up 369 yards rushing as Lynden Christian suffered a 41-18 NWC home loss to Meridian last week. Leading rusher David Bladies ran for only 12 yards on seven carries. Nathan Wynstra ran for 27 yards and was the Lyncs’ top runner.
Pioneers update: Nooksack Valley played better against the run but took its seventh consecutive loss, this time a 57-14 NWC home defeat to Mount Baker. Quarterback Casey Bauman completed 20 of 37 passes for 239 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Key to the game: If the Pioneers can develop a run game to keep Lynden Christian guessing just enough, maybe Nooksack Valley could pick up its first win. LC won only 19-14 the first time these two teams met.
Player to watch: Bauman is the type of talent who can take over a game and help will the Pioneers to their first win.
Prediction: Lynden Christian 28-14
Darrington (1-1) at Lummi (4-2)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Lummi High School
Loggers update: Darrington rallied in the fourth quarter to earn a 38-36 win over Tekoa-Rosalia last week. The win came during the Loggers’ second game of the season. Darrington suffered a 47-8 loss to Manson two weeks ago.
Blackhawks update: Lummi trailed only 14-6 late in the first half to rival Neah Bay last week, but the Blackhawks ultimately suffered their ninth straight loss to the Red Devils, taking a 62-12 league loss. Neah Bay scored right before half and then ran back the second-half opening kickoff for a touchdown, giving Lummi a decisive blow.
Key to the game: If the Blackhawks can simply move past last week’s loss, they have a good shot an earning a home win.
Player to watch: Look for Free Borsey to have a big game.
Prediction: Lummi 42-28
Burlington-Edison (4-3, 2-3 NWC) at Anacortes (2-5, 0-5 NWC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Anacortes High School
Tigers update: With the help of Taran Lambert, Hunter Anderson and Derek Cherryholmes, Burlington-Edison built a 31-0 lead over Blaine last week in 17 minutes and rolled to a 45-21 NWC road win. Lambert finished with 150 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, Anderson completed 12 of 18 passes for 184 yards and three TDs and Cherryholmes caught four passes for 92 yards and two scores.
Seahawks update: Anacortes fell into a deep, early hole to Sedro-Woolley last week and suffered a 48-21 NWC home loss. Running back Colten Frost started the game and ran for 27 yards on 11 carries before P.J. Monroe entered and finished with 80 yards on 13 rushes. Camden McLaughlin threw for 114 yards, two touchdowns and two INTs. Receiver Griffin Overa hauled in eight passes for 76 yards and two scores.
Key to the game: Burlington-Edison has the all-round talent to cruise to a win, but if its offense is playing its best, this should be a blowout.
Player to watch: Jacob Zamora has made a lot of big plays for the Tigers this year and could be in line for some more this Friday.
Prediction: Burlington-Edison 55-14
This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 12:40 PM with the headline "State-title rematch between Lynden, Sedro-Woolley highlights Week 8."