Five county teams hoping to play into state playoffs Friday
2A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS Sedro-Woolley (6-3) at Lynden (6-3)
Time: 5 p.m.
Site: Civic Stadium
Cubs update: Sedro-Woolley, the NWC No. 4 seed, was limited to a season-low 81 yards rushing and struggled offensively during a 20-16 NWC home loss to Ferndale last week. The Cubs fell behind 20-3 but rallied late with a Quinn Carpenter touchdown and a TD pass from Devin Willard to Billy Hornbeck. Carter Crosby, who exited the game late with what appeared to be a serious injury, ran for a team-high 33 yards. Sedro-Woolley’s defense allowed 307 rush yards.
Lions update: Lynden, the NWC No. 2 seed, pulled away from Blaine in the second half and earned a 37-14 NWC win over the Borderites last week. QB Sterling Somers completed 18 of 30 passes for 221 yards, three touchdowns and threw an interception. Noah King caught a game-high seven passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and Dalton Ohligschlager ran for a game-high 101 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Key to the game: Just two weeks ago Lynden suffered a home 32-29 OT loss to Sedro-Woolley in what was one of the most thrilling games of the season. Now one of the two teams that played for a state championship last year won’t be returning to the state playoffs. The Lions yielded a season-high 417 yards to Sedro-Woolley during the loss, and there’s no secret Lynden will need to shore up its run defense. It most likely won’t have to account for Crosby, who suffered an ugly injury last week.
Stat leaders: RUSHING — Sedro-Woolley: Quinn Carpenter (92 att., 515 yards, 10 TD), Lynden: Sterling Somers (68 att., 409 yards, 6 TD). PASSING — Sedro-Woolley: Devin Willard (70-112, 852 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT), Lynden: Sterling Somers (129-190, 1,820 yards, 18 TD, 4 INT). RECEIVING — Sedro-Woolley: Gavin Holdt (30 rec., 326 yards, 2 TD), Lynden: Jordan Wittenberg (47 rec., 741 yards, 6 TD).
Player to watch: Jensen Mayberry and Lynden’s linebackers should be watched closely, and the Lions will need sound tackling to take down the Cubs.
Prediction: Lynden 28-24.
1B QUAD-DISTRICT PLAYOFFS Oakville (2-5) at Lummi (6-2)
Time: 6 p.m.
Site: Lummi Nation School
Acorns update: Oakville suffered a 52-12 loss to Taholah on Friday, Oct. 30. For comparison’s sake, Lummi beat Taholah 40-12 in a non-league season opener on Sept. 4. The Acorns’ two victories came on Oct. 3 at Knight and Oct. 15 at Washington School for the Deaf. They averaged 44.0 points per game in those wins but just 7.2 points in their five losses. Oakville has allowed 41.4 points per game this season.
Blackhawks update: Lummi wrapped up the regular season with a 67-28 win over Tulalip Heritage on Thursday, Oct. 29. Lummi rushed for 352 yards in the game and got strong play from its defense. Jonathan Casimir also threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns to Raven Borsey. Jeff Cultee rushed for a touchdown, and John Ballew had two carries for 76 yards.
Key to the game: Though it is a playoff game, this will be the last chance for Lummi to tune up before traveling to face No. 5 Evergreen Lutheran in the first round of the Class 1B State Playoffs next week. Look for the Blackhawks to empty their bench to get everyone some playing time.
Stat leaders: Not available.
Player to watch: Hank Hoskins missed a lot of playing time early this year, but he came through with a big night against Tulalip Heritage, rushing for 220 yards and scoring six TDs. Lummi needs him to continue having big games to make a deep playoff run.
Prediction: Lummi 60-20.
1A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS Lynden Christian (5-4) at King’s (8-1)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: King’s High School
Lyncs update: Lynden Christian, the NWC No. 3 seed, hung with Mount Baker through two quarters but ultimately suffered a 27-15 NWC home loss to the Mountaineers on Friday, Oct. 30. Ty Van Dyken completed 4 of 12 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, and Colby Flint threw for 92 yards. WR Nate Hielkema caught eight passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Gavin Mumford led LC’s rushing attack with 36 yards on 15 carries.
Knights update: Cascade Conference top seed King’s rebounded from its first loss of the season to score a 38-14 win over Bothell Cedar Park Christian on Friday, Oct. 30. Andrew Cline rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, while quarterback Joe Green threw for 97 yards and TD. Cooper Wright had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery on defense and rushed for a TD.
Key to the game: King’s only loss so far this season was a 49-7 thumping by Archbishop Murphy. In its eight wins this year, the Knights have averaged 39.5 points, so Lynden Christian better find a way to get into the end zone early and often to advance to state for the first time since 2007.
Stat leaders: RUSHING — Lynden Christian: David Bladies (129 att., 817 yards, 10 TDs), King’s: Not available. PASSING — Lynden Christian: Lucas Roetcisoender (59-108, 1,189 yards, 14 TDs, 5 INT), King’s: Not available. RECEIVING: Nate Hielkema (26 rec. 751 yards, 10 TD), King’s: Not available.
Player to watch: LC running back David Bladies has reached triple digits running the football four times this season, and the Lyncs need another big game from him to keep the ball away from the high-powered King’s offense and stay in the game.
Prediction: King’s 42-14.
1A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS Meridian (5-4) at Cedar Park Christian (5-3)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Redmond High School
Trojans update: NWC No. 2 seed Meridian scored an inspired 42-6 win over Nooksack Valley to wrap up its regular season on Friday, Oct. 30. With Simon Burkett out, Marcus McGuinn stepped in and threw for four touchdowns and ran for another score to lead the Trojans. Meridian piled up 535 yards of total offense, while limiting Nooksack Valley to 1 yard rushing. Daniel Young caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in the game.
Eagles update: Cedar Park Christian enters as the No. 2 seed out of the Cascade Conference despite losing three of its past four games, including a 38-14 setback against King’s on Friday, Oct. 30. The Eagles struggled defensively, allowing King’s to roll up yardage both on the ground and through the air.
Key to the game: The Trojans played inspired football last week after a difficult loss to Mount Baker a week earlier. If they come out with the right motivation again, there’s not reason to think they can’t return to state after a one-year absence.
Stat leaders: RUSHING — Nick Dritsas (136 att., 788 yards, 12 TD), Cedar Park Christian: Not available. PASSING — Meridian: Simon Burkett (75-140, 1,036 yards, 11 TD, 5 INT), Cedar Park Christian: Not available. RECEIVING — Meridian: Nick Dritsas (31 rec. 577 yards, 8 TD), Cedar Park Christian: Not available.
Player to watch: Nick Dritsas has been Mr. Everything for Meridian this year, leading the team in rushing and receiving and scoring 21 touchdowns and two 2-point conversions. If he has another big game, the Trojans should move on.
Prediction: Meridian 35-14.
1A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS Sultan (2-7) at Mount Baker (8-1)
Time: 8 p.m.
Site: Civic Stadium
Turks update: Sultan secured the No. 3 seed out of the Cascade Conference with a 34-32 win at South Whidbey on Thursday, Oct. 29. The win ended a five-game losing streak for the Turks, who also beat Granite Falls on Sept. 18. In its seven losses, Sultan has allowed an average of 35.4 points per game.
Mountaineers update: NWC top seed Mount Baker wrapped up its regular season and won its eighth straight with a 27-15 victory over Lynden Christian on Friday, Oct. 30. The Mountaineers ran for 299 yards, including 107 from NWC rushing leader Jed Schleimer, while limiting the Lyncs to just 1.36 yards per carry. Mason Bass threw for 85 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice in the game.
Key to the game: Sultan must find a way to slow up Mount Baker’s running game, which has averaged 330.0 yards per game. If it doesn’t, look for win No. 9 for the Mountaineers and a fourth straight trip to the state playoffs.
Stat leaders: RUSHING — Sultan: Not available, Mount Baker: Jed Schleimer (160 att., 1,728 yards, 25 TD). PASSING — Sultan: Not available, Mount Baker: Mason Bass (5-11, 971 yards, 10 TD, 9 INT). RECEIVING — Sultan: Not available, Mount Baker: Thomas Barbo (24 rec. 527 yards, 5 TD).
Player to watch: Carson Engholm proved he can be a valuable second option to Schleimer by rushing for a team-high 115 yards last week and catching a touchdown pass from Bass. As the Mountaineers move on, that could become crucial.
Prediction: Mount Baker 42-7.
2A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS Burlington-Edison (6-3) at Archbishop Murphy (9-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Archbishop Murphy High school
Tigers update: Burlington-Edison wrapped up its regular season with a 27-12 win over Sehome on Friday, Oct. 30. Tavian Swanson returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a TD, and Taran Lambert rushed for a game-high 72 yards in the game.
Wildcats update: Archbishop Murphy wrapped up an unbeaten regular season with a 49-14 win over Cedarcrest. Kerry Jackson ran for 121 yards and three scores in the game. The Wildcats have averaged 49.4 points per game while allowing just 4.4.
Key to the game: The Tigers have got to find a way to slow up the Wildcats offense to have a shot in this one.
Player to watch: Burlington receiver Derek Cherryholmes caught only two passes for 21 yards last week. He needs to be more of a big-play threat against ATM.
Prediction: Archbishop Murphy 42-20.
Nooksack Valley (0-9) at South Whidbey (1-8)
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: South Whidbey High School
Pioneers update: Nooksack Valley suffered a 42-6 loss to Meridian on Friday, Oct. 30. Michael O’Bryan caught an 85-yard touchdown pass from Casey Bauman for the Pioneers’ only score in the game. Bauman finished with 209 yards passing, but the Nooksack ground game accounted for just 1 yard.
Falcons update: South Whidbey could have forced a three-way playoff for the Cascade Conference’s final 1A postseason spot, but fell 34-32 to Sultan on Thursday, Oct. 29. The Falcons’ lone win came over Coupeville on Sept. 4.
Key to the game: Both teams will hope to head into the offseason on a positive note and build for 2016 with a season-ending win.
Player to watch: As just a sophomore, Casey Bauman has thrown for 1,622 yards and 13 TDs. He should be one to watch in the years to come.
Prediction: Nooksack Valley 28-21.
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Five county teams hoping to play into state playoffs Friday."