Lummi hoping this is the year it gets by Neah Bay

Lummi vs. Neah Bay

Time: 1 p.m.

Site: Tacoma Dome

Blackhawks update

State appearances: 12

State record: 15-10

State semifinal appearances: Nine

State titles: 1 (2010)

League: Northwest 1B League (second, 3-1)

Coach: Jim Sandusky (13 seasons, 126-32)

Scouting report: Lummi started slow last week but recovered consecutive second-half onside kicks to help secure a 40-0 Class 1B State Quarterfinal win over Quilcene. The Blackhawks led 6-0 in the second quarter, but with the Rangers driving, Trazil Lane intercepted a pass and returned it 91 yards for a TD. Lane finished with a rushing score and 72 receiving yards on six receptions. QB Jonathan Casimir threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns with two INTs. Free Borsey caught both TD passes, finishing with 130 receiving yards on eight catches. Lummi, for the second straight week, shut out its opponent.

Player to watch: Free Borsey has emerged as one of the Blackhawks’ top pass-catchers. He’ll need a big game against rival Neah Bay.

*NWL1B game

Red Devils update

State appearances: 16

State record: 21-13

State semifinal appearances: 11

State titles: 3 (2011, 2013, 2014)

League: Northwest 1B League (first, 4-0)

Coach: Tony McCaulley

Scouting report: As usual, Neah Bay leaned on its ground game and continued its perfect season with a dominant 62-12 Class 1B State Quarterfinal win over Seattle Lutheran last week. Red Devils running back Cole Svec, last season’s Class 1B State Player of the Year, ran for 158 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries. The two-time defending state champs built a 24-6 first-quarter lead and put the game out of reach with a 30-point second quarter. Svec again has been the Red Devils’ main offensive producer. He’s run for 1,251 yards and 24 touchdowns, averaging 13.0 yards per carry. Quarterback Rwehabura Munyagi leads Neah Bay in passing with 1,010 yards and 20 TDs. Neah Bay has arguably the most explosive offense of any 1B team, and its defense has limited opponents to 12.0 points per game.

Player to watch: There’s no mystery to who the Blackhawks will need to stop in order to come away with a win Friday. All eyes will be on No. 16, Cole Svec.

*NWL1B game

Key to the game: A look at the score of Lummi’s 62-12 regular season road loss to Neah Bay lends to an assumption the Blackhawks are completely overmatched. There’s no way around a 50-point loss, but in all actuality, the game was a lot closer than the final score reveals. Lummi trailed 14-6 in the final seconds of the first half, but Neah Bay converted a Hail Mary to take a two-touchdown lead into halftime. Then the Red Devils ran the second-half kickoff back for six and the rout was on. Neah Bay has outscored opponents 534-108, and Lummi coach Jim Sandusky has said Lummi will need to play a near perfect game to win, but the Red Devils aren’t unbeatable. “It’s a task to come away from there with win,” Sandusky said. “Is it possible? Heck, yeah, but one of the things is we got to come out and make no mistakes and execute and try to keep running back Cole Svec and their QB and wide receivers in check.”

Prediction: Neah Bay 52-36

*State playoff game

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Lummi hoping this is the year it gets by Neah Bay."