It’s week five, and more teams are heading into conference play! Eric Trent and I are tied for first place in the pick’em, but it’s still very early. We’d like to thank Michael Koenen for being our guest picker this week, and you can learn more about him in our podcast below! Also, below are the previews for all seven games this weekend.
MOUNT BAKER (2-2) AT BLAINE (0-4)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Blaine High School
What to expect: The Mountaineers are eager just to play a game, and the Borderites are chomping at the bit to get their first win. Stopping the Mount Baker rushing attack will be priority number one for the guys in orange, but that’s a tough task. Blaine likes to throw a lot of different looks out there offensively, and they also have no problem throwing it all over the field. The Baker defense will need to cover a lot of ground, and tackle quickly.
Matchup to watch: Mount Baker senior running back/outside linebacker Marcques George versus Blaine junior tight end/outside linebacker Conner Dalry. These two could meet many times when either team has the ball.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other more than any other two teams in Whatcom County history. Over 100 matchups, with the Mountaineers winning the last six, and 18 of the last 22.
Moving up the record book: George had his best career game last season against Blaine, and he’s currently 22nd on the Mountaineers career rushing list. If he surpasses 100 yards tonight, he will pass up former greats Justin Brown and David Kashubin.
LYNDEN (4-0) AT SEHOME (3-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: In Blake VanDalen’s first year as head coach, he lost three Northwest Conference 2A games. Since that season, he has only lost one! He’s looking for another conference win here, but it won’t be easy. Sehome is playing it’s best football in quite a while, and the Mariners are riding high after a huge win over Burlington-Edison last week. Sehome will have to play error-free football, and probably have some breaks go their way, to beat the incomparable Lynden Lions.
Matchup to watch: Lynden senior nose tackle Luke Winterberg versus Sehome junior center Lucas Ortega. I love this battel between two “tough-as-nails” kids right in the middle of the line. Ortega is a little smaller, and will have to use his quickness and leverage. Not many players can outwork Winterberg in the trenches, it’s going to be a great battle all night long.
Historical significance: The Lions are 21-2 over the years against the Mariners. In fact, the last time Sehome picked up a win over Lynden was in 2001. In that game, Mariner quarterback James Monrean passed for 174 yards and two touchdowns, while the Lions were led by the 102 rushing yards of T.J. Busch.
Moving up the record book: Senior running back Lane Heeringa surpassed 1,400 career rushing yards last week, and currently sits at 21st in school history. A 100-yard performance would move him past Leif Erickson and Sterling Somers.
FERNDALE (2-2) AT MARYSVILLE-PILCHUCK (3-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Quil Ceda Stadium
What to expect: The Golden Eagles played a game full of emotion last Saturday night, which could propel into a great week of practice, and then onto the field tonight. The Tomahawks last a lot of top players from last years’ dominating squad, and are looking more like a pass-happy team. Ferndale is going through injury problems, but has enough talent to put up big points in this one.
Player to watch: Senior wide receiver/cornerback Damien Toney. At 6-foot-4, Toney provides a great target in the passing game, and he matches up well against taller receivers when playing defense. He also has the ability to make great moves with the ball after the catch.
Historical significance: The Tomahawks have beaten the Golden Eagles the last two times they have played each other, which snapped a 9-game winning streak by Ferndale going back to 1974. The 1998 matchup saw running back Justin Iwasaki run for 119 yards and five touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Isaiah Carlson’s big night last Saturday vaulted him into 9th on the career rushing list for Ferndale. He passed up Lance Dawson and Alex Conley, and now has his eyes set on a bunch of Lockers (Casey, Jake, Brady and John).
SQUALICUM (2-2) AT BURLINGTON-EDISON (2-2)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Kirkby Field
What to expect: This will be an extremely hard-fought game with a giant result. The losing team will find it extremely hard to make it into the playoff picture. This is a very even matchup, that will come down to the little things. The Tigers like to run the ball, a lot. The Storm’s linebackers Mason Myers and Deandre Dunmore will have a very busy night.
Player to watch: Senior safety Jacob Donnelly. He’s not the biggest player out there, but he packs a punch when he tackles you. He’s quickly becoming one of my favorite players to watch, and I just know he’s going to make a huge impact in tonight’s game.
Historical significance: This is the 18th meeting between the two schools. Burlington has won nine, and Squalicum will try to even that number tonight. The 2003 meeting saw Storm running back Richard Watkines rush for 108 yards and two scores.
Moving up the record book: Over the last five seasons, the most career tackles by a Squalicum safety is Zach Tucker with 82. Nick Watt is less than 10 behind him with 72.5.
MERIDIAN (3-1) AT NOOKSACK VALLEY (4-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Sid Lambert Field
What to expect: This is a tremendous rivalry game that should pack the stands up near the Canadian border. The Pioneers have a chance to go 5-0 for the first time since Doug Handy led them in 1975. The Trojans are looking great on both sides of the ball so far this season, but haven’t faced an opponent like Nooksack Valley yet. Both safeties (Hunter Jones from Meridian, and Cory Olney from Nooksack Valley) have had an interception in each of the first four games this season.
Matchup to watch: Nooksack Valley junior quarterback Joey Brown versus Meridian senior safety Hunter Jones. Brown has been great at protecting the ball, and hasn’t thrown an interception all season. Jones has picked off nine passes in his tremendous career.
Historical significance: I don’t quite know how many times these two teams have played each other, but I know they’ve faced off 79 times since 1974. I know, it doesn’t sound possible, but it’s true. The Pioneers have won just 20 of them, but also won 54-6 in last year’s contest which saw Brown throw for three touchdowns and run for another two.
Moving up the record book: Nooksack Valley junior defensive end John Stremler just went over 100 career tackles last week, and while doing so he passed up former Pioneer linebacker great, Bryan Jones.
NAPAVINE (4-0) AT BELLINGHAM (2-2)
Time: 1 PM Saturday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: I just don’t know enough about the Tigers to give an educated guess in this one, but I do know a few things. They are very good, and their quarterback is extremely quick. The Bayhawks have no problem starting off hot, they will need to do the same, and keep the momentum throughout the game in order to stay with Napavine on Saturday afternoon.
Player to watch: Senior defensive end Liam Poulton-Claypool. When he’s on, he’s hard to stop. You might see him chasing the quarterback all afternoon. LPC’s motor never turns off, and he’ll need all of it against the Tigers.
Historical significance: This is the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Moving up the record book: Poulton-Claypool has racked up a lot of tackles in his varsity career, and he currently has 92.5. In the last six years, only four Bellingham players have amassed more. Jack Fields (127.5), Daniel Reyes (109), Finn O’Malley (102) and Brahm VanWoerden (97).
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (4-0) AT RENTON (2-2)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Renton Memorial Stadium
What to expect: It was a major battle last Saturday for the Lyncs, as they topped #1 Royal. Another road Saturday game, but it should be a little easier road. Lynden Christian is looking unstoppable at the moment, especially with its defensive play. Be on the lookout for yet another defensive touchdown by these Lync ball hawks.
Player to watch: Senior center Tommy Meyer. He has adjusted extremely well to his new role on the team, and is one of the best leaders in all of Whatcom County. He has an extremely high football IQ, which is a must for any varsity center.
Historical significance: This is the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Moving up the record book: It’s easy to get caught up in the exploits of senior Kade Eldridge when he has the football in his hands, but his defense has been off the charts as well. One more stop behind the line of scrimmage and he’ll be with LC all-time greats (Brian Matheis 24, Zach Sipma 23.5 and Ryan Diephuis 20) that have at least 20 tackles for loss.
Great coverage. Thanks.