We are now onto week 10! Below are previews for all seven games this weekend, as well as our predictions, a podcast that gives our thoughts on all the games and who we picked as our fantasy players for week 10! Thank you to Jim Bring for being our guest picker, and thank you to Nooksack Valley senior Skyler Whittern for the intro.
SQUALICUM (3-6) AT MOUNT BAKER (3-6)
Time: 6:00 PM Thursday
Site: Bob Tisdale Field
What to expect: The only matchup this weekend between two Whatcom County teams. Both are awesome programs that are experiencing down seasons. Expect some fireworks on kickoffs, with each team boasting a kickoff returner with over 400 return yards. It should be a great game, very close. The Storm are more athletic, but the Mountaineers just want to run right at you and pick up the tough yards. It should be a fast moving game with two teams that heavily favor the run game.
Matchup to watch: Squalicum senior left tackle Ben Kensinger versus Mount Baker junior inside linebacker Dylan Moa. The Storm love to run the ball, and you can bet that on certain plays Kensinger will look to the next level to take on a defender. Moa will be that guy on many plays.
Historical significance: These two teams played each other every year, back when the Northwest Conference was formed in 2006, through 2011 until Mount Baker was moved back to the 1A classification. In those years, Mount Baker won four out of the six games. In the last meeting, in 2011, Mountaineer all-state running back Levi Wigg ran for 180 yards and five touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Mount Baker senior defensive end Vance Lawrence is leading Whatcom County with 8.5 quarterback sacks, and he has 19.5 in his career, the third most in school history.
SULTAN (6-3) AT BELLINGHAM (5-4)
Time: 7:00 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: Even though the Bayhawks have four losses, each one of them was a one-score game. Bellingham can play, and it will show everyone on Friday night, including the Turks who come in with a better record. The Bayhawks haven’t played a home game in almost a month, and they will be excited to be back. Look for Bellingham to air it out deep to its playmakers. Numerous players have broken school records this year for the Bayhawks, and this will be the last game to try and put these records out of reach.
Player to watch: Junior tight end/inside linebacker Gabe VanHofwegen. One of the smartest, and one of the toughest, players on the team. He leads the team in tackles, and is near the top in receptions, and he’s also the emergency quarterback. He will be all over the field, and rarely on the sidelines.
Historical significance: This will be just the second meeting all-time between these two schools, with last year’s game being the first one. The Turks won last season, 28-6, with running back Logan Steeves scoring the lone touchdown.
Moving up the record book: In Bellingham’s history, they have never had a player with double-digit touchdown receptions. This season, they have two, with seniors Josh Tolle and Wyatt Stephan with 11 a piece. How far can they push this school record out?
MERIDIAN (4-5) AT CEDAR PARK CHRISTIAN (5-4)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Harold Bergh Field
What to expect: Here’s another game that could be very even. Although, I do believe that Meridian is one of the best 4-5 teams in the state, going on the road is always tough. The Eagles defeated Blaine earlier in the season, who then turned around and beat the Trojans. But, that was a while ago, and Meridian has some momentum after the big home win over Bellingham. Senior Joshtyn Elmer could have a huge night in his final high school football game.
Player to watch: Junior right guard/defensive tackle Jaxson Hurlbut. When Meridian runs the ball, it’s usually to the right side, and it’s behind Hurlbut. He’s also a beast on defense with 14.5 tackles for loss in his career.
Historical significance: This will be just the third matchup between these two schools, with Meridian winning the first two by a combined score of 105-9. The last meeting, in 2017, saw quarterback Simon Burkett pass for 154 yards and four touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Last week, Elmer became the eighth player in school history to pass 2,000 career rushing yards. In doing so, he also passed Duffy Cox to move into seventh place.
BLAINE (2-7) AT EAST JEFFERSON (0-8)
Time: 6 PM Friday
Site: Jefferson County Memorial Athletic Field
What to expect: Bus trips and ferry rides, here we go! The Borderites will close out their season against the winless Rivals. I see Blaine winning this one in a big way, despite numerous injuries to key players. It should be a balanced attack for the Borderites, and the defensive line for Blaine could have a big night in the East Jefferson backfield.
Player to watch: Junior running back Jaiden Paez. He has quietly led the Borderites in rushing this year with 483 yards, and he’s ran for at least 70 yards in four games. This could be his biggest output yet.
Historical significance: East Jefferson has only been a team for a few years, as it is a combination between Port Townsend and Chimacum. The Borderites did face Port Townsend back in 2013, with the Borderites coming out on top 35-21 behind the 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Cole Muder.
Moving up the record book: Junior quarterback Colin Davis is currently tied with Mike Baldwin for 12th in school history with 129 completions. He’s just two behind Ryan Pike, and nine behind Joey Paciorek.
NOOKSACK VALLEY (6-2) AT GRANITE FALLS (7-2)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Granite Falls High School
What to expect: It’s must-win time for the Pioneers, and this is not your usual Tiger team that we’ve all watched over the years. They can spread it out, they can throw the ball and they can put up points. But, so can Nooksack Valley. The Pioneers have won big the past few weeks, and they will need to keep this up, and a win here will get them into the 1A state tournament.
Player to watch: Nooksack Valley senior wide receiver/defensive back Jackson Bennett. You think he’s fast on natural grass, wait until you see him on the artificial turf at Granite Falls. He’s one of the best kick returners in school history, and is a homerun threat with the ball in his hands.
Historical significance: The Pioneers are 12-0 all-time against Granite Falls, with the average score being 41-10. In the 2017 matchup, Nooksack Valley won 56-34 and also put up a school-record 768 yards of offense.
Moving up the record book: Coming into this game, senior linebacker John Stremler is just 10 tackles away from 200 in his career.
SEHOME (6-3) AT MOUNT VERNON (2-7)
Time: 6 PM Friday
Site: Mount Vernon High School
What to expect: The Mariners are on a roll, winning their last three in a row, and they have done it in dramatic fashion. Sehome is loaded with playmakers, but it won’t likely match the size of Mount Vernon. I still really like the Mariners’ chances, however, with the roll they’ve been on. Junior running back Solomon McAlister has been running the ball really well as of late, and the passing game is completely dialed in.
Player to watch: Sophomore safety Hudson Neff. He earned the starting spot a few weeks into the season, and he is now the leading tackler on the team. Completely fearless, and tough as nails, Neff can play the run as well as any safety in the area.
Historical significance: These two teams haven’t faced each other since 2011, and since 1973 the two teams have faced each other 29 times. The Bulldogs were successful in 18 of those battles. The last time Sehome bested Mount Vernon was in 1996 when Ben DeMond ran for 92 yards and a touchdown in a 28-7 win.
Moving up the record book: Junior wide receiver Andre Watson comes into this contest with 58 receptions this season, just two shy of the single season school record that is held by Brett Meggyesy.
TIMBERLINE (5-4) AT FERNDALE (7-2)
Time: 5 PM Saturday
Site: Golden Eagle Stadium
What to expect: The Blazers advanced after winning three-way tie breaker matchup on Tuesday night, and they have some good size on the team. Mostly a shotgun with a single back on offense with a tight end and wingback on one side, and twin wide outs to the other side. Ferndale likely won’t change much with what it does, especially with this nice little winning streak it has going at home. If the Golden Eagles can limit the big plays from Timberline, it should be another trip to the 3A state tournament.
Player to watch: Sophomore center/defensive tackle Kulshan LaValley. He has had a tremendous year, especially with the shoes he had to fill. A two-way starter, he is the next great Golden Eagle lineman.
Historical significance: These two teams have never faced each other.
Moving up the record book: Last week, senior Conner Walcker became the fourth player in school history to pass 1,000 career receiving yards. He’s also just 36 yards behind Spencer Hannah for third place all-time.
Keep rolling Pioneers