BELLINGHAM AT FRIDAY HARBOR
Time: 6:30 PM Friday
Site: Friday Harbor High School
What to look for: After a week off, the Bayhawks will be ready to go, and despite playing an independent schedule, this will be the first game that Bellingham plays outside of Whatcom County. The only common opponent between the two teams has been South Whidbey. Bellingham beat the Falcons 28-6, but the Wolverines lost to them twice this season. The Bayhawks have a good chance to pick up a win here, and it could come down to a game-winning kick. I like Liam Poulton-Claypool’s chances if that happens. Senior tight end/inside linebacker Daniel Reyes has been impressive this season.
Player to watch: Senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman Nathaniel Gass. He’s one of the strongest offensive linemen on the team, and he’s a disruptive force on the defensive side of the ball. He might make things really miserable for the Friday Harbor backfield.
STANWOOD AT FERNDALE
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Blaine High School
What to look for: The Golden Eagles have won seven in a row against the Spartans, going back to 1994. It also appears that Ferndale is back to full health, which is scary for any opponent. Ferndale is also throwing the ball more often than they have in quite a while, roughly 20% of their plays. The balance will help, as the defense can’t key on a singular aspect of the game. The team speed of the Golden Eagles is also enhanced on the new turf at Blaine’s stadium. I could see a lot of big plays from the “home” team.
Player to watch: Sophomore wide receiver/safety Conner Walcker. He sure doesn’t play like a sophomore. He’s got “next level talent” written all over him, and his play-making ability is a pure joy to witness.
BLAINE AT MOUNT BAKER
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Bob Tisdale Field
What to watch for: This is kind of like the Packers/Bears rivalry from the National Football League. No two teams have played each other more times in Whatcom County history than Blaine at Mount Baker. The Mountaineers will be jacked to finally play a home game, and the Borderites are looking as good as they’ve been in years. Both teams are coming off big wins last week, and this should be a great matchup. Mount Baker could look to slow the game down with its running game, and defending the run has been tough from time to time for Blaine. The Borderites do have a quick-strike offense, especially when going to the air.
Matchup to watch: Blaine senior wide receiver/cornerback Scott Baldwin versus Mount Baker senior wide receiver/cornerback Wyatt Pettigrew. Baldwin has more catches than anyone in Whatcom County, and Pettigrew has more interceptions than anyone in Whatcom County. Need I say more?
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN AT NOOKSACK VALLEY
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Sid Lambert Field
What to watch for: In the last 18 matchups between these two teams, each teams has won nine. However, a lot of these current players haven’t seen significant time against each other. Last season’s matchup was canceled, and this will be a huge game for both teams. The Pioneer offense versus the Lync defense will be one heck of a matchup. Nooksack Valley is averaging 44 points per game against conference opponents, but nobody can adjust a defense like LC’s Coach Kaemingk. Lynden Christian may have also found it’s new tailback in 6-foot-4 240-pound junior Kade Eldgridge. And how about this, he’s playing against his old teammates. There’s a lot to look for in this matchup.
Matchup to watch: Lynden Christian senior Zac Owen versus Nooksack Valley senior Dawson Kimball. Owen could draw Kimball from time to time, as Kimball is always lined up to the far right. And, when Owen takes a fly sweep handoff, it could be up to Kimball to stop that play.
LYNDEN AT SEHOME
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to watch for: The Lions have bit of a winning streak against the Mariners. In fact, the last time Sehome beat Lynden, baseball’s Seattle Mariners were in the playoffs. It’s going to be tough to break that streak. Sehome has been struggling, and has lost a key player, Tommy Funk, for the season. Lynden, on the other hand, is peaking at this very moment. The Lions have dealt with injuries as well, but has the depth to overcome it. Lynden can’t look past the Mariners here, though. Sehome has a load of talent, and a few turnovers here and there can be the difference.
Matchup to watch: Lynden junior quarterback Kaedan Hermanutz versus Sehome junior safety Jackson Dew. This is an intriguing matchup, that we’ll also get to see next year too! Hermanutz leads Whatcom County with 13 touchdown passes, so Dew will have to be careful to not let anything get past him.
SQUALICUM AT SEDRO-WOOLLEY
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Sedro-Woolley High School
What to watch for: The Cubs are a run-heavy team that hasn’t had to rely on the pass very much this season. Very machine-like, and very big. The Storm usually sacrifice some size to put speed on the field, especially up front. You might see a few more bigger bodies rotate in and out to take up blockers so the linebackers can be free to roam. It both Leyton Smithson and Djouvensky Schlenbaker are back to full health, this will be a tremendous game. Offensively, Squalicum will just need to execute as the undefeated Cubs already have four shutouts.
Player to watch: Senior tight end/defensive lineman Rizon Takabe. Each week, he has elevated his game. His ability on defense will be needed more than ever in this game.
MERIDIAN AT EVERETT
Time: 8 PM Friday
Site: Everett Memorial Stadium
What to watch for: After a week off it will be interesting to see how the Trojans react. A non-league opponent, on the road, but they do have one common opponent. They both played, and defeated Bellingham, with the Seagulls beating them a little more soundly. But, that was week one, and a lot has changed since then. Meridian plays its best football when the running game is working, to offset the passing game. When I saw Everett in week one, the biggest thing I noticed was that it was 99% running plays. The Trojans are traditionally very aggressive on defense, and they will need to wrap up at every opportunity.
Player to watch: Senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman Isaac Iredale. Another one of those “lunchpail” guys that comes in, works hard and gets the job done. His work might go unnoticed at times, but I can bet that it doesn’t to opposing coaches.
