We are now into the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs! Below are previews for both games this weekend, as well as our predictions, a podcast that gives our thoughts on the games and who we picked as our fantasy players! Thank you to Michael Lodell for being our guest picker!
NOOKSACK VALLEY (8-2) AT LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (8-2)
Time: 7:00 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: This the contest that Whatcom County wants to see, it’s just a tad early for it. About as even as it gets, with both teams having the same records, and the previous meeting was a 1-point difference, in the favor of the Lyncs. No Whatcom County team has ever had two 1,000 yard rushers that BOTH averaged over 10 yards per carry, and no Whatcom County team has ever completed over 70% of its passes. The Pioneers have done both this season, but the LC defense is something incredibly special that just keeps getting better every week. Neither team makes many mistakes, so one in this game could be costly.
Matchup to watch: Nooksack Valley junior running back Colton Lentz versus Lynden Christian senior inside linebacker Kayden Stuit. The NWC 1A Offensive Player of the year against the NWC 1A Defensive Player of the Year. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
Historical significance: Since 1974, these two teams have been 80 times, with Lynden Christian holding the 45-35 edge. However, they have never met in the playoffs. A Lync win would put them into the semifinals for the 12th time in school history, and a Pioneer win would send Nooksack Valley into the semifinals for the fourth time.
Moving up the record book: Lentz is just 22 yards away from becoming the 23rd player in Whatcom County history to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards.
LYNDEN (8-2) AT NORTH KITSAP (10-1)
Time: 3:00 PM Saturday
Site: North Kitsap Stadium
What to expect: A lot of hard hits, and tough yards. I expect a low-scoring affair that is defensively driven. Weather could be a factor, which would cement my expectations a little bit more. This will be the most Lynden-like team that Lynden will have faced this season. Usually in the quarterfinal round, little is known about the opponents, but this is the third time in three years that these two teams will meet in the state playoffs. It’s also the third different round, and third different location.
Player to watch: Senior left guard Bennett Roorda. He is one of the few Lions that has faced these Vikings quite a bit over the past two seasons. His run-blocking abilities on the trap runs could be a huge difference maker in keeping the Lynden offense on the field.
Historical significance: As most people know, this is just the third meeting between the two schools, with Lynden winning the last two. Both of which were won with last minute touchdowns to cap off the two most memorable drives in recent memory.
Moving up the record book: With a Lynden victory, head coach Blake VanDalen would have the highest career winning percentage of any football coach in Whatcom County history.
