We are now onto week nine! 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 9! Thank you to Landen Hatchett for being our guest picker, and thank you to Squalicum junior Marcus Nixon for the intro.
SQUALICUM (3-5) AT SEDRO-WOOLLEY (5-3)
Time: 7:00 PM Thursday
Site: Tom Mullen Memorial Stadium
What to expect: Here are two teams that really love to run the ball, which means this could be a very quick game. The Cubs are attempting rebound from a loss at Archbishop Murphy, and the Storm are trying to break a three-game losing streak, despite playing very well last week. The Storm will need to get off the field when defending third-and-short situations to be successful in this one.
Player to watch: Senior wide receiver/outside linebacker Nick Laughlin. He has been a force all season on the edge, and has a knack with coming up with big plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Cubs will run the ball over and over again, and Laughlin will be tested on the outside runs.
Historical significance: This will be the 20th matchup all-time between these two teams, with the Cubs winning 11 of them to this point. In 2010, Squalicum beat Sedro-Woolley 49-41 and both quarterbacks (Tyler Goodrich of Squalicum and Joe Janicki of Sedro-Woolley) each threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Junior quarterback Marcus Nixon is currently 28 yards away from passing Brad Miller for 8th place on the school’s all-time rushing list.
MOUNT BAKER (3-5) AT LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (6-2)
Time: 7:00 PM Thursday
Site: Lynden Christian High School
What to expect: Even though we are in the exact same scenario as last year, these are two different teams. The Lyncs are riding a 4-game winning streak, and have only lost this season when rain is in the air. It’s a new group of Mountaineers, but these players are incredibly hungry and they have been coached up very well. Baker will have to stop the pig-play abilities of LC, and control the clock on offense to get a win here.
Matchup to watch: Mount Baker senior Landen Hanstead versus Lynden Christian junior Mick Owen. The Mountaineers will need to make some big plays in this one, and Hanstead is their big-play guy. When he splits out, he will likely be covered by Owen who leads his team in passes defended.
Historical significance: This will be the 81st matchup between these two rivals since the Lyncs started playing football in 1964. And, it’s been about as even as it can get with Mount Baker winning 41 of them, and LC coming out on top 40 times. One of the biggest matchups came in 1969 as both teams came into the final week of the season undefeated, and the Mountaineers came out on top 27-20 after scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter in the last game coached by Bob Tisdale.
Moving up the record book: Last week, LC senior Tyson Bajema became the 27th player in school history to surpass 600 career receiving yards. Another 50 yards would move him past Travis Love, Jamison Hintz, Zach Sipma, David Griess and Tim Zylstra.
NOOKSACK VALLEY (5-2) AT BLAINE (2-6)
Time: 7 PM Thursday
Site: Blaine High School
What to expect: Despite two losses on the season, it’s for me to see a weakness on the Pioneers. Both losses had greatly to do with self-inflicted mistakes, and if those are cleaned up, Nooksack Valley is very strong. The Borderites will play tough, and hang for a while, but with key players injured, it will be hard to keep up with the massive Pioneers.
Matchup to watch: Nooksack Valley senior quarterback Joey Brown versus Blaine senior safety Mason Akre. Brown is a major dual threat, with a cannon for an arm that can really unload it deep. Akre has been playing well in the secondary after Riley Ihde’s injury, but this will be his ultimate test.
Historical significance: This will be the 59th game between these two teams over the last 50 years, with the Pioneers holding a 33-25 advantage. In 1978, these two teams opened up the season against each other, with Blaine winning 8-6. Tony Bladies scored for the Borderites, and Bill Handy scored for the Pioneers. Blaine went on to win the state championship that season.
Moving up the record book: The most overall touchdowns scored in Pioneer history? Number one is Ty Willemsen with 53. Number two is Dave Longoria with 46, and number three is Britt Lentz with 43. Knocking on the door is junior Colton Lentz with 36.
LAKEWOOD (2-5) AT SEHOME (5-3)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: Get your popcorn ready for this one, as it should be quite the air show. Two teams that love to pass, and are quite good at it. It might look like a basketball version of football, but despite all the razzle dazzle, it’s still going to be the big guys up front that will decide this one, and the Sehome linemen have been improving every week.
Player to watch: Sehome junior wide receiver/safety Andre Watson. This feels like it will be his kind of game where he could put up huge numbers. Both teams like to throw it around, it could be high scoring, with both teams getting extra possessions. Keep your eyes on #7, and you won’t be disappointed.
Historical significance: This will be just the eighth time these two teams have matched up, and Sehome is up on the series 4-3. The first meeting came in 2007 when the Mariners won 62-34 and Conor Long returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown, and he also caught two touchdown passes from Scott Pelo.
Moving up the record book: After breaking the school record for career receptions, Watson is now tied for 17th in Whatcom County history with 106. If he hauls in six more passes he move past Josiah Westbrook, Isaiah Stanley, Kyle Veldman, Dirk Dallas, Thomas Barbo and Kyle Handy. It would also put him into a tie with Mike Perez.
EDMONDS-WOODWAY (6-2) AT FERNDALE (6-2)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Golden Eagle Stadium
What to expect: Little is known (by me) about the Warriors, but despite their style or key players, the Golden Eagles will always play their game. Here it is, try to stop it. The running game has been great lately, and averaged almost 10 yards per play last week. A few new wrinkles thrown in helps as well, and you have a very strong team. Playing at home is huge as well, as Ferndale is 4-0 in the new home stadium.
Player to watch: Ferndale senior wingback/strong safety Conner Walcker. This is the biggest game of the season, and Walcker’s ability on both sides of the ball is something that has rarely been matched around the county this year. Look for him to get involved early and often.
Historical significance: This will be the first meeting since Edmonds and Woodway combined schools in 1990. In 1985, the Golden Eagles battled Edmonds in a state playoff game, which Ferndale won 25-7 behind the 204 yards rushing of All-State running back Donny Finkbonner.
Moving up the record book: Last week, junior running back Talan Bungard became the 35th player in school history to surpass 1300 career rushing yards. He is currently just 13 yards behind Thomas Broselle and 14 yards from Blake Robbins.
BELLINGHAM (5-3) AT MERIDIAN (3-5)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Meridian High School
What to expect: This should be a very close game, as the Bayhawks have been flying high with a 5-game winning streak. The beauty of it, too, is that they have been winning games in different ways, blowouts, coming from behind, the passing game, the running game and big defensive plays. The Trojans just came off dropping four straight Northwest Conference games, with two of them being extremely close. Expect an exciting game with a surprise at halftime!
Matchup to watch: Bellingham sophomore center Josh Kroll versus Meridian junior inside linebacker Kelley Gray. Kroll has been great all season, with his shotgun snaps always on point, but he’ll need to be ready for Gray who has been on fire the last few weeks and is really good at shooting the right gap at the right time.
Historical significance: This will be just the fifth time these two schools have faced off, but it will also be the third season in a row. Bellingham has won just one of those meetings, in 2005 by a score 26-20 with Brian Dundas rushing for 165 yards and current Bellingham assistant coach Cameron Brearley intercepting a pass to seal the victory.
Moving up the record book: Last week, Bellingham quarterback Josh Leonard passed Jalen Kortlever, Garrett Sorenson, Caleb Luehmann and Casey Locker on Whatcom County’s career passing yards list. He is currently 22nd in county history.
ANACORTES (8-0) AT LYNDEN (7-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Rollie DeKoster Field
What to expect: The game that everyone has been talking about, and not just this week, but all season. The undefeated Seahawks have overpowered every opponent this season, with their closest game being in week one when they beat Oak Harbor by two touchdowns. This could help Lynden, in a way, as Anacortes has really yet to be tested this season, and the Lions will put them to the test. How will the Seahawks respond? How will Lynden stop the potent Anacortes offense? How will the Seahawks deal with the huge Lynden offensive line? How will the parking situation be? All these will be answered in what should be a tremendous game.
Player to watch: Junior quarterback Brant Heppner. In this much anticipated contest, the Lions will go as Heppner goes. As he continues to improve throughout his varsity career, Heppner is showing Whatcom County that he’s one of the very best. A win here goes a long way towards his legacy, and the seeding committee for the upcoming 2A state tournament.
Historical significance: Since 1993, Lynden holds a 23-3 record against Anacortes, with the last Seahawk win coming in 2003. In 1996, Lynden beat Anacortes 38-24 in a big-time game at home which saw senior running back Nick Ellis become the second player in Whatcom County history to rush for over 300 yards in a single game.
Moving up the record book: After passing James Marsh on the school’s career passing list last week, Heppner is now 152 yards behind Tate Dallas for ninth place in school history.
