We are now onto week three! Below are previews for all nine games this weekend, and well as our predictions and a podcast that gives our thoughts on all the games, who we picked as our fantasy players for week 3 and what you need to do to get a Whatcom Preps sticker! Thank you to Randy Small for being our guest picker.
TOPPENISH (0-2) AT MOUNT BAKER (0-2)
Time: 6:00 PM Friday
Site: Bob Tisdale Field
What to expect: A couple of 0-2 teams that were in the state playoffs the last two seasons. Both teams are eager for a win, so look for some big plays early. The ground game just wasn’t clicking for the Mountaineers last week, which is rare. You can bet that Coach Lepper has it figured out in this one in front of the home crowd.
Player to watch: Senior wide receiver/defensive back Tanyen Staton. Superb speed, can break a play open at any moment. When the time is right, look for the Mountaineers to go over the top to him as he runs by the defense.
Historical significance: Mount Baker has yet to beat Toppenish in its only two meetings. But, this will be the first time these two teams are squaring off at Bob Tisdale Field, the same field where Wildcat head coach Jason Smith played on 35 years ago.
Moving up the record book: When sophomore quarterback Toga Tigilau passed for 168 yards last week, it was the fourth most passing yards in a single game by a sophomore in school history. Kaleb Bass had passing games of 279 yards and 196 yards as a sophomore, and Andrew Zender threw for 192 yards in a game in his sophomore season.
BELLINGHAM (0-2) AT GRANITE FALLS (1-1)
Time: 7:00 PM Friday
Site: Granite Falls High School
What to expect: The Bayhawks were 2-0 last season coming into a home game against Granite Falls, and then lost to the Tigers 34-0. I definitely don’t see that outcome, but I do feel that Granite Falls is a better team than we saw last season. This could be a really high scoring game with a lot of points scored. Both quarterbacks have very strong arms, and like to throw the ball deep.
Player to watch: Sophomore wide receiver/safety Owen Hanstead. He’s a super-athletic player that has great instincts. He’s the only player in this young season that has intercepted a pass in each of the first two games. He’ll need to be on his game against the strong-armed Tiger quarterback.
Historical significance: Bellingham is 2-3 all-time against Granite Falls, with the wins coming in 2015 and in the COVID shortened season a few years ago. In 2015, Bellingham won 35-15 behind the four touchdown passes of Nick Knutson.
Moving up the record book: Last week, senior quarterback Josh Leonard completed 20 passes, which was just five away from the school record for completions in a game.
VASHON ISLAND (0-2) AT BLAINE (0-2)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Blaine High School
What to expect: Both teams have been struggling since the season started, but I think the Borderites have some good things going on. They are still learning the new systems in place, and this lines up well, at home against the Pirates who just haven’t turned it on yet this season. Blaine has all the talent to give the home crowd something to cheer about tonight.
Player to watch: Junior quarterback Colin Davis. I really like the way he delivers the ball, and I think he’s ready to explode with a huge game offensively. As he keeps learning more and more about the offense, he’s going to put up some good numbers. Also, look for him to take off an run at different moments to pick up key first downs.
Historical significance: Blaine has a 1-2 overall record against Vashon Island, with the one win coming in 1993 by a score of 41-16. In that game, Adrian Newell returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and Byron Scheib had a touchdown on offense and defense.
Moving up the record book: Junior running back Colby Shipp broke out with a good game last week, picking up 81 yards on the ground. If he duplicates that performance tonight, he will pass John Gobbato, Danny Le, Brad Wolten, Larry Creasey, Dave Sharp and Greg Flint on the school’s career rushing list.
SQUALICUM (2-0) AT LYNDEN (1-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Rollie DeKoster Field
What to expect: With just two berths coming out of the NWC 2A, these conference games are vitally important. The Storm are 2-0, and won in two completely different ways; a blowout, and a contest that came down to the very end. The Lions are battle tested as well, and they found some big-time players offensively last week that they will try to utilize again tonight.
Matchup to watch: Squalicum senior Deandre Dunmore versus Lynden senior Charlie Ayres. Every time these two teams face off, there are some major collisions in the middle of the field. Both of these guys are tough-nosed running backs and inside linebackers, and you can get there will be a few echoes in downtown Lynden after these two athletes collide.
Historical significance: In the 1999 matchup, Lynden quarterback Ty Taubenheim, who went on to pitch in the major leagues, passed for a then-state record 514 yards, but the Storm still came out victorious, 38-28. Since that matchup, Lynden is 20-1 against Squalicum.
Moving up the record book: Junior quarterback Marcus Nixon has picked up a lot of rushing yards in his varsity career, and if he gains 43 more tonight, he will become the 13th player in school history to reach 1,000 career rushing yards.
GLACIER PEAK (1-1) AT FERNDALE (2-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Ferndale High School
What to expect: Get there early! The grand opening of the new stadium, it will be a sight to behold. Ferndale is riding high after starting the season with two big wins, and it will want to get even with the Grizzlies after last season’s game played at Lumen Field. Glacier Peak has a few good running backs, so the best scenario for the Golden Eagles will be to get ahead early and force them to throw against it’s spectacular secondary.
Player to watch: Senior guard/defensive end Kellan LaFave. He’s one of the most athletic lineman in Whatcom County, and a perfect fit at guard in the Wing-T offense. After suffering an injury early last season, he was forced to missed most of his junior season. He’s looking to have a big senior year, and he has started out very well.
Historical significance: The only meeting between these two teams came last year, and it was all Grizzlies. Although, in the game, Talan Bungard led the Golden Eagles in rushing with 52 yards, and Bishop Ootsey passed for 92 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass.
Moving up the record book: Junior running back Talan Bungard has averaged almost 140 yards rushing per game this season. If he has another game like that tonight, he will be in the Top 50 of career rushing leaders in school history with over 900 career yards.
NOOKSACK VALLEY (2-0) AT KING’S (2-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Woolsey Stadium
What to expect: A great battle between two top-end teams in the 1A classification. The Knights are very good, but there are few teams out there as talented as the Pioneers. The offensive line has been dominant (Nooksack Valley is averaging eight yards per rushing play), and should again power its team to another victory.
Player to watch: Junior wide receiver/safety Cory Olney. He hasn’t caught a pass yet this season, but he has done damage in the run game. Defensively, he had a huge game last week, and last year against King’s it was his interception that secured the victory.
Historical significance: These two teams have played some great games over the years, and the Pioneers are 7-3 overall in those meetings, but no game was more exciting than the 2009 State Quarterfinal matchup, which Nooksack Valley won 54-47, after being down by 27 points in the third quarter. Running back Nick DeGrasse ran for 239 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries in that game.
Moving up the record book: Junior running back Colton Lentz is just 23 yards away from becoming the seventh player in school history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards.
SEHOME (2-0) AT SEDRO-WOOLLEY (2-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Tom Mullen Memorial Field
What to expect: Much like the Squalicum/Lynden game, a win here is crucial for making the postseason. Sehome currently has the longest winning streak amongst Whatcom County teams with six, and its high-flying offense has been on display the first two weeks with 10 touchdown passes already. The Cubs are always very good, and this will be a tough matchup for the Mariners.
Player to watch: Senior offensive tackle/defensive end Baxter Arps. With all eyes on all the playmakers on the field in this one, don’t forget about the big guys up front that make it all happen. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, his size can make the difference in numerous plays on both sides of the ball in what promises to be a very close contest.
Historical significance: Even though Sehome is on a six-game winning streak, the Cubs have beaten the Mariners in six straight matchups. Going back to 1973, it’s been pretty even with Sehome winning 16 of 31 matchups. It took a game-winning touchdown pass by Sehome senior quarterback Craig Bartl to beat Sedro-Woolley 13-10 in 1990.
Moving up the record book: Sophomore quarterback Nolan Wright is shooting up the school’s record book in passing yards, and he now sits at 7th place, just 115 yards behind Ryan Binning.
BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN (0-2) AT LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (1-1)
Time: 2 PM Saturday
Site: Lynden Christian High School
What to expect: I see the Lyncs really going off in this game. Finally playing at home after two long road trips, and I would imagine they would really want to prove a point to the WIAA that the best 16 teams should make the state playoffs. LC won the matchup last season 49-12, and went 8-1, and didn’t qualify for the state playoffs. The Vikings went 6-4, and made the playoffs. Look for Lynden Christian to give us all a little reminder how stacked the Northwest Conference is.
Player to watch: Senior wide receiver/cornerback Dawson Bouma. He’s an electric player with great speed and size. While playing lights out on both offense and defense, I just have this crazy feeling that he’s going to return a kick for a touchdown.
Historical significance: This is just the third time these two teams have played, even though they have played each other dozens of times in basketball. LC got them last year, and the other game was in 2012 when the Lyncs won 36-14, and speaking of basketball, Daulton Hommes threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
Moving up the record book: Last week, senior quarterback Jeremiah Wright moved past Jeremy Huntley on the school’s career passing list. He is now 149 yards behind Will Colwell for 11th place.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN (0-2) AT MERIDIAN (1-1)
Time: 5 PM Saturday
Site: Meridian High School
What to expect: The Trojans are back at home after losing a heart-breaker last week on the road by a single point. Meridian put up 50 on the Knights last season on the road, now playing at home, you could see something very similar. The Trojans have great balance, and are one of only two teams in Whatcom County that has rushed for over 300 yards and passed for over 400 yards over the first two games of the season.
Player to watch: Junior wide receiver/defensive back James Hedahl. A walking mismatch at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, he is extremely athletic, and is still very raw. He ahs that ability to make big-time plays that ordinary players just can’t make.
Historical significance: The only other meeting of these two schools came last year in a 50-13 Trojan victory. In that game, Meridian ran for 453 yards and seven touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Senior running back Joshtyn Elmer continues to move up the school’s record book in career rushing yards, and he currently sits in 14th place all-time, and he’s only 4 yards behind Simon Burkett.
