We are now onto week two! 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 2 and what you need to do to get a Whatcom Preps sticker! Thank you to Jake Mason for being our guest picker.
BLAINE (0-1) AT SEHOME (1-0)
Time: 7:00 PM Thursday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: Sehome looked great last week on the road at Mount Baker. Blaine had trouble early last week against Port Angeles, but played hard throughout the game and wound up scoring three touchdowns. Look for the Mariners to be 50/50 run and pass offensively, and the Borderites will have to limit their mistakes to keep pace.
Matchup to watch: Blaine junior inside linebacker Blake Koreski versus Sehome sophomore quarterback Nolan Wright. Koreski had a great game last week against the run and the pass, with four solo tackles, four assisted tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. He’ll need to have another great game to keep Wright in line, who tossed four touchdown passes last week, and is a threat to run.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other 12 times, all of which have been since 2006. Blaine won the first eight of nine matchups, but Sehome has been hot of late, winning the last three by a combined score of 139-33.
Moving up the record book: After last week, Wright moved into 10th place in career passing yards in school history. If he puts up another 200-yard performance in this game, he will surpass legends like Daniel Ziegler, Doug Ericksen and Brett Thorsteinson.
MEADOWDALE (1-0) AT BELLINGHAM (0-1)
Time: 5:00 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: The Bayhawks bested the Mavericks last season in a close, 15-10 game. I expect a higher scoring output this time around, but it should be close once again. Bellingham nearly got the victory last Saturday against Chief Sealth, and played well enough to win. They will need that same effort in this one in front of the home fans once again.
Player to watch: Junior wide receiver Bly Henderson. He’s turning into one of the best deep threats in Whatcom County. Last week he caught a pair of passes that totaled 76 yards. Great speed and size, he has a great chance to score his first varsity touchdown this week.
Historical significance: This will be the fifth time that these two teams have faced each other, with the Mavericks winning the first two and Bellingham capturing the last two. In the 1994 meeting, Bellingham rolled up 401 yards of total offense with running backs Austin Williams and Chance McClellan accounting for 353 of them.
Moving up the record book: Last week, Tyler Frost surpassed 400 yards rushing in his young career. If he puts out the same performance on Friday, he will pass some big-time athletes on the Bellingham career rushing list. Names like Sean Linville, Don Fenton, Chris Galley and Ethan Fields.
MOUNT BAKER (0-1) AT WENATCHEE (0-1)
Time: 6 PM Friday
Site: Lee Bofto Field
What to expect: The Mountaineers went through a few growing pains last week against Sehome, and you can bet that Coach Lepper will have them ready to go in this game against the Panthers. Mount Baker ran the ball last week, despite the loss, and I expect to see much more of that. Juniors Dylan Moa and Brady Bruland compliment each other very well in the backfield.
Player to watch: Junior safety Luke Smith. I love his aggressiveness as a tackler, a trait of the Smith boys. Not built like his brothers, but give it time. He still has that toughness. Also saw some time at quarterback last week, and he may get a possession or two there again in this game.
Historical significance: This will be the third time in three years that these two schools face off. Wenatchee got the first one in an unusual 10-0 win in a game that didn’t see an offensive touchdown, and Baker handedly won last year, 42-14.
Moving up the record book: Senior Landen Hanstead needs just 23 receiving yards to tie Tom Horsmon on the school’s career receiving list. That might be a fun exchange on the sidelines.
FERNDALE (1-0) AT OAK HARBOR (0-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Wildcat Memorial Stadium
What to expect: I’d expect a lot of the same from week one from Ferndale. Now in Conference play, the Golden Eagles found a great formula of power running with Talan Bungard and the huge Ferndale offensive line. The Wildcats like to throw it around, and the Golden Eagle defensive backs are an awesome bunch. This should work out well for Coach Plenkovich and his crew once again.
Player to watch: Senior wingback/safety Dylan Moore. Now in his third year as a varsity regular, he can sometimes be the forgotten guy in a team full of dudes. He’ll make the most of his few offensive touches, and he’s a great defender that has logged 26 career tackles from the secondary.
Historical significance: In the last 16 meetings between the two schools, the Golden Eagles have won 11 of them, including a 28-8 win in 1970 when quarterback Alan Duncan completed 8-of-14 passes for 132 yards. He tossed touchdown passes to Dale Ferry and Jeff Hannah.
Moving up the record book: Last week, senior Conner Walcker moved past Donny Finkbonner and Jeff Frost on the school’s career receiving list for yards. A similar performance on Friday will land him past Max Hannah and Jeff Hannah.
MERIDIAN (1-0) AT CHELAN (1-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Chelan High School
What to expect: The Trojans played almost flawlessly in the first half against Granite Falls last week, and they took a little more conservative approach in the second half to hang on for the victory. Meridian has a lot of playmakers offensively, but the offensive line could be the biggest strength. It’s a big-time group that played amazing last week.
Player to watch: Junior guard/defensive tackle Mason Apeles. Great strength as a run blocker, and nimble enough to be affective in his pass blocking. He exceled last week defensively with multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Historical significance: This is the fourth times these two teams have met. Meridian won the first two, in 2014 and 2015, and the Mountain Goats won last season. In the 2015 matchup, Trojan lineman Brenten Fox had three tackles for loss.
Moving up the record book: Junior quarterback Jaeger Fyfe had a big game last week, which moved him past Todd Tutterrow on the Meridian career passing list. Another 200-yard performance would move him past Mark Simmons, Kenny Shockey, Cameron Webster, Max Crook and Wade Koning.
W.F. WEST (0-1) AT LYNDEN (0-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Rollie DeKoster Field
What to expect: It’s not a must-win situation for the Lions, but they will really want this one after dropping week one’s matchup with Ferndale. The Lions are not used to defeat, and you can bet that they will use this in the most constructive way going into this game. You might see a few more handoffs than last week (10), and running behind that giant offensive line could be the key here.
Player to watch: Senior left tackle/defensive tackle Kuyper Assink. To get the running game back on track, a lot will fall onto his broad shoulders. Keep an eye on him offensively, and when you see him pull to his right after the snap, watch the destruction that he leaves in his path.
Historical significance: The Lions are undefeated in three prior games against the Bearcats, with the most recent being last season. The 2006 meeting was in the state playoffs, and quarterback Chris Bolt threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Both Dirk Dallas and Brady Bomber each had over 100 yards receiving.
Moving up the record book: Last week, junior quarterback Brant Heppner became the 29th player in school history to surpass 1,000 yards passing in a career. By doing so, he passed Jordan Kreider, Vince Blauser, Marty Maberry and Joel VanderYacht.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (0-1) AT ARCHBISHOP MURPHY (1-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Terry Ennis Stadium
What to expect: It was a tough loss for the Lyncs, who just never got things rolling offensively. On the road again here, Lynden Christian will go to the air often, but will need to establish a better run game than last week. They have the backs to do it, and if it can happen, this offense can really move the ball. LC has an opportune bunch defensively that is always looking to turn the ball over.
Player to watch: Junior running back/defensive lineman Hollis Owen. I would imagine that he’s very determined to improve on his rushing performance from last week. Yes, the blocking will need to be there, and if it is, Owen is a very strong runner that is not easy to tackle.
Historical significance: This will be the third meeting between the two schools, with each team getting a win. Both matchups were decided by at least five touchdowns, and you can bet that this game will be a little closer.
Moving up the record book: By catching four passes last week, senior wide receiver Tyson Bajema moved past Jason VanHofwegen, Sam Faber, Luke Wyatt, Kent Bratt and Barry DeZeeuw in career receptions in school history.
CONNELL (0-1) AT NOOKSACK VALLEY (1-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Sid Lambert Field
What to expect: The Pioneers are back home after a long trip last week and getting the win over 3A Mountain View. This is a special team at Nooksack Valley, and the supports know it. I would expect a huge crowd, and a great atmosphere. Looks for the Pioneers to run the ball using their backs, receivers and the quarterback.
Player to watch: Senior inside linebacker Daemion Perez. A tackling machine, and the ground-based Eagles will need to be aware of him. He makes plays all over the field, and he’s rarely out of position.
Historical significance: This will be the third team these two teams have played. Once last year, and once 21 years ago in the state playoffs. This will be the first time that the Eagles have played at Sid Lambert Field.
Moving up the record book: With senior quarterback Joey Brown rushing for 181 yards last week, he moved up to 21st all-time in career rushing yards in Pioneer history. Last week’s huge performance allowed him to surpass Colton Kautz, Tim Harvey, Chuck Handy, Trevor Arnason, Dane Winter, Wade Rediger and Jeb Schweigert.
SEAQUAM, BC (0-0) AT SQUALICUM (1-0)
Time: 8 PM Saturday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: This will be round two of Canadian opponents for the Storm. Round one went very well for Squalicum, and I’m assuming this one will be very similar. Junior Marcus Nixon accounted for four touchdowns in week one, including in each of his final three carries of the game. This could be a carbon copy of week one.
Player to watch: Senior tight end/outside linebacker Chase Nelson. A difference maker on both sides of the ball at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. Once he catches the ball, he’s looking to initiate contact, and he can really get after the backs behind the line of scrimmage on defense.
Historical significance: This will be the first meeting between the two schools. Seaquam has yet to win a game against a Whatcom County school.
Moving up the record book: When senior Nevhye Egging returned that punt for a touchdown last week, it was just the sixth in school history. Unbelievably, Ben Peterson has half of them, with Egging, Gabe Elliott and Christian Foster with the other two. Can Egging do it again?
