We’re back for more football action! Below are previews for all four games this weekend, as well as our predictions and a podcast that gives our thoughts on all the games and who we picked as our fantasy players for week 12! Thank you to Randy Farmer of KPUG for being our guest picker, and thank you to Sehome senior Grady Evans for the podcast intro!
NOOKSACK VALLEY (9-2) AT CASHMERE (9-1)
Time: 1 PM Saturday
Site: Apple Bowl in Wenatchee
What to expect: The Pioneers are looking good, and will have no fear traveling over the mountains. Senior Colton Lentz should have a huge impact on both sides of the ball, and Nooksack Valley has been able to show many strengths in Lentz’s absence. Nooksack Valley has averaged 33.1 points per game, and has allowed 16.4 points allowed per game. Cashmere averages 48.3 points per game, and gives up 9.4 points per game.
Player to watch: Senior running back/inside linebacker Colton Lentz. Rested, angry and a chip on his shoulder. I wouldn’t want to face him right now.
Historical significance: The only other time these two teams played each other was two years ago in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. Nooksack Valley won 34-24 behind Lentz’s 177 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Lentz is 20 points behind Mario Gobbato for the second most points scored in Whatcom County football history.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (7-4) AT ROYAL (10-0)
Time: 2 PM Saturday
Site: Royal High School
What to expect: The Knights are a machine. They put up a running clock in last year’s state championship win, and they are a better team this year. The Lyncs will have to be completely error-free in this game. The only weakness with Royal is that it hasn’t had a close game yet, and if LC can keep it close, the Knights might tighten up a little bit and play differently. Lynden Christian has averaged 26.9 points per game, and has allowed 20.8 points allowed per game. Royal averages 63 points per game, and gives up 6.2 points per game.
Player to watch: Junior wide receiver/strong safety Boyce Robertson. It’s been a breakout season for him, becoming the first player in school history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He will need to have his biggest game yet in this one.
Historical significance: This is will be the fourth time that these two teams have met, with Royal holding a 2-1 advantage. The last time Royal lost a game at home was two years ago when the Lyncs beat them 21-14 behind Kade Eldrigde’s 146 rushing yards and Jeremiah Wright’s three rushing touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Junior quarterback Eli Maberry is just 20 passing yards behind Greg Dykstra for 6th place on the school’s career passing list.
ARCHBISHOP MURPHY (9-1) AT LYNDEN (10-1)
Time: 2 PM Saturday
Site: Ferndale High School
What to expect: The rematch that everyone has been waiting for. Was it a fluke that Lynden beat Archbishop Murphy 7-3 the first time? Did the weather play a factor? It was no fluke. The Lions knew how to handle the weather better than the Wildcats, and the score could have been 17-3 if some penalties hadn’t occurred early in the contest. I do expect Archbishop Murphy to play much better, but I also expect the same from the Lions. Lynden has averaged 36.9 points per game, and has allowed 15.5 points allowed per game. Archbishop Murphy averages 43.1 points per game, and gives up 13 points per game.
Player to watch: Senior quarterback Brant Heppner. His poise, leadership and arm talent have really been on point recently. Heppner understands what it takes to win in the playoffs, and he will do anything to get the job done.
Historical significance: These two teams played each other 12 times, with Lynden holding a 9-3 advantage. The last time the Wildcats beat the Lions was in the semifinals of the 2016 2A state tournament.
Moving up the record book: Senior tight end Isaiah Oudman is currently 5th in school history with 17 career touchdown receptions.
SEHOME (8-3) AT TUMWATER (11-0)
Time: 3 PM Saturday
Site: Tumwater District Stadium
What to expect: This will be an extremely tall task for the upstart Mariners. The Thunderbirds are machine-like, much like Archbishop Murphy, but with a few extra gears. Sehome has playmakers up and down the field, and those players will need to fight extremely hard to come out on top. Sehome has averaged 29.7 points per game, and has allowed 21.5 points allowed per game. Tumwater averages 53.4 points per game, and gives up 6.3 points per game.
Player to watch: Senior wide receiver/cornerback Andre Watson. Only nine players in Whatcom County history have had at least 90 catches for 1,515 yards and 23 touchdowns in their CAREER. Watson has done that this SEASON. Get him the ball, and watch him work.
Historical significance: These two teams have only played each other once before. The Thunderbirds beat the Mariners in the first round of the 2013 playoffs 52-22. Daniel Ziegler rushed for 83 yards, and threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Junior quarterback Nolan Wright is one touchdown pass away from becoming the seventh player in Whatcom County history to reach 70 career touchdown passes. The other six players ahead of him all played at either Lynden or Meridian.
