We’re back for more football action! Below are previews for all seven games this weekend, and 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 5! Thank you to Laura “Miss Whatcom Preps” Slyman for being our guest picker, and thank you to Ferndale senior Jacob Gandy for the podcast intro!
SOUTH WHIDBEY (1-2) AT MERIDIAN (3-1)
Time: 7 PM Thursday
Site: Meridian High School
What to expect: The Trojans are back home, and they are rolling. A lot of players will get into this game, the last tune up before conference play begins next week. Meridian should put up a lot of points here, and it will have many different players reach the end zone. Also, you can expect some awesome burgers at the concession stand!
Player to watch: Sophomore wide receiver/cornerback Kasey Brennan. A threat to score every time he touches the ball, I have a feeling that Coach Ames will find a way to get him the ball early to set the tone with a long touchdown.
Historical significance: The teams have played each other eight times over the years, with Meridian winning all of them, including an 81-0 drubbing in 2000 where the Trojans ran just 44 plays and totaled 667 yards.
Moving up the record book: Senior quarterback Jaeger Fyfe is now 14th on the Whatcom County career passing yards list, and is currently 39 yards behind Josh Leonard.
STANWOOD (1-3) AT FERNDALE (2-2)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Ferndale High School
What to expect: The Golden Eagles found a way to win last week on the road in overtime, and they will try to keep that momentum going on Friday night at home. The running game is always there, but this year the passing game has been there as well. Ferndale has completed 16 passes this season, and six of them ended up as touchdowns.
Player to watch: Senior tight end/linebacker/kicker Lincoln Thomas. He’s wearing a lot of hats right now, and his value has really helped the Golden Eagles out this season. He’s in the middle of everything on defense, and it’s tough to break a tackle against him.
Historical significance: This will be the 32nd matchup between thee two teams since 1971. The Spartans were a longtime member of the old Northwest League, and the two teams played each other every season. But, there was a hiatus from 1994-2008. It has been 31 years since Stanwood has beat Ferndale.
Moving up the record book: It’s been fun tracking Talan Bungard move up the school’s all-time rushing list this season, and last week he passed Justin Iwasaki, Pat Locker, Brion Mattson and Lance Dawson.
SQUALICUM (3-1) AT ANACORTES (4-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Anacortes High School
What to expect: It’s going to be extremely hard for any team in the state to slow down the Seahawks, but you can bet that the Storm will come up with some interesting game plans. Squalicum will need the ball to bounce its way a few times, maybe a special teams or defensive score, both of which the Storm has the talent to accomplish.
Player to watch: Junior safety Zack Watt. Basically a coach on the field. His knowledge of the game transfers onto the field immediately with him getting his guys lined correctly. A great tackler as well, especially when covering kickoffs.
Historical significance: This is will be the 19th matchup between the two teams, and Anacortes has won 11 of them. The first time the Storm beat the Seahawks was in 2001, in a 14-7 victory where Gabe Elliott and Zak Ernst each ran for over 100 yards.
Moving up the record book: Senior wide receiver Joaquin Ortiz is just four catches away from tying Dedrick Mitchell for third in school history in career receptions.
GRANITE FALLS (3-1) AT BELLINGHAM (0-4)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: Yes, the Bayhawks are 0-4, but there were some good things to build on from last week. If they have some of their main players back, that could really help as well. The Tigers like to use the entire width of the field, so Bellingham will have to quickly fly to the ball to limit the Granite Falls first downs.
Player to watch: Sophomore quarterback Ben Leonard. The switch worked pretty well at halftime last week, and I would assume he’s going to get the start here. A full of week of practice with starter reps, and a new weapon on the outside, it could work out very well.
Historical significance: This will be the seventh matchup between these two teams, with Bellingham winning just two of them over the years. The Tigers have won the last three in a row.
Moving up the record book: When Joe Harward had 167 receiving yards last week, that was the 13th most in school history for a single game. And, he did it in one half with a continuous clock. Let’s see what he can do in a full game.
NOOKSACK VALLEY (3-1) AT MOUNT BAKER (4-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Bob Tisdale Field
What to expect: This will be an awesome game. Two teams and coaching staffs that know each other very well. The Mountaineer offense has 1632 yards and 23 touchdowns so far this season, both are tops in the county. The Pioneers will have to find a way to limit big plays.
Matchup to watch: Nooksack Valley senior running back/linebacker Colton Lentz against Mount Baker senior running back/linebacker Dylan Moa. These guys have been banging helmets with each other over the years, and this will be the final time (in regular season play). Both players should get the bulk of the carries, and they will be running right at each other.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other quite a bit over the years. A lot of years. A lot of games… 105 of them to be exact! The last four games have gone back and forth. The Pioneers won last year 49-19.
Moving up the record book: Moa has ran for over 100 yards in each of the first four games this season, and he is now 68 yards behind Justin Brown on the school’s career rushing list.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (2-2) AT BLAINE (4-0)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Blaine High School
What to expect: The air raid attack of the Lyncs against the power running game of the Borderites. It will all come down to how well each team will defend the other team’s offensive strength. This will be Blaine’s biggest test of the year, and the Lyncs have faced some giant teams that like to run the ball.
Matchup to watch: Lynden Christian junior wide receiver/strong safety Boyce Robertson against Blaine junior wide receiver/cornerback Kai Kerwin. I truly believe that this is what the game will come down to. Robertson has been the main target this season, and Kerwin has the ability to stay with him. It should be a great one.
Historical significance: Since 1973, the Lyncs have held a pretty sizeable edge in this matchup, winning 40 of 59 games. The Borderites haven’t beaten the Lyncs since 2013, which was a 20-19 final.
Moving up the record book: Only three times in school history has a Lynden Christian receiver caught at least 20 passes in a season, and averaged over 22 yards per catch. Nate Hielkema, Cole Moorlag, and now Boyce Robertson.
SEHOME (3-1) AT LYNDEN (3-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Rollie DeKoster Field
What to expect: There should be some awesome moments in this one, with a couple of top quarterbacks from Whatcom County, and a lot of dynamic playmakers. Although Lynden has been favored over the years in this matchup, and has come out on top, Sehome always gives the Lions a pretty good game.
Matchup to watch: Sehome senior wide receiver/cornerback Andre Watson against Lynden junior wide receiver/cornerback Dani Bowler. Both players have aspirations of playing football on Saturdays in the near future, so this will be a great test for both.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other 25 times, and Lynden is 23-2 in those games. The last time the Mariners beat the Lions was in 2001, in a 20-16 game.
Moving up the record book: Last year, Watson caught 15 passes against Lynden, which tied the Whatcom County record for a game. If he does it again, he will tie the Whatcom County record for receptions in a career, and the former player that he would tie would be standing on the opposite sideline, Blair Bomber.
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