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 7! Thank you to Dane Siegfried for being our guest picker, and thank you to Lynden Christian sophomore Dawson Hintz for the podcast intro!
FRIDAY HARBOR (2-4) AT BLAINE (4-2)
Time: 6 PM Friday
Site: Blaine High School
What to expect: A break from the conference schedule, the Borderites will look to get back into the win column in this one. Expect the Borderites to move that ball extremely well in the run game, while maybe working on getting their pass game going a little bit. It’s been three weeks since Jaiden Paez has gotten into the end zone, so I would imagine he’s gonna make up for it in this one.
Player to watch: Senior running back/linebacker Colby Shipp. Well over 1,000 yards rushing in his career, and his toughness on the field always comes through, especially on defense when he’s flying around and making plays.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other seven times, and the Borderites are 7-0 against the Wolverines. In the first meeting in 1992, Blaine won 40-0 behind 131 yards rushing and two touchdowns, as well as two interceptions on the defensive side of the ball by Aaron Kortlever.
Moving up the record book: Paez recently passed Borderite legends Tony Bladies and Kaare Berg on the school’s all-time rushing list, and now sits 38 yards behind Oscar Caridad for 8th all-time.
SQUALICUM (3-3) AT PORT ANGELES (0-6)
Time: 6:30 PM Friday
Site: Port Angeles Civic Field
What to expect: The Storm are also taking a break from their conference schedule, and will enjoy a little boat ride as well. It’s been a rough season for the Roughriders, and Squalicum will be the best opponent they’ve seen to date. Port Angeles stays in the shotgun, but runs the ball a lot out of it. The Storm should take care of business here.
Player to watch: Junior quarterback Cole Burke. He has completed over 70% of his passes this season, something that no quarterback in Whatcom County history has ever done with as many pass attempts as Burke.
Historical significance: These two teams have never played each other.
Moving up the record book: Another 75 rushing yards and senior running back Marcus Nixon will surpass Spencer Lloyd and Luke Weber on the school’s all-time rushing list.
ARCHBISHOP MURPHY (6-0) AT LYNDEN (5-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Rollie DeKoster Field
What to expect: A lot of hard hits right at the line of scrimmage is what I expect. Although 5-1, the Lions have struggled at times to stop the run, and the Wildcats are one of the best running teams in the state. Lynden will have to get ahead early, and try and force Archbishop Murphy to put the ball in the air.
Player to watch: Lynden sophomore linebacker/kicker Malachi Koenen. Not only will he be asked to make a ton of tackles in the box while on defense, if it’s close at the end, he could be asked to win it with his boot.
Historical significance: In 11 matchups, Lynden is 8-3 against the Wildcats, including 3-1 in the playoffs. The Lions defeated Archbishop Murphy 17-16 in the 2011 state championship in one of the best games in Whatcom County history.
Moving up the record book: Senior tight end Isaiah Oudman is 115 receiving yards away from hitting the 1,000 yard plateau for his career.
SEHOME (4-2) AT BELLINGHAM (1-5)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: After a six-year absence, it’s back! For so many years, this was the big game that everyone looked forward to, but it’s been longer than six years since it’s been that big matchup that everyone would talk about. Sehome is favored here, but with most of the players on both teams having grown up together, it makes for a very interesting duel.
Matchup to watch: Bellingham senior wide receiver Bly Henderson against Sehome junior strong safety Hudson Neff. Henderson returned to offense last week, and shined. If he comes across the middle, Neff will be there waiting for him in a battle of two really tough players.
Historical significance: Well, it’s back, and it will be the 54th game between the two rival schools, with the first game being played in 1967. Sehome holds the slight edge with 28 wins, 25 losses, and there was also a 6-6 tie in 1969. In 2016, Bellingham won a shoot-out, 56-43, with Nick Knutson passing for 191 yards and five touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: When junior quarterback Nolan Wright throws his next touchdown pass, he will break the tie with Jacob Kaepernick for the most career touchdown passes in school history.
FERNDALE (3-3) AT LAKE STEVENS (4-2)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Lake Stevens High School
What to expect: The Golden Eagles are breaking away from their conference schedule this week, and they are taking on one of the best 4A teams in the state. The Vikings run their offense extremely well, and rarely make a mistake. Ferndale will have to play error-free football to stay in this one.
Player to watch: Senior wingback/cornerback Eli Kennerley. He’s been the big play machine offensively this season, with 247 yards rushing and 210 yards receiving. Of his nine catches, five of them have resulted in touchdowns.
Historical significance: Since 1969, these two teams have played each other 12 times, with Ferndale coming out on top in nine of those contests. The Golden Eagles beat the Vikings 12-0 in 1975 behind the 148 rushing yards of Pat Locker, and touchdowns from Dean Irwin and Myron Johnson.
Moving up the record book: When senior running back Talan Bungard scores his next touchdown, he will become the 16th player in school history to score at least 200 points in his career.
MOUNT BAKER (4-2) AT LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (3-3)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Lynden Christian High School
What to expect: This should be a close one, and the weather could end up playing a factor if the rain comes down hard. The Mountaineers will likely pound the ball as much as possible, and eat up the clock. The Lyncs like to sling it around, but they have shown some strong moments as of late in their running game as well. The ball will be slippery, and every missed opportunity will be crucial.
Matchup to watch: Mount Baker sophomore left tackle Kell Reardon against Lynden Christian senior defensive lineman Austin Engels. Engels returned from an offseason injury a few weeks ago, and has played great on the defensive line. It will be a tall task against the 6-foot-5 Reardon.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other 82 times, which started when Lynden Christian started playing football in 1964. And, it’s a straight draw, with each team winning 41 times. In the quarterfinals of the 1986 state playoffs, LC defeated Mount Baker 21-20 in overtime, despite Roger VanWeerdhuizen catching nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
Moving up the record book: Only four players in Lynden Christian history have had at least 30 catches in their career, and averaged over 20 yards per catch. They are Kalai Jandoc, Kevin Kooy, Cole Moorlag, and current junior Boyce Robertson.
MERIDIAN (5-1) AT NOOKSACK VALLEY (5-1)
Time: 7 PM Saturday
Site: Sid Lambert Field
What to expect: A great rivalry game that has been one-sided as of late. However, this group of Trojans has come ready to play each and every week, and a win here by either team will likely put that team into the “Round-of-32” in week 10. Both teams are extremely balanced, and play great defense. This one should come right down to the very end.
Matchup to watch: Meridian senior quarterback Jaeger Fyfe against Nooksack Valley senior cornerback Evan Bravo. For the Trojans to win, Fyfe has to come up big. And for him to do that, he will need to be aware of Bravo who is extremely dangerous on the corner.
Historical significance: These two rivals have played each other 82 times over the last 50 years. The Trojans have won 60 of those games, but the Pioneers have won the last three by an average margin of 44 points.
Moving up the record book: Nooksack Valley senior running back Colton Lentz is 53 yards away from becoming the 10th player in Whatcom County history to rush for over 4,000 yards in his career.
