Below are previews for all nine games this weekend. Because of technical difficulties, the podcast won’t be ready before the Thursday night game, please be patient, and it will come out as soon as we are able to get it produced. Thank you to Whatcom Preps intern A.J. Bennett for being our guest picker!
BELLINGHAM (2-7) AT BLAINE (6-3)
Time: 6 PM Thursday
Site: Blaine High School
What to expect: A really fun matchup between two teams that are actually quite familiar with each other. The Borderites are a strong running team, and the Bayhawks are pretty good at stopping the run. A win by Blaine would give them the most wins in a season since 2012.
Matchup to watch: Blaine senior center Zoe Ndateba against Bellingham junior nose tackle/middle linebacker Sonny Powell. I always love a good battle right in the middle of the field, and this should be a huge one. Especially with the Blaine run game being such a factor.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other 14 times, with Blaine winning the first nine in a row. Bellingham won the matchup last season 40-23, with Wyatt Stephan tying a Whatcom County record with five touchdown receptions in that game.
Moving up the record book: Last week, Bellingham senior Tyler Frost became the 17th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards over the last 50 years.
MERIDIAN (5-4) AT MARYSVILLE-GETCHELL (2-7)
Time: 6 PM Friday
Site: Quil Ceda Stadium
What to expect: The Trojans have slipped recently, and are looking for their for their first win in almost a month. It should come here against a Charger team that has struggled this season. Meridian has a great senior class that will want to end things in a positive way.
Player to watch: Senior running back/linebacker Kelley Gray. One of the smallest guys on the field that plays with the biggest heart. I love the passion that he brings to the gridiron, and I’m glad I get to see him play one more time.
Historical significance: This is the first time these two teams have played each other.
Moving up the record book: Senior quarterback Jaeger Fyfe is 186 yards away from becoming just the 12th player in Whatcom County history to get to 5,000 career passing yards.
SQUALICUM (5-4) AT KAMIAK (5-4)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Frank Goddard Stadium
What to expect: This could be a very good matchup. Two teams with a lot of speed, so be ready for that. The Storm likes to keep opposing edge rushers guessing with their play actions and fly sweeps, and they better because the Knights have a pair of D1 athletes on the edge.
Player to watch: Senior left tackle Wyatt Johnson. A bookend all season, that has protected the blind side of quarterback Cole Burke. Great size, and can dominate in the run game.
Historical significance: This is the first time these two teams have played each other.
Moving up the record book: Only six players in school history have scored more touchdowns than senior running back Marcus Nixon. If he scores three on Friday night, he will break into the top five.
NATHAN HALE (5-4) AT LYNDEN (8-1)
Time: 7 PM Friday
Site: Ferndale High School
What to expect: A little bit of a mismatch here, which can be expected in a round-of-32 game, and the Lions should show a balanced attack that will be incredibly hard to contend with. The Lynden defense keeps getting better, as many youthful, first-time starters have gotten the experience needed for this time of the season.
Player to watch: Junior defensive lineman Alvaro Mendoza-Batey. He came out of nowhere this season to become one of the most relentless pass rushers in Whatcom County. Expect him to cause havoc behind the line of scrimmage.
Historical significance: This is the first time these two teams have played each other.
Moving up the record book: Last week, senior quarterback Brant Heppner became the third quarterback in school history to pass for over 5,000 yards in his career.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN (6-3) AT LYNDEN CHRISTIAN (5-4)
Time: 2 PM Saturday
Site: Blaine High School
What to expect: The Knights are a decent team, but a long road trip against a tough opponent like the Lyncs could hurt them. I would expect Lynden Christian to take advantage of King’s Way Christian’s early in the game, after a long bus ride, and it’s always fun to watch a Greg Terpstra coached offense, you just never know what’s coming next.
Player to watch: Senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman Nico Brommer. A leader on the line for the Lyncs, and an underrated player that is getting his chance to shine this season.
Historical significance: This is the first time these two teams have played each other.
Moving up the record book: Junior wide receiver Boyce Robertson is just 31 yards away from breaking the school record for most receiving yards in a season.
MOUNT BAKER (5-4) AT ZILLAH (7-2)
Time: 2 PM Saturday
Site: Andy Collins Memorial Stadium
What to expect: The Mountaineers are loose, and playing great after Monday’s Kansas Tie Breaker. How will the Leopards defend an offense that they haven’t seen all year? Zillah usually has a lot of great athletes, and Mount Baker will have to play extremely well in the secondary to keep up with them.
Player to watch: Junior inside linebacker Kamden Moa. The leading tackler for the Mountaineers this season, he has a great knack for reading plays and reacting before most others. His sure tackling could go a long way in this big road game.
Historical significance: This the first time these two teams have played each other.
Moving up the record book: One more touchdown scored by senior running back Dylan Moa, and he will tie Jason Lee for the 14th most in school history.
CHIEF SEALTH (8-1) AT SEHOME (6-3)
Time: 4 PM Saturday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: It’s the biggest game for the Mariners over the last half-dozen years. A chance to get into the first round of the state playoffs, you know that Sehome will be eager to get this game underway. It is likely that the Mariners won’t be at full strength, but there are a lot of players in green and gold that are eager to show what they can do as well.
Player to watch: Sophomore offensive lineman/defensive lineman Logan Rogers. He has appeared on the scene this year, and has been noticed by all. great on both sides of the ball, and will only get better.
Historical significance: This is the first time these two teams have played each other.
Moving up the record book: The next time senior wide receiver Andre Watson catches a touchdown pass it will be the 41st in his career, which is more than anyone in Whatcom County history.
FERNDALE (5-4) AT FEDERAL WAY (7-2)
Time: 5 PM Friday
Site: Federal Way Memorial Stadium
What to expect: The Golden Eagles are playing better right now than they have all season, and even though the records don’t show it, I think that Ferndale is the stronger team here. The Eagles have a lot of team speed, which is always a homerun threat that is hard to contend with, but do they have the brute force to contend with the power run game of the Golden Eagles.
Player to watch: Senior wide receiver/cornerback Israel Kennerley. His speed and quickness will be depended upon to help match the speed of Federal Way. He has broken up 10 passes this year, a team-high.
Historical significance: This is the first time these two teams have played each other.
Moving up the record book: Last week, senior running back Talan Bungard became the seventh player in school history to break 3,000 career rushing yards.
LAKESIDE NINE MILE FALLS (3-5) AT NOOKSACK VALLEY (7-2)
Time: 7 PM Saturday
Site: Civic Stadium
What to expect: 11 months ago, the Eagles defeated the Pioneers for the right to play in the state championship game. In Nooksack Valley school history, the farthest the football team as ever been in the playoffs is the semifinals, which they have done the last two seasons. Many Pioneers remember last year’s game, and will be ready for Saturday night for some revenge.
Player to watch: Senior wide receiver/outside linebacker/punter Cole Bauman. A big play threat down the middle of the field, and at 6-foot-4, he’s a mismatch problem for smaller defensive backs and/or slower linebackers.
Historical significance: These two teams have played each other just once before, and it was the aforementioned semifinal game from last season. The Eagles won 24-23, although Colton Lentz ran for 136 yards.
Moving up the record book: Last week, senior wide receiver Cory Olney moved into fifth place in school history with 1,309 career receiving yards. He is currently 31 yards behind Kyle Veldman for fourth place.
