Nine Local Football Teams Qualify for State Play-in Games

State Play-In Round Claims Nine Local Football Teams in Week 10

Across Skagit and Whatcom counties, a total of nine local teams secured berths in the Week 10 3A, 2A, and 1A play-in matchups to vie for a spot in the official state tournament beginning in Week 11. Six teams from Whatcom and three from Skagit qualified, as teams fight for the 88 total slots available across the three tournaments combined.

Ferndale powered into the 3A State Round of 32 with a 48-13 win over Oak Harbor, fueled by a combined 436 rushing yards from seniors Elliot Lenssen and Wyatt Broyles. Lenssen piled up 275 yards and five touchdowns, while Broyles added 161 yards on 17 carries. Junior Chance Hatchett also chipped in with a 1-yard rushing touchdown out of a special package led by offensive coordinator Jake Locker. Ferndale coach Jamie Plenkovich noted that Hatchett came through when called upon, taking advantage of an imposing line while Oak Harbor focused heavily on Lenssen and Broyles. The Golden Eagles (7-2) now host Liberty from Renton in a loser-out game Friday at 7 p.m.

Mount Baker Secures Second Seed Over Meridian

In the 1A division, Mount Baker (7-2, 3-1) locked down the second seed from NWC 1A with a 35-20 victory over fellow qualifier Meridian (5-4, 2-2). Andrew Monteith paced the Mountaineers with 87 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Baker coach Ron Lepper pointed to a crucial defensive stand at the goal line where his squad stuffed four plays at the 1-yard line. Meridian quarterback Trey Alexander scored twice on the ground and completed 11 of 18 passes for 116 yards before sitting out the second half, bringing his season total to 2,304 yards. Pierce Brzozowski stepped in at quarterback for the Trojans, throwing for 194 yards and a 32-yard touchdown to Trevyn Crabtree.

Lynden Christian (7-2, 4-0) fended off a fierce upset bid by Blaine to claim a 42-28 win. The Borderites pulled even at 28-28 after three quarters behind standout performances from Connor Brown and Isaac Bouma, but the Lyncs sealed the game in the final period on an 18-yard pass to Jackson Yun and a 14-yard touchdown run by Jackson Kuik. Kuik filled in for injured rushing star Chris Kooiman to rack up 122 yards on 16 carries. Blaine’s opening score came via sophomore Saihou Kanagie, who ran 95 yards back on the opening kickoff—marking the first time a Blaine player opened a game with a touchdown since Brad Scheib accomplished the feat against Granite Falls in 1997.

Squalicum and Burlington-Edison Roll to Postseason Berths

Squalicum punched its ticket to the Round of 32, routing Bellingham 56-7 after jumping out to a 35-point lead in the first quarter. Maddox Strickland opened the contest with a 97-yard kickoff return, and Ray Hoffmann later returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown. Under head coach Nick Lucey since 2014, Squalicum recorded its 24th interception return for a touchdown during his tenure, leading all county programs in that category over the span.

Over in Burlington, the Tigers cruised past Sehome 43-13. Sehome sophomore Cash Barnes racked up 162 yards on 32 carries, including a 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter. Burlington-Edison answered with plays from Ben Daniels, Jake VanPelt, and a game-ending interception return by Bennet Watson. Sedro-Woolley also advanced decisively in the 3A ranks, defeating Edmonds-Woodway 50-14 as Kolyn Rochester fired four touchdown passes and ran for two more in his first season at quarterback.

In other action, Archbishop Murphy defeated Lynden 35-14, Nooksack Valley beat Marysville-Pilchuck 21-7, and Mount Vernon notched its first win of the season by edging Highline 14-7. Meanwhile, Lummi Nation fell 38-36 to Northwest Christian in Tenino, eliminating them from the state tournament.