A closer look at the schedule

I filed the following report as part of the Lake Stevens Journal's Viking Football preview, which will hit mailboxes as newsstands (so to speak...) September 3.

2008 Lake Stevens Vikings Football Schedule

Friday, September 5
Lake Stevens at Mariner, 7 p.m.

Notes: Tough season/road opener at traditional area power Mariner

Friday, September 12
Lake Stevens at Glacier Peak, 7 p.m. at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium

Notes: Second game should amount to an easy win at Glacier Peak, Snohomish's new high school fielding its first varsity squad. (Not a single senior on the roster this season.)

Friday, September 19
Stanwood at Lake Stevens, 7 p.m.

Notes: First conference game of the season. Lake trounced Stanwood 41-14 last season.

Friday, September 26
Lake Stevens at Arlington, 7 p.m.

Notes: Conference road opener. The Vikes squeaked out an 18-14 victory last season.

Friday, October 3
Jackson at Lake Stevens, 7 p.m.

Notes: Non-league tilt features a visit from one of the best running backs in the state, Jackson's Taylor Cox.

Friday, October 10
Marysville-Pilchuck at Lake Stevens, 7 p.m.

Vikings will look to avenge last year's bitter 20-14 road loss.

Friday, October 17
Lake Stevens at Monroe, 7 p.m.

Notes: Lake won by 20 on the road last year, figures to be more of the same this season against traditional rival Monroe.

Friday, October 24
Oak Harbor at Lake Stevens, 7 p.m.

Notes: Circle this one. Lake was the only team to beat Oak Harbor during their 2006 State Championship season and the Vikes jumped out to an early 14 point lead last season before succumbing on the road 24-21.

Friday, October 31
Lake Stevens at Snohomish, 7 p.m.

Notes: Lake closes the Wesco schedule on the road at Snohomish. This game could well factor into determining the league champion.