Watch: Vikings Hammer Mariner 56-6
Highlights, stats and recap as Lake moves to 2-0 in Wesco play ahead of showdown with 4-0 Glacier Peak in Lake Stevens Friday
EVERETT — The Lake Stevens Vikings moved to 2-2 (2-0 Wesco) on the young season with a 56-6 win Friday at Mariner, setting up a Wesco showdown with undefeated Glacier Peak next Friday in Lake Stevens.
Lake has outscored its last two opponents 113-6 after a demanding opening couplet to the 2024 season that saw the two-time defending 4A champs lose in overtime at #2 Sumner 31-28 followed by a hard-fought 31-21 loss to 3A title-holders Bellevue at the home opener September 13.
In the scope of things, the losses at Sumner and versus Bellevue can be chalked up as a few battle scars that lead to inevitable toughening in the portion of the season that truly matters: the loser-out portion that begins week 10.
And in order to achieve favorable seeding for the playoffs, the Vikings need only continue their dozen plus years of unbeaten dominance over Wesco opponents – as winning league is the ticket to a high seed in the WIAA Playoffs.
With that in mind, Lake entered Week 4 on a mission.
Following the 57-0 smashing of previously unbeaten Cascade last week, it was a business trip to Mariner’s Goddard Stadium for Lake Friday, as the Viks scored early, often and with little wasted energy or time.
Lake’s Gatorade Player of the Year QB Kolton Matson found WR Cannon Kennard on an eight-yard swing pass for the initial touchdown, completing a seven play 52-yard drive. The touchdown catch was Kennard’s third on the young season.
7-0 Lake Stevens, early 1Q.
Lake’s defense impacted the scoreboard next as senior captain Keagan Howard scooped up a Mariner fumble and raced 33-yards for the score.
14-0 Lake, first quarter.
Mariner went backwards on their next possession, losing ten yards and preparing to punt in short order. In what would be a recurring theme, the Mariner punter came under heavy duress from the Lake rush, with Dylan Phinney nearly blocking the punt. The Mariner punter barely managed to side foot the ball out of the endzone, the punt covered a dozen yards and in the end Lake took over possession at the Mariner 20.
Six plays later, Matson hit sophomore wideout Seth Price for the touchdown, his third on the year.
The Viks followed witha 2 point conversion, with holder Treyten Pester peeling off and finding Ethan Boileau in the corner of the endzone. This is a play the Viks have been showing in recent games.
Lake Stevens 22 Mariner 0, early 2Q.
Another three and out followed by a short punt an it was Viking ball, midfield.
Matson found Jayshon Limar streaking down the left side for a 28-yard gain. On the next play, Matson hit senior TE Keagan Howard down the seam for a 22-yard touchdown – his second score of the game. XP good.
Lake Stevens 29, Mariner 0, 2Q.
Another three and out followed, and this time Lake’s rush got home, with Phinney blocking the Mariner punt. The Viks took over at the 17 and Jayshon Limar needed just one play to cover the 17 yards on the ground.
Lake Stevens 36, Mariner 0, end 2Q.
Viking HC Tom Tri relieved his starters at half, sending out sophomore Blake Moser at QB (Moser has a perfect 158 rating as a passer in limited action) and debuting sophomore transfer Jayvian Ferrell at running back.
Ferrell posted a 4.60 40 in Sping workouts and it showed as the young back took off up the middle on his initial carry of the season, covering 32 yards in the blink of an eye.
Two plays later and Ferrell was in for the score. Lake 43, Mariner 0 3Q.
From here, Ferrell would score again, Moser would attempt only one pass (a completion to emerging freshman receiver Max Cook) and sophomore back Colten Fink would come on to score for the second straight week in second half action.
All in all, Lake was well on its way to posting a second straight shutout, if not for a bobbled punt very late in the fourth quarter, which gifted Mariner possession inside the Viking redzone. Mariner managed to punch it in as time wound down. Lake Stevens 56, Mariner 6 – Final.
Stats, Box Score and Analysis
Very little effort was required on offense
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