Ever since the start of this year, it was evident to the Wesco 4A conference that the Wesco title would either go to the Lake Stevens Vikings, who have won four straight titles, or the Monroe Bearcats, the team that the Vikings beat 42-7 in the last game of the 2016 regular season to win the title. If everything goes right this year, the result might just be the same as last year.

As Monroe stays undefeated in conference play with a 58-7 win against Mount Vernon, the Vikings went one step further: By staying undefeated in conference play with a 59-7 win against the Kamiak Knights to stay atop the Wesco standings with the Bearcats.

The game begins with a different twist for the Vikings.

With 8:05 left in the first quarter,instead of going for it in Kamiak territory, junior Brock Widmann hit his first field goal of the season, from 26 yards out, to take an early 3-0 lead.

The Vikings would conclude the first quarter with a 1-yard TD run from Tom Lewis, his eighth of the year, to take a 10-0 lead.

When the second quarter began, it became clear that Lake Stevens wasn’t going easy on them, as they immediately started it off with a 4-yard touchdown run by senior Austin Clavin to take a 17-0 lead 9 seconds into the quarter. After an interception by senior Anthony Hutchinson, his second in as many games, the Vikings marched down the field and scored on a 5-yard pass from senior Conor Bardue to junior Ian Hanson to increase the lead to 24-0 with 10:10 left in the half.

A punt by Kamiak allows the Vikings to score again, this time on a 2-yard run by senior Kayshawn Mounarath.

He’s playing in his first game since injuring his leg against Mariner and scored for the first time since his 4 touchdown performance in week 1 against Stanwood. It increases the lead to 31-0 with 4:43 left in the half.

The Vikings later scored on a 3-play, 84-yard drive that started with 0:51 left in the half. A 40-yard pass from Bardue to Hutchinson put them in Kamiak territory, and two plays later, Bardue throws a short pass to senior Austin Murren who, after a couple jukes, throws a 44-yard touchdown pass to conclude the first half with a 38-0 lead.

When the second half began, so did Kamiak as they ended the Vikings’ chances of a shutout with a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Merk to wide receiver Joseph Prikhodko. Trimming the lead to 38-7.

Lake Stevens quickly responded with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Bardue to Hutchinson to increase the margin back to 38 with a 45-7 lead with 5:43 left in the third quarter. It’s the first touchdown pass for the senior wideout since injuring his knee during the Viking Jamboree back in August.

The Vikings conclude the third quarter with Connor Bardue’s fourth touchdown pass of the night, a 15-yard pass to Mounarath, to end the third quarter with a 52-7 lead.

When a big lead like this comes around, it’s time to give the backups a crack at it under the friday night lights, and that’s what happened on the Vikings’ first drive in the fourth quarter. After a muffed punt by Kamiak, the Vikings start at Kamiaks’ 4 yard line, where freshman quarterback Tanner Jellison threw his first touchdown pass of his varsity career to fellow freshman Max Moenoa to make the game end with a 59-7 final score at Goddard Stadium in Everett.

Bardue finished the night completing 17 of 25 passes for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns. Through 7 games, he’s now completed 113 of 181 for 1,620 yards and has thrown for 22 touchdowns. Lewis and Mounarath worked together on the run game, combining for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns against Kamiak’s combined -9 yards rushing on 15 total carries.

For the second straight week, Hutchinson led the game in receiving, this time, with 7 catches for 124 yards, including his first receiving touchdown. Through two games, he’s has 16 catches for 357 yards and only 1 touchdown.

As usual, the defense shut down the opposing team’s offense, committing two sacks from seniors Jevon Morris and  Matt Sevao, his 14th sack this year. Kamiak quarterback Matt Merk also threw two interceptions, including one to sophomore Ty Hilton to seal the game for the Vikings.

Your 6-1 Vikings will keep their Wesco title hopes alive next week, when they play on Homecoming Night and Senior Night against the 4-3 Cascade Bruins, who are coming off a 39-22 loss against Jackson. The Vikings are currently tied for first place with Monroe in the Wesco conference with a 5-0 record.