Lakes Football: Lancers Open Playoffs With Home Game against Nathan Hale

The Lakes Lancers football team will host the Nathan Hale Raiders of Seattle at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood. The elimination game is the preliminary round of the Class 3A state tournament.

The Lancers won the South Puget Sound League 3A championship with an undefeated record (9-0 overall, 5-0 league). They most recently beat Bonney Lake 62-14. They enter the playoffs with an average 47-point victory margin.

The Raiders (5-4 overall, 4-2 Metro League) finished third in the 3A Metro League.

Some state rankings have the Lancers ahead of the Bellevue Wolverines as the No. 1 team in the state.

The Lancers are led by a strong-arm quarterback and a corps of highly talented and fast athletes. Lakes senior QB David Wood has thrown for more than 1,500 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. But that's just a piece of how the Lancers have methodically attacked opponent's defense.

Cedric Dozier, Levonte Littlejohn, Mane Manaea, Charles Hall Jr., Marquin Russell, Sammie Long and others represent a group of fast and strong wide receivers and running backs.

And lets not forget about Lakes' 6-foot 8-inch 300 plus Zach Banner, a five-star recruit and one of the best left tackles in the country and 6-3 320 pound Zaheer Webb. Both play on the left side of the offensive line.

The Lancers' defense has been just as dominant as the offense. They've allowed an average of just 8.3 points per game.

The winner will play against either Mount View of Vancouver or Auburn Mountainview at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 or 12.