State football preview: Healthier Zillah ready for another test against top 1A competition

Zillah has seen the best the state has to offer.

In the remade SCAC the Leopards have clashed with four-time reigning state champion Royal and fourth-seeded Cashmere and struggled against both. But a healthier Zillah football team is relishing the chance for another crack at 1A's upper crust.

The No. 12 Leopards (8-2) will get that opportunity when they face No. 5 Nooksack Valley (8-2) at Bellingham's Civic Stadium on Saturday.

"They're pretty dang good," coach Ryan Watson said. "We have to play our best football, but we shouldn't be intimidated by those guys."

There's plenty of reasons to be optimistic, especially with a healthy Alex Martinez. The first-team All-SCAC pick at running back and linebacker was held out of the Cashmere game while nursing an injury — precisely so he will be healthy in November.

Despite missing two games, Martinez has rushed for 1,347 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught four scores from senior quarterback Jayden Salme. He led the SCAC in passing with 2,095 yards, but Watson has been most impressed with his growth as a defensive back as a replacement for injured two-way starter Atziri Sanchez.

Basketball star Dekker Van De Graaf has flourished in his first year on the football field, helping fill the void left by Sanchez at wide receiver. The state champion hooper has a team-high five touchdown catches.

SCAC lineman of the year Aiden Ford will have to overcome Eastern Washington commit Brady Ackerman, who at offensive tackle opens holes for Montana-bound Colton Lentz.

Nooksack's only losses have come to 2A No. 1 Tumwater and 1A No. 6 Montesano. The 1A Northwest Conference champs, the Pioneers beat league rival Mount Baker 34-20 in early October. Zillah knocked off the Mountaineers 48-28 in the Round of 24 to earn the program's ninth state bid in 10 seasons after missing the playoffs last year.