Week 10 playoff football preview: Heritage vs. Lake Stevens

When, where: 5 p.m. Saturday at Lake Stevens High School (Class 4A state preliminary round). Webcast: www.carlclick.com.

Last meeting: First meeting.

LAKE STEVENS (9-0)

Last week: beat Edmonds-Woodway 35-31.

Players to watch: QB Jake Nelson 131-185, 1870 yards passing, 19 TDs, 77-567 yards rushing, 14 TDs; RB Shae Giddens 99-627, 4 TDs; WR Christian Gasca 45-870, 11 TDs; Brady Pahukoa 38-513, 4 TDs.

Notes: The 10th-ranking Vikings run behind QB Nelson, who has passed for 19 TDs and run for 14 more. … Nelson threw for 135 of his 227 passing yards last week against Edmonds-Woodway in the second half as Lake Stevens rallied from 31-14 down to win. … Lake Stevens has scored 33 points or more in eight of their nine games this season. … Lake Stevens is seeking its first state-tournament berth since 2006.

HERITAGE (3-6)

Last week: beat Evergreen 34-12.

Players to watch: QB Joey Cooper 60-131, 833 yards, 7 TDs; RB Gage Boyce 65-263, 2 TD; E’Lon Mack 46-607, 6 TDs.

Notes: The Timberwolves won back-to-back games to clinch their fifth consecutive trip to the 4A state preliminary round. … In three of those seasons, Heritage qualified with a losing record. … Heritage is 0-5 in postseason games, losing by an average score of 42-15. … Sophomore Mack caught 6 passes for 144 yards (all in the first half) against Evergreen and scored 3 TDs, doubling his season total. … Five of Heritage’s six losses have come by 40 points or more (running clock in the second half).

Bottom line: The Timberwolves are brimming with confidence after back-to-back wins. Heritage must avoid turnovers to have any chance against Lake Stevens.

Columbian’s pick: Lake Stevens.

Fans’ pick: Lake Stevens (89 percent).