Strap on your thinking caps defensive coordinators, second-ranked Lakes has added a wrinkle to its high-octane offense.

Lakes unveiled its version of the Wildcat offense with fullback Jordan Rivera operating the trendy scheme to near perfection in the Lancers’ 55-0 throttling of Everett in the preliminary round of the postseason Saturday night at Harry E. Lang Stadium.

“We’ve been practicing that the whole season,” Lakes coach Dave Miller said. “We figured we’d save it for the playoffs.”

Lakes (10-0) will play host to North Thurston (7-3), a 17-14 winner at Seattle Prep on Saturday, in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs. The game will be played on Friday or Saturday.

Rivera ripped off a 29-yard run on his first snap in the Wildcat. Lakes employed it a few times in the first half, before using it exclusively on a drive in the third quarter.

On that possession, Rivera, who played quarterback as a freshman, showed poise as a passer, completing two throws to receiver John Goldwire for gains of 19 and 10 yards.

Rivera capped the drive with a bullish run around the left end for a 15-yard touchdown that gave Lakes a 49-0 lead.

“It seemed pretty effective,” running back Willis Wilson said. “Jordan can run and he can pass. As long as it moves the chains I think it’s working pretty good.”

The formation allows the Lancers to put Wilson and running back Teddy Cotton, who ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns, in the backfield with Rivera, while quarterback Cedric Dozier lined up at receiver.

Rivera rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and was 3-of-3 passing for 38 yards. Wilson led the Lancers with 109 rushing yards, bringing his season total to 1,254 yards.

Lakes ran over the Seagulls (5-6) in the first half. Wilson and Cotton combined to rush for 176 yards and five touchdowns before halftime, lifting the Lancers to a 35-0 lead. Lakes scored on all five of its first-half possessions.

“It was a dominating first-half performance,” Miller said. “We came out and played our best first-half all year.

While Lakes was running roughshod over Everett, on defense the Lancers held the Seagulls in check.

Everett totaled minus-4 yards of offense and no first downs.

“Those guys came out fired up,” Rivera said, “but we hit ’em in the mouth and they basically quit after that.”

Doug Pacey: 253-597-9271

doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/preps