LYNNWOOD: Meadowdale did everything asked of it this fall: a 10-0 record, a Wesco 3A South championship and a 28-14 win over Evergreen of Vancouver in the 3A State Round of 32 on Nov. 6. Yet the WIAA Seeding Committee dealt the Mavericks the No. 15 seed for the Round of 16, and their reward is a Friday matchup with second-seeded Bellevue, one of the state's most decorated programs.

Senior linebacker and receiver Nolan Swanson was at home on Sunday when coach Antwoine Gamble texted the news to the team. 'We feel a little bit disrespected from the rankings, obviously,' Swanson said at practice on Wednesday. 'But we're just going to take it every day at a time.. we just can't back down. We got to keep going.'

Gamble was more pointed, calling the committee 'random people in a room' who 'dictate the fate of a community' and of 'young kids working hard to change their story and their legacy.' 'We're going to continue working hard and try to upset the random people in the room,' he said.

Undefeated teams usually earn more respect: last year the lowest-seeded unbeaten teams were No. 8 Sedro-Woolley and No. 9 White River, and none fell outside the top four in 2022 or 2023. But in 2024, 10-0 Mercer Island drew the No. 15 seed and was routed 50-7 by No. 2 O'Dea. Those Islanders had gone 0-10 in 2022 and 6-4 in 2023 under coach DJ Mims. Meadowdale's rise is similar: 3-7 two years ago, 7-3 last season, with Gamble in his third season, as Mims was then.

Bellevue fills the O'Dea role. The Wolverines won state titles in 2021 and 2023 and claimed 11 championships over the previous 25 seasons, but arrive hungry after losing the 2024 title game and falling in last year's semifinals. Gamble tells his players none of that will matter Friday. 'Last year's team and all the 20-plus years of success doesn't dictate what this year's team is going to be,' he said. 'Yes, they're very good, but (so) are we.'

The metrics give the committee cover. Meadowdale ranks sixth among 3A teams in RPI, where Bellevue sits first, but seedings also weigh league standings, state-qualifying games, key injuries, 'feedback from knowledgeable sources' and 'rankings in other mediums.' The Mavericks' opponents' winning percentage of 0.3922 is the second-lowest among remaining 3A teams, above only No. 16 Lincoln at 0.3858, and leading rusher Cayden Rivera tore his ACL three weeks ago.

Still, the Mavericks have overwhelmed nearly everyone on their schedule. Aside from a 21-20 overtime win over fellow Round of 32 qualifier Mountlake Terrace, every victory came by at least two possessions, with a 13-point Week 1 win over Mount Vernon the next-smallest margin. The three teams seeded directly ahead, No. 14 Kelso, No. 13 Ferndale and No. 12 Snohomish, each have two losses and posted similar margins against common opponents.

Meadowdale's confidence starts in the trenches, where the offensive line has steadied quarterback Zekiah Gamble and Rivera's replacements while the defensive front pressures opposing passers. 'Seeding can only take you so far,' senior lineman Jamier Perry said, recalling the coaching staff's early-season lesson 'not to be afraid of the name on someone's chest plate.'

The central task Friday is slowing Bellevue's vaunted Wing-T offense, which, paired with a shutdown defense, has produced three 40-plus point shutouts this season. 'We've ran against a lot of Wing-T's, but this one is pretty hard,' senior lineman Kanaloa Kamake'eaina said, describing a week heavy on mental reps to master the formations.

The Mavericks will be heavy underdogs Friday, a role they have embraced. 'For the past few years, Meadowdale hasn't been a big, winning program,' Swanson said, crediting last year's 7-3 finish with establishing a standard the team builds on each week. The win over Evergreen, Perry said, 'showed everyone that we're here and we're meant to be here.'