Reardan Plans To Give Desales Some Sack Time

Prep football preview

Facing a passing attack that has produced almost 3,000 yards, Tony Adams can hardly wait.

“I’m ready,” Reardan High’s two-way lineman said. “I’m really excited. I think if we do the job right, we shouldn’t have to be nervous.”

Yes, facing DeSales quarterback Brian Lindgren and his stable of receivers can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also a defensive lineman’s dream.

All-out pass rush. Sacks.

“We have to get pressure on the quarterback and do everything right on offense,” Adams said. “No big mistakes. If we mess up, they’ll take advantage pretty good.”

Top-ranked DeSales (9-1) takes on No. 4 Reardan (9-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. at East Valley in the State B-11 football playoffs.

“You never see it, you never see anything like it,” Reardan coach Dan Graham said. “You just tell your kids to backpedal like hell and hope for the best. They’re good, they’ve got great receivers. We made that mistake last year (focusing on receiver Joe Levens), and the other kids took it too us. The thing with those kids is they catch the ball and get yardage afterward.”

Reardan lost to the Irish 50-37 and DeSales went on to lose to Willapa Valley in the championship game.

“We went down there last year and the officials got involved in game,” Graham said. “I don’t know if we could have beaten them, but we would have scared the crap out of them.”

Even if the Indians weren’t banged up, Graham said, “We’re in deep stuff anyway… . The bad thing is they play darn good defense, too.”

Whatever success the Indians have, Adams, 5-foot-9, 235 pounds, will play a big role.

“He’s the leader of the offensive line and the defensive leader, too,” Graham said. “He’s got good quick feet, uses good technique and he has good size… . He’s a great kid and he plays pretty darned good football, too. He could play at any level. We don’t have many of those.”

A three-year starter both ways, Adams has twice been voted to the Bi-County all-opponent team two ways and has been nominated to play in the all-state game.

“That was exciting. It’s a privilege,” he said.

Adams enjoys offense but prefers defense.

“I like the feeling you’re helping your back out by blocking for him,” he said. “On defense you get to go all out. You don’t have to worry about blocking, you just have to worry about getting to the ball.”

Adams would like to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish in the shot put at state before moving on.

A three-point student, he hopes to study law enforcement and play football at Walla Walla CC or Central Washington University.

4A playoffs

No. 6 Central Valley (10-1) vs. No. 10 Kamiakin (9-2) at Lampson Stadium, Kennewick, Saturday, 1 p.m.: It’s the third straight year these teams have met in the playoffs and the Braves are 2-0, upsetting CV’s league championship team two years ago at Albi. The Braves are conservative, relying on their defense to set up the offense. Their losses were to Richland and Pasco, teams that could set up the run with an effective passing game. CV’s strength is its running game but the Bears can pass effectively. Kamiakin beat Gonzaga Prep by keeping the Bullpups pinned deep in their own end and selling out to stop the run.

2A playoffs

No. 5 Pullman (9-1) vs. No. 2 Cascade-Leavenworth (10-0) at Apple Bowl, Wenatchee, Friday, 7 p.m.: The Kodiaks average 43.6 points a game with a balanced Wing-T attack and give up 12.3 a game. They are led by the 1-2 punch of Efren Escobedo, who has 991 yards on 107 carries coming off a 200-yard game against Toppenish, and Bill Burgess, who has 872 yards on 135 carries. They seldom pass but are effective with Brandon Klump hitting 30 of 55 for 737 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

No. 10 Medical Lake (9-1) vs. East Valley-Yakima (8-2) at Fiker Stadium, Prosser, Saturday, 1:30: The Red Devils were 1-8 last year but improved behind the running of Mike Rameriz, the No. 2 2A runner in the state with 1,404 yards and 21 TDs on 171 carries. Chewelah shut him down - nine yards on nine carries - only to have Kyle Lundgren, who threw for about 1,000 yards this season, torch them for 372 yards and five TDs. The Cardinals’ only loss was to Pullman, which throws the ball very well.

1A playoffs

No. 7 Cashmere (8-2) vs. No. 2 Colfax (9-0), Martin Stadium, Pullman, Saturday, 2 p.m.: In a battle of Bulldogs, Cashmere is led by a decent front line for a basketball team. Quarterback Jake Kerns is the standout. The 6-4 Kerns has completed 107 of 193 passes for 1,631 yards and 17 touchdowns. The top two receivers are both 6-5. Spencer Crossland has 30 catches for 345 yards and Matt Darrington has 21 for 306. Other receivers are Tyler Green, 24 catches for 310 yards and Aaron Sparks with 22 catches. Cashmere had nine fumbles and lost six against Columbia Burbank. Cashmere trailed 17-7 at the half after five turnovers but Crossman had two TD receptions in the second half.

B-11 playoffs

No. 5 Waitsburg (9-1) vs. Davenport (8-2), Riverside, Saturday, 1 p.m.: The Cardinals’ only loss was to DeSales. Jeremiah Johnson of the Gorillas, expected to be part of a 1-2 punch, has stepped up with the season-ending loss of Travis Telecky. Johnson has 1,202 yards and 18 TDs on 145 carries.

No. 1 DeSales (9-1) vs. No. 4 Reardan (9-1), East Valley, Saturday, 1 p.m.: Lindgren leads the state with 2,965 yards and 36 TDs on 185 of 280 passing with only eight interceptions. The Indians are banged up and need to keep Reece Jenkin and Pete Eastman on the field to have a chance.

B-8 playoffs

Lind (4-5) vs. No. 1 Rosalia (8-0), Colfax, Friday, 7:30: The last two times the Lind Bulldogs were in the playoffs, 1985 and ‘86, they lost first-round games to the Spartans. Lind is 0-3 in playoff games. Since going to 8-man, the Spartans are 7-6, having lost in the 1985 title game to Mansfield-Coulee-Hartline. They haven’t won a playoff game since 1987.

No. 5 Colton (6-3) vs. Hunters (6-2), Medical Lake, Friday, 7:30: The Wildcats and Nick Bates should be healthy. Bates missed one game and was limited in several others but has still rushed for 2,032 yards and 31 TDs on 137 carries. The Lions haven’t been in the playoffs since going 1-1 in 1993. Before that they were 10-3 in B-11, winning titles in 1987 and ‘88 and losing in the ‘89 title game.

, DataTimes