Great accomplishments
The postseason football game had ended in victory, and East Valley coach Adam Fisher hung around on the football field entertaining family and well-wishers.
In his fifth year as Knights head coach, the man who looks scarcely older than his players was able to reflect upon what had been accomplished.
“This is what we wanted when we (the coaching staff) took over as a group,” said Fisher, “and it is a ‘we.’.”
That includes the East Valley administration that gave a 23-year-old his first head coaching chance, hired assistant coaches in-building and believed in what Fisher and his staff were trying to accomplish.
Three of them, offensive and defensive line coaches Cajun Smith and John Phelan and former Knight Kyle LeGrant have been with the Fisher from the outset. Two others remain with the freshman team.
Billy Newman, new this year, handles the wide receivers and defensive backs with LeGrant. Newman and Grady Emmerson, who moved last year from Gonzaga Prep, are the most recent additions. Newman and Emmerson are former defensive starters at Washington State.
Emmerson is defensive coordinator who coaches linebackers and running backs. Fisher’s added responsibilities are the quarterbacks and scout team. All but Newman are EV teachers.
“I was fortunate enough as a player to play in four playoff games and was in 10 more as an assistant,” said Fisher. “When I first got on board I told the players we didn’t take the job as a staff to be average. We had an understanding of how to get there and we were going to get there.”
It took some time for the Knights to adapt to the Greater Spokane League. Their first league win, when Fisher was an assistant, came against Gonzaga Prep in the 1999 season finale.
Each year as the players accepted the new system beginning in 2000, and its expectations, the Knights improved.
Fisher’s first three teams were a combined 8-15 in league games (the 2001 and 2002 squads each 4-5 overall). The last two seasons they went, 7-2 in league and 7-3 overall, and on Tuesday won the Knights won a playoff game.
Part of it was the combination of a senior and junior class of athletes who love to play. Part was the addition of WSU’s defensive scheme – terminology and all – making EV the best defenders in the GSL.
“We needed two safeties instead of one because teams in the league were doing more passing,” said Fisher.
On Tuesday Grant Bruscoe had two interceptions, one for a touchdown. Jye Lanphere and Chase Courchaine also had interceptions.
Those heroics will be needed in today’s playoff game, 1 p.m. at home against Clover Park. The Warriors have a WSU spread/West Coast offense behind Stanford-bound quarterback Tavita Pritchard.
His dad, David, the Clover Park associate head coach and his uncle, the Throwin’ Samoan Jack Thompson, a record-setting quarterback and former professional, are both former WSU Cougars.
The game is one more step for a program on the rise.
“Last year’s seniors had our first winning season,” said Fisher. “This year’s seniors said we can do better.”
Among those seniors are Bruscoe, fellow receiver George Hamilton, defenders Steve Anderson, Spencer Shaw, Jordan Jolley and kicker Ryan Orwick. Cody Irby, who played with a broken hand heavily wrapped in a soft cast, and fellow linemen Cody Smith, Ryan Gallagher and Kurtis Downing are part and parcel of this year’s success, along with a host of young talent that should keep the program on task.
“The kids bought in, worked because they wanted to get there, and the progress they’ve made has been in leaps and bounds,” said Fisher. “They want to keep playing.”