Today’s state football playoff games
Woodinville (9-2) vs. Mead (11-0) at Albi Stadium, 1 p.m.
Radio: 1050-AM Woodinville: The Falcons defense has been stout all year except in back-to-back losses to Eastlake and top-ranked Skyline. Those games were the only ones in which the Falcons yielded more than 20 points. Defensive back Sam Pugmire (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) and outside linebacker Casey Hancock (6-0, 194), both seniors, lead in tackles with 69.5 and 61.5, respectively. Woodinville spreads the field, with Jordan Greek running the misdirection option attack. Senior Dan Ninomiya (6-1, 170) leads the Falcons in rushing with 788 yards on 152 carries, while junior Brent Sorensen (5-9, 165) has added 544 yards on 96 attempts. But it’s the senior quarterback, Greek (5-10, 159), who is the offense’s focal point – and he does it mainly with his feet. Greek has rushed 123 times for 579 yards, finding the end zone 12 times. When he does pass, and he’s only thrown 132 times, he hasn’t been successful, completing 45 percent of his throws (for 814 yards) and throwing more interceptions than touchdowns (8 to 7). The top receiver is senior Drew Maloney (6-3, 198), who has 30 catches, eight of which have been for scores.
Mead: The Panthers counter with an offense that is averaging 361 yards per game, nearly evenly balanced between rushing (206) and passing (155). But it’s been the passing arm of Andrew DeFelice that’s been featured in the Panthers’ two postseason games, as the senior (6-1, 175) has thrown for 366 yards and five touchdowns in two games. Mead has used four running backs in those games, with junior Luke Hattrup (5-10, 160) leading the way with 156 yards (and 660 for the year).
The Panthers defense, which has yielded just 27 points and 398 rushing yards in its last four games, contained the high-powered Southridge offense (36.9 points per game coming in) in a 25-19 overtime win last Saturday. After facing one of the best passers in the state in the Suns’ 6-6 Jason Munns, now they will have to stop one of the West Side’s premier running quarterbacks.
Orting (11-0) vs. Pullman (11-0) at Martin Stadium (WSU), 1 p.m.
Pullman has been able to run with FB Mike Thomas (1,150 yards, 14 touchdowns) and RB J.C. Sherritt (873 yards, 18 touchdowns). The second-ranked Greyhounds can throw with QB J.T. Levenseller (1,332 yards, 21 touchdowns). Whether they can do it against the Cardinals’ defense, which allowed 71 points this season, remains to be seen. Pullman also hasn’t seen an athlete like fifth-ranked Orting’s Oregon State-bound TE Joe Halahuni (6-3, 230), who can run the ball, catch the ball, and may run back kicks. The Cardinals have big, fast athletes all over the field in their spread offense, and if the Greyhounds’ front seven can’t pressure Orting QB Justin Hill, their defensive backs may be in trouble.
Davenport (10-0) vs. Willapa Valley (10-1) at Lacey, 1 p.m.
The second-ranked Gorillas have only allowed seven points since Oct. 7 as they look to make their third semifinal appearance in six years. To do it, they’ll control the ball with RB Luke Rodenbough (176 yards and two TDs in a first-round win over Waterville) and FB Cory Christman (107 yards, TD against Waterville). No team in the NEB-11 has a pair of receivers like No. 7 Valley’s athletic combo of 6-4 Ryan Freeman and 6-5 Lance Anderson (67 combined receptions).
Lind-Ritzville (7-3) vs. Orcas Island (8-4) at Mt. Vernon, 4:15 p.m.
No. 9 L-R got 100 yards from a pair of backs in a first-round win over La Salle, as Justin Whitney (117 yards, one TD) and Nick Ashley (100 yards, two TDs) led the offense. Orcas upset third-ranked Wahkiakum last weekend with a 15-point fourth-quarter rally culminating in a halfback pass for the game-winning touchdown, setting up a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal, won 34-14 by L-R behind 291 rushing yards from Ashley.