GSL teams expect passing interest

If history is an indicator and the weather cooperates, the football could be flying in two State 4A football games at Albi Stadium this weekend.

Both Ferris, which faces a rematch tonight against league foe Mead, and Woodinville, Lewis and Clark’s opponent on Saturday afternoon, employ versions of a spread offense.

Mead may have a more conventional offensive look, but the Panthers have been just as prolific through the air this year.

So what to expect of tonight’s game that pits the Greater Spokane League’s premier quarterbacks against each other? Can the Panthers avenge their league loss or will the potentially explosive Saxons put high-scoring game together?

“It will be very tough against a quality team like the Panthers,” said Saxons coach Jim Sharkey. “They’ve won five loser-out games, basically.”

Mead lost in the second week of the season and survived a double-overtime win in week five. After losing to the Saxons in week six, the Panthers needed to run the table – including a Kansas tiebreaker with Central Valley – to get a second chance against Ferris.

“We get another shot, for sure,” said Mead coach Sean Carty. “I didn’t know that would be the case. I thought Ferris was on the other side of the bracket.”

That changed with Mead’s 21-7 win at Columbia Basin League Wenatchee that put the GSL teams on the same side of the bracket, in which a team stays home as long as it wins.

When they first met, a blocked fourth-quarter punt for a touchdown turned the game in Ferris’ favor. A long touchdown run followed after the Panthers threw an interception trying to play catch-up.

“Without those two plays it’s a whole different ballgame,” said Carty. “We’ll see if we can manage our mistakes.”

As for LC’s foe Woodinville, Tigers coach Tom Yearout calls the Falcons a hybrid of the Ferris and Mt. Spokane spread attacks.

“Their quarterback is real solid and their running back is good as well. It’s a good team in a good league,” said Yearout of Woodinville, two years removed from a state title. “If our league wasn’t the best in state this year, then the KingCo probably was.”

The Tigers must keep the pressure on with their quick and aggressive defensive line, yet prevent the big play and manage the clock with its time-consuming offensive style.

The State 4A bracket is the staple of four leagues. The WesCo, north of Seattle and including defending champion Oak Harbor, has five teams still playing. The KingCo has four, and the Narrows (Tacoma area) and GSL have three teams each.

Having that many is a first for Spokane, and all three are playing at home in round one.

“A lot of people are awfully excited for our league,” said Yearout. “There’s a different energy since we won all three (preliminary games).”