Albi doubleheader loaded

When Ferris and Pullman take part in an Albi Stadium state football doubleheader on Saturday, they’ll both face hyphenated foes.

The Saxons play third-year school Graham-Kapowsin in the opener for a spot in the State 4A semifinals. The Greyhounds follow a couple of hours later against Burlington-Edison. They’ll have their hands full.

Both opponents can move the football. G-K has put some 3,000 ground yards on the books and also can throw over the top when defenses pack in close.

Saxons coach Jim Sharkey said that the Eagles line is huge, that Marcel Smith has a cut-back style that almost always makes the first defender miss, and that the addition of Chris Ratteray at fullback has made them a viable title contender.

“They are very big and very physical,” Sharkey said. “We know what they are going to do – they love to play keep-away and grind the clock. It will be a matter of slowing them down to a point.”

Then it will be a matter of Ferris countering with its advantage of team speed and spread style.

“It will be interesting to see how it plays out,” said Sharkey.

Pullman coach Bill Peterson also knows that the Tigers will be tough to hold. B-E runs out of a three-back wishbone offense with its rushers divvying up the yards. But the team can also shift into spread looks for 6-foot-2, 220 pound QB Kolby Arendse, who on film, said Peterson, looked to be the best runner of all.

“For us, formation recognition is the main thing,” Peterson said. “And we’ve got to be able to tackle the big boy (Arendse). He doesn’t go down easy.”

Jared Byers, one of five Greyhounds who carry the ball, leads the offense (with 737 yards, 14 TDs) and defense (with more than 100 tackles). Cam Turtle has passed for 875 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 430 yards and six more scores.

“We’ve accomplished one goal, winning the league title and hosting the first round,” said Peterson. “Now it’s just game by game. But we want to have to practice during Thanksgiving break.”

•Lewis and Clark faces an enigma in Inglemoor on the road, coach Tom Yearout said. The Eagles lost to KingCo League teams with losing records, but played unbeaten Bothell to a near standoff.

“They have a toughness about them and have gained confidence as the season as gone on,” Yearout said.

LC must defend a team whose offense utilizes wing-T misdirection principles out of the shotgun formation. The Vikings line up in a 3-5-3 defense and blitz from everywhere, posing problems on that side of the ball as well.

“I think we have a good game plan,” said Yearout. “We’re getting better as this thing goes along.”