Quick hits

GNL mirror images

Little separates undefeated Clarkston and Pullman against common Great Northern League football foes.

The teams, although stylistically diverse, are more alike than different strategically, which bodes for a great game when the two butt heads Friday for the league championship.

“They’re a lot like us,” said Greyhounds coach Bill Peterson. “We both run the football first and pass second.”

Pullman has won with what Peterson calls “really sort of a ‘Five Horsemen’ kind of thing.”

Among them, backs Lance Keithley, Jared Byers, Cody Weber, Trevor Peterson and quarterback Cam Turtle have piled up 1,400 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. Keithley (449 yards and seven TDs) and Byers (360 and nine) lead the way.

Clarkston has two major horses and a complementary crew.

Quarterback Isaac Woodbury has thrown for 16 touchdowns and gained more than 200 yards per game through the air in some games.

He was exceptional as a freshman in the Greater Spokane League, and is in full form after a knee injury set him back the following year. Last year he had 13 TD passes.

The Bantams’ two-back attack is led by Brian O’Kelley, who also stood out last year. He has 11 touchdowns rushing and four more receiving.

“They are big and physical up front,” said Peterson. “It’s a major challenge. It will be a game of who can hang onto the football and whose special teams can be special.”

Football this week

GNL games Friday featuring Cheney at Colville, and West Valley at Deer Park have playoff implications. Northeast A League play concludes tonight, including Freeman at Colfax, to determine postseason seeding. Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) clinched the league title last week.

Around we go

Even a double-round robin schedule couldn’t sort out first place in Great Northern League volleyball. West Valley, Pullman and Colville all split with each other during the year to create a deadlock that, barring upset in their season finales tonight, will need to be resolved prior to district playoffs.