I won’t play up the fact that I have a two-game lead going into the playoffs.
I’m not that kind of guy. But in case you haven’t heard I have a two-game lead going into the playoffs.
It’s taken me 60 games to pick 41 correct. Not the percentage I want but it’s better than the other guy.
So we dive headlong into the playoffs this week with some interesting matchups. Not the least of which pits Mt. Spokane and Shadle Park in a rematch at Joe Albi Stadium on Friday.
So here we go.
Last week: Adams 3-3 (39-21 overall), Lee 4-2 (41-19)
DeSales at Lind-Ritzville Sprague
(Friday, 7)
Lee: LRS 26-13. Yes we know that LRS won the State 2B title last year. But what a lot of people don’t know is the Broncos did so with a patchwork offensive line. This year the Broncos are healthy, and we’ll see how much that makes a difference. DeSales is a perennial playoff qualifier, but the Irish lack the weapons to keep pace with the Broncos.
Adams: LRS 42-24. The Broncos won’t be busted out of the 2B playoffs. Not this week anyway.
River View vs. Freeman
(Saturday, Gonzaga Prep, 1 p.m.)
Lee: Freeman 34-14. Perhaps the Scotties will finally get a test, but don’t hold your breath. Freeman shouldn’t have any problem advancing to the quarterfinals behind running back tandem Max Laib and Marcus Goldbach, who have combined for 2,059 yards and quarterback Preston Hoppman, who has throw from 1,042.
Adams: Freeman 37-28. This will be Freeman’s biggest test to date. I’ve been on the Scottie bandwagon from the start so I’m not jumping off anytime soon.
Riverside at Royal
(Friday, 7 p.m.)
Lee: Royal 25-18. Royal has been a 1A state power. Riverside is making its first playoff appearance in 11 years. In just two seasons Rams coach Tom Griggs has gotten things going in Chattaroy. But this will be a difficult road game under circumstances the Rams haven’t faced.
Adams: Riverside 24-17. Color me impressed. Riverside has rolled off five straight wins, and I think they’ll avoid the Royal Treatment in the postseason.
Othello at East Valley
(Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Lee: EV 27-13. Othello won a 3-way tiebreaker Monday in a league that wasn’t as strong as recent years. Unbeaten Ellensburg, which plays host to Colville, breezed through the CWAC. I see the Knights’ offensive weapons flourishing and their defense making lots of stop against a freshman quarterback.
Adams: Othelllo 41-29. The Knights needed a fierce 19-point rally in the fourth quarter to put away Deer Park last week. They can ill afford a similar slow start Saturday.
Capital (Boise) at Coeur d’Alene
(Friday, 7 p.m.)
Lee: CdA 30-27. Two weeks ago, the Vikings rallied around sophomore quarterback Austin Lee when he stepped in for Gunnar Amos, who was out with a concussion. Lee must do it again after Amos suffered a season-ending broken ankle. The Viks will put Lee in a position to make plays but not have to win the game. CdA has plenty of other weapons to carry the load. And the Viks’ defense should be on task against an explosive Capital offense.
Adams: CdA 35-28. The Viking offense literally runs through the arm and legs of their quarterback. Losing Amos in their playoff opener could be devastating, but CdA can still pull a couple more wins out with Lee running the offense.
Mt. Spokane vs. Shadle Park
(Friday, Albi, 6 p.m.)
Lee: Shadle 42-21. We remember what happened the first time these teams played. Mt. Spokane employed what I call a cover-none defense. Actually the Wildcats tried to put pressure on Shadle quarterback Brett Rypien and exposed their secondary. Rypien responded by throwing for a record 616 yards. That won’t happen again. Both teams have improved defensively, but Mt. Spokane, while playing well since the loss to Shadle, hasn’t improved enough to beat the Highlanders.
Adams: Shadle 52-45. The Wildcats have scored 34 or more points in each of their last four games following back-to-back losses to Ferris and Shadle. But Mt. Spokane may need 50 plus points to hang in there with the Highlanders.
