Prep rewind: Mead helped itself and CV by defeating U-Hi
Central Valley football coach Rick Giampietri was so focused on preparing to play Ferris last Thursday that he didn’t give any thought to the significance of a victory – other than at least his team would be playing for a postseason berth this week.
Giampietri was genuinely surprised and relieved to learn the Bears had sewed up a berth by beating Ferris.
By helping themselves, the Mead Panthers also assisted CV when they held on to knock off U-Hi 35-27 Friday.
That gave CV the second 4A berth and a home play-in game.
The third berth will be decided Friday when Mead takes on Lewis and Clark in the first game of an Albi doubleheader. Kickoff is at 5.
Mead coach Benji Sonnichsen said early in the season he thought his team could challenge for a postseason berth. The Panthers had to cram and study on the run to learn Sonnichsen’s system this summer, considering how late he got the job.
What the Panthers have accomplished has been impressive. Now they’re a win away from playing at least one more meaningful game.
LC was picked to finish third. But it took a step back in the middle of the season when quarterback Jordan Summers suffered a high ankle sprain. He returned in time to help the Tigers to a critical win over U-Hi two weeks ago, keeping their postseason hopes alive.
The Tigers’ strength has been defensive coordinator Tom Yearout’s defense. The Tigers will have all they can handle against Mead’s aerial attack.
The 4A play-in matchups with the Mid-Columbia Conference are set. The LC/Mead winner travels to MCC No. 1 seed Richland, which fell 13-10 to Gonzaga Prep in a season opener. MCC No. 3 visits G-Prep, and CV entertains MCC No. 2 and defending state champ Chiawana.
Mt. Spokane captured the 3A title Friday and will play host to either Hanford or Kennewick.
If Rogers beats NC on Friday, the Pirates will travel to Kamiakin. If NC wins, there would be a three-way tie between Rogers, NC and Shadle Park, necessitating a tiebreaker.
Zany GNL
Two weeks ago, visiting East Valley knocked off Clarkston 30-22.
Then Clarkston traveled to Cheney and handed the Blackhawks their first loss Friday.
When it comes to the GNL, expect the unexpected.
Cheney, Clarkston and West Valley are tied atop the GNL at 2-1 with a week left. EV has completed league play at 2-2.
Here’s the problem with the logjam – just two teams advance to the postseason. WV travels to Clarkston and Cheney goes to Pullman on Friday.
The WV-Clarkston winner earns a berth, and if Cheney wins it advances.
EV still has a hope if it lands in a three-way tie for second. But the tie must include Clarkston because EV lost to Cheney and WV.
Cheney defeated WV and Clarkston defeated WV. So the only way WV advances is by beating Clarkston.
NEA showdown
The league title will be decided Friday when unbeatens Lakeside and Colville face off in Nine Mile Falls.
It’ll be Lakeside’s high-flying offense against Colville’s stonewall-like defense. It should be entertaining.