2017 football: Five best GSL, IEL QBs of all-time

Thu., Aug. 31, 2017

By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com (509) 459-5585

Debate on The S-R’s five best QBs series

The Spokesman-Review

High schools proved the most challenging. We enlisted former Spokesman-Review high school writers Dave Trimmer and Mike Vlahovich as well as current staffers Greg Lee and Chris Derrick. In addition, prep historians Mike Schock and Bill Pierce also weighed in. (Note: We limited our selection area to include only Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.)

In the end, our picks combined a number of factors: Statistics, team success and nostalgia – and obviously, the final choices are quite subjective (and for entertainment purposes only). We hope you’ll enjoy.

– Ralph Walter, Sports editor

1) Mark Rypien

Shadle Park (1978-80)

330-646 (51.1 pct.) 4,965 yds, 43 TD (* league games only): All-State in football, basketball and baseball, he led the Highlanders to two Greater Spokane League football titles and earned Parade Magazine All-American honors. Finished prep career with 6,460 passing yards and 56 touchdowns. Was All-Pac-10 at Washington State and earned two Super Bowl rings, including his MVP performance in Super Bowl XXVI.

2) Brett Rypien

Shadle Park (2011-14)

1,006-1,576 (63.8 pct.), 13,044Y, 128TD: Mark Rypien’s nephew, he put up staggering numbers at the helm of the Highlanders. Finished with 13,044 yards, eclipsing the state record held by Max Browne, who went on to USC and is now at Pitt. Rypien also broke Browne’s record for completions with 1,006. Shadle Park reached the state semifinas in Rypien’s junior year and quarterfinals in his senior season.

3) Bill Etter

Lewis and Clark (1965-67)

235-251 (53.8 pct.), 2,181Y, 33TD: Earned All-American honors while leading the 1967 Tigers to a city championship and the top spot in state poll. LC had one of the most dominating seasons ever by a Spokane school, outscoring opponents 326-48. Etter passed for 1,256 yards and ran for 720 as a senior. He went on to play at Notre Dame, joined by Tigers teammate Bob Minnix, and in the CFL

4) William ‘Bud’ Roffler

Lewis and Clark (1945-47)

44-97 (45.3 pct.), 706Y, 13TD: Roffler, a remarkable multi-sport athlete, guided the Tigers to city titles as a junior and senior. The dual-threat QB led the league in rushing both seasons and finished his career with 1,334 on the ground. Roffler played football, basketball and baseball at WSU before playing defensive back for Philadelphia in the NFL.

5) Chad Chalich

Coeur d’Alene (2009-11)

451-673 (67.0 pct.) 6,485Y, 74TD: Directed the Vikings to back-to-back state titles, capped by a 12-0 mark in 2011. Passed for 3,641 yards and 42 TDs as a senior. Chalich broke a bone in his foot in the 2011 state semifinals but stayed in the game. A week later he had the cast removed, passed for 410 yards to lead the Vikings past Eagle 49-28 in the title game. He played two seasons at Idaho and two at Montana.

Honorable mention

Connor Halliday, Ferris (2008-09); Ron Hawkins, Gonzaga Prep (1985-86); Ryne Sandberg, North Central (1975-77); Denny Spurlock, North Central (1955-57); Mike Pfeifer, Ferris (1985-87); Colson Yankoff, Coeur d’Alene (2015-17); Joel Clark, Mt. Spokane (2000-02); John Friesz, Coeur d’Alene (1983-84); Jim Dorr, Rogers (1977); Scott Wellman, Coeur d’Alene (1981-83); Terry Campbell, Rogers (1947-50); Rick Sloan, Central Valley (1979-80); Duane Halliday, Coeur d’Alene (1984-85).

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