Mike Vlahovich

Three years ago Pat Pfeifer was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, the gland that secretes insulin to regulate body sugar levels. Symptoms are like Type 1 or insulin-dependent (once called juvenile) diabetes .

The message at the other end of the line announces: “This is Mike Morgan, athletic director, band director and head football coach here at Colfax. Sorry I can’t get to the phone …” Football and band coach? Morgan said the music in the band room is so loud, at times he can’t feel his cell phone vibrate.

The opponents of three Spokane-area teams headed to Gridiron Classic on Saturday in the Tacoma Dome have brilliant football pedigrees. Ferris foe Skyline is in its eighth state tournament since 2000 and fifth title game in the past six years. The Spartans are two-time defending champions (3A in 2007, 4A last year) and have four state titles and a second place overall.

West Valley punched the state’s top-ranked team in the mouth, weathered a few blows, but finished strong to become a state football finalist for the fourth time. The unbeaten Eagles built a 17-0 first-half lead and held on for a 24-17 triumph that dealt visiting and mistake-prone Ellensburg its only loss of the season.

The Sky’s the limit. Defending champion Skyline has returned to the 4A state football semifinals. Unlike last year, however, the Spartans won’t be Ferris’ opponent in Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at Joe Albi Stadium.

Defense has been a source of pride and the primary reason for West Valley’s football success this year, with Sam Schoesler in the middle of it. The Eagles’ third-year starting middle linebacker has recorded 100 tackles or more each season on a team that is 11-0 and in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 1987.

Three years ago, Robyn Smith was the rookie head coach and Chelsea Breen, Tanya Baker, Kellie Zakrzewski, Nicole Fox and Jessica Ziemann were varsity freshmen when Cheney girls soccer last made the State 2A semifinals, finishing third. “That was a good team,” Smith said. “But I think it was we were just happy to be there. It was a bonus we got to the semifinals.”

If there were a piece needed to complete Cusick’s football puzzle, it was at running back. The Panthers found it.

Ferris football players have taken to the road twice with positive results. The Saxons are hoping to make it three. “We’re 2-0 when we left this town and actually played our two best games,” Ferris coach Jim Sharkey said of wins in California and Wenatchee. “Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

Although it originally wasn’t planned that way, Cusick’s Spencer Shanholtzer made an immediate splash at quarterback in 8-man football. The incoming freshman had expected to be a receiver based on summer camp at Whitworth, but when the incumbent decided in the fall not to turn out, Shanholtzer found himself on the job.

Quick strike offense coupled with timely and opportunistic defense against a mistake-prone foe provided the ingredients for a Ferris State 4A football quarterfinal appearance. Ferris travels to Yakima next weekend against unbeaten Eisenhower, which built a big lead and held on to eliminate Southridge 27-21. The Saxons parlayed three turnovers and a four down defensive stand into a big first quarter lead en route to a 41-16 triumph over Kamiakin Friday night at Joe Albi Stadium.

Teams that somewhat mirror each other square off tonight in the first round of State 4A and 3A football playoffs. Greater Spokane League champion Mt. Spokane (9-1) travels to Fran Rish Stadium in Richland against Hanford (4-6) and late-charging Ferris (7-3) hosts Kamiakin (8-2) at Albi Stadium. Both games are at 7.

Last week, Lewis and Clark completed its 18th successive winning football season. Shadle Park, North Central and Rogers managed one win apiece. Is it inevitable, or can those programs compete on equal footing with their South Side counterparts and Valley and Mead schools? That thought came to mind after receiving e-mails from a couple of parents, one from Shadle and one from NC.

Lewis and Clark advanced to the second round of the State 4A soccer playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Pasco Tuesday night at University High. The win was a product of a game plan that worked to perfection, Tigers coach Casey Curtis said. It sends LC (14-4-1) into the state quarterfinals against Kamiakin.