Mike Vlahovich

When East Valley and Kelso square off this afternoon in today's State 3A quarterfinal football game at EV a couple of interested observers will renew a longtime acquaintance. Actually, Ed Laulainen and Ed Fisher are more than casual observers. Laulainen, Kelso's coach for 26 years is still helping his former longtime assistant, now head coach, Pat Hymes with the program.

Offense may excite the fans, but Gonzaga Prep's girls soccer team will attest that defense reaps the rewards. For the first time, the Bullpups girls are in the State 4A semifinals in Tacoma, tonight against Stadium in a field that includes Tacoma sister school Bellarmine Prep and Jackson.

Prior to the football season, Lind-Ritzville coach Mike Lynch observed that Republic likely had the talent to be a good team. He based his reasoning on the Tigers' state title basketball and state regional finalist baseball efforts and presumption that those players would come out for football.

East Valley's defense faced its most daunting challenge to date. But with big plays providing a welcome cushion, the resilient and relentless unit, especially the secondary. was up to the task. The Knights defeated Clover Park and standout quarterback Tavita Pritchard 26-14 on a dreary Saturday at EV to earn a spot in next week's State 3A football Elite Eight at home against Kelso.

The eastern branch of the State 4A girls soccer tournament, a duplicate of last year's matches, continues at 1 p.m. today in Richland. Last week's first-round state opponents were identical to the 2003 matchups. Today's second-round opponents, Gonzaga Prep and Richland, are also the same.

The postseason football game had ended in victory, and East Valley coach Adam Fisher hung around on the football field entertaining family and well-wishers. In his fifth year as Knights head coach, the man who looks scarcely older than his players was able to reflect upon what had been accomplished.

Winter sports are fast approaching with turnouts for basketball, wrestling and gymnastics beginning next week. But there's still a weekend of volleyball to go for Freeman, and the Scotties football team begin state playoffs on Saturday.

East Valley coach Adam Fisher and Clarkston coach Dave Curtis both agree. The weekly rigors of Greater Spokane League football have readied their teams for what to expect tonight in playoff games against storied Mid-Valley state perennials. "I think it's helping us as 3A teams because we're playing at a higher level week in and week out than other teams across the state," said Fisher.

PASCO — When North Central learned that it had lost the State 3A boys cross country meet by a mere six points Saturday, there was a sense of disappointment. "We were there with 300 to 400 meters to go and couldn't quite finish it," said NC coach Jon Knight. "We were hoping to win it."

PASCO — The Reardan Indians, benefiting from the separation of Class B and 1A boys cross country teams into two races this year, are a team champion for the first time. An increased number of participants in the two classifications created the separate meets at Sun Willows Golf Course. The Indians beat Northwest Christian from Lacey 46-57 to win the B championship with fellow District 7 schools Odessa and St. George's tying for third.

For two Greater Spokane League coaches, having their teams in Saturday's state cross country meet is special. It's not because GSL boys are attempting to stretch their team title Class 4A championship streak to 17 successive years or that the league could also win the 3A state title.

The only successful kick proved good enough. Kyle Yonago's extra point with 8:51 remaining in Thursday night's game gave the Ferris Saxons a 13-12 lead over Greater Spokane League football rival Lewis and Clark.

Gonzaga Prep took care of the offensive part of its soccer match early, then did what it does best: It let the defense take over. The result was the Bullpups' second consecutive District 8 4A championship, a 2-0 victory Friday over visiting Mt. Spokane, and the top seed in next Saturday's State 4A tournament.

They are volleyball specialists, players who focus on one specific position rather than all facets of the game. Some may play one spot in the front row, or go in to serve or for back row defensive purposes.

A new team guided by a new coach produced nearly unprecedented success for Colville's boys cross country team. The Indians last week completed an unbeaten Great Northern League season to win their second league championship in the sport. The last was in 1988, when they finished second in the old State AA classification.