Hunter Ready To Shoulder The Load
Patrick Hunter’s fifth shoulder separation of the year was the hardest to accept.
In the closing seconds of Pateros’ 52-50 win over Concrete last Friday, Hunter took a snap and kneeled to the ground to run out the Tacoma Dome clock.
Crescent defenders, no doubt frustrated by the outcome of a B-8 semifinal that they once led 28-8, zeroed in and punished the Pateros senior quarterback.
Hunter’s left shoulder, originally injured last year, popped out for the fifth time this season. The Billygoats’ trainer popped the shoulder back into place, and Hunter expects to start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the WIAA/U.S. Bank Gridiron Classic B-8 title game against top-ranked Touchet (11-0).
“(The shot) was so unfortunate because it was so unnecessary,” said Pateros coach Joe Worsham. “It was just bad judgment.”
Hunter (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) threw five touchdown passes against Crescent, giving him 89 for his career. He is five TDs shy of the B-8 record set by Odessa’s Tom Wolsborn (1987-90).
Hunter’s numbers for the year are 2,827 yards and 43 TDs.
Hunter’s injury-prone shoulder limited him to two regular-season basketball games last year. He returned for the State B Tournament and helped the Billygoats to seventh place.
“His shoulder is already surgically repaired,” Worsham said. “There are pins in there. I think it might take one more operation.”
Hunter hopes to operate on Touchet, which beat the second-ranked Billygoats (11-0) 38-24 in last year’s final. Pateros has played in three of the previous four state title games and is still looking for its first title.
“We’re three-time bridesmaids,” said Worsham, whose teams are 69-6 in the last seven seasons. “We’ve said that this could be the last time we make it.”
Class AA: O’Dea (12-0) vs. Prosser (11-0), 2:30 p.m. O’Dea (1991 and ‘94) and Prosser (‘92 and ‘93) have claimed the last four state titles…. The bitter rivals met for the title in ‘91 and ‘92…. O’Dea has won every game but one by shutout. The Irish are 14-1 in playoffs since ‘91…. The game is being played prior to the Class A game to lessen crowd congestion. In previous years, the biggest crowds attended the AA and AAA games.
Class A: Ridgefield (12-0) vs. Cascade of Leavenworth (12-0), 5:30: Ridgefield boasts the most colorful nickname: the Spudders…. Neither team has played for a state football title…. Ridgefield running backs Jon Christopher and Nate Edgar have totaled 3,620 yards, 47 TDs.
Class AAA: Curtis (12-0) vs. Kamiakin (10-2), 8: Curtis could become the first AAA team to win three titles. The Vikings, who captured titles in ‘89 and ‘90, have won 11 consecutive playoff games…. Eastern Washington teams such as Kamiakin will practice today in the Dome. Teams west of the Cascades played their semifinals in the Dome and won’t be allowed to further acclimate themselves.
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