Cv, Mead Hoping To Pass First Tests

Rick Giampietri is cautious; Mike McLaughlin is optimistic.

The two head coaches lead their teams in the State AAA football playoffs on Saturday, Giampietri’s Central Valley Bears for the first time since 1983 and McLaughlin’s Mead Panthers for the seventh straight year.

Eighth-ranked Mead (7-1) goes to Walla Walla for a 1 p.m. game against the No. 2 Blue Devils (8-0) in a rematch of last year’s first-round game. Fourth-ranked Central Valley (9-0) faces No. 9 Kamiakin (7-2) at Albi Stadium at 1:30.

Just because CV has outscored its opponents 362-124, Giampietri doesn’t want anyone to assume Kamiakin won’t show up.

Kamiakin junior quarterback Scott Mitchell (6-foot-4, 175 pounds) passed for 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns with just three interceptions in 151 attempts. Nick Freese (6-2, 185) rushed for 1,053 yards and 15 touchdowns, second in the league, and Jay Robinson (6-2, 175) was the No. 2 receiver with 41 catches for 612 yards and five touchdowns.

“To win we have to control their quarterback,” Giampietri said, “and not give up the big ball.”

Mitchell was second in quarterback efficiency, completing 59 percent of his passes, but the Bears won’t find him in the pocket.

“He’s a scrambler and he’s most dangerous when he’s on the run,” Giampietri said. “You have to get Freese stopped before he gets started. They have a pretty potent offense. They have lots of sets and give you a lot to look at.”

Offensively, Kamiakin averaged 27.7 points and 314 yards a game. Defensively the Braves were second in the Big Nine, allowing just 12.5 points - including 30 in a loss to Walla Walla - and 223.8 yards a game.

“We just have to be able to move the football, not like the last few weeks, but consistently,” Giampietri said. “Their defense isn’t big but it’s solid. Their kids run to the football well. They have great team speed. They’re about the fastest defense we’ve played all year.”

The CV offense averaged 409.4 yards and 40 points an outing while the defense gave up 230.2 yards and 13.8 points.

McLaughlin figures Mead has already improved its chances just by entering the playoffs without a Monday tiebreaker.

“The big difference this year is we have more than three days to prepare,” McLaughlin said. “The last three years we were not even sure we’d be in playoffs. I know we’ll be better prepared this time.”

Mead lost 24-7 in a mud bowl last year but only trailed 10-7 early in the fourth quarter. Walla Walla went on to finish second in the state.

The Panthers are also healthier, though one player who will miss the game is quarterback Jason Lewis. However, his replacement, sophomore Nate Adams, completed 7 of 12 passes in each of the two games he started.

“I thought his performance last week was a real good steppingstone going into the playoffs,” McLaughlin said. “I know the team has confidence in him and he’s gotten better.”

The Panthers will have their hands full. Junior fullback Kyle Holman (5-8, 200) led the Big Nine with 1,162 yards and 19 touchdowns in eight games. Sophomore quarterback Jared Jones (6-4, 200) led the league in passing efficiency, completing 64 of 112 passes for 1,063 yards with 12 TDs and five interceptions. Matt Thompson (5-8, 160) caught 36 passes for 604 yards and six touchdowns.

Overall, the offense averaged 369 yards and 36.3 points a game. Mead’s offense averaged 357 yards and 26.9 points.

“They have real good speed. They run play-action extremely well. They have two real quick receivers, if you’re not disciplined, they’ll get behind you,” McLaughlin said. “They have a big time quarterback … he’ll be a Division I player.

“We’ve had our moments where we’ve played disciplined football but we’ve had our moments where we have not. That is obviously the key. We’ve held our own with most running teams this year so the key is stopping their long throws when they throw.”

On defense, Walla Walla was No. 1, allowing 12.8 points and 208 yards a game. Mead’s numbers were 12 points and 267 yards.

“We’ve got to be able to run the ball with some degree of success and we need to win the kicking game,” McLaughlin said.

A plus there is kicker Dustin Lungo, who is back in form.

“No question about it, he’s through that midseason slump,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a lot more comfortable having him kick the way he can. If it’s close, he’s going to come into play and he’s succeeded in pressure situations before.”

The CV-Kamiakin game will be broadcast on KTRW-AM (970), beginning at 1:15 p.m. with live updates on Mead from Walla Walla.

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