Let That Be Lesson To Him
REPLAY: Sports, December 6, 1996: Colton has won four state football championships, all in the B-ll classification. A story on Thursday’s prep page implied one of the titles came in the B-8 classification.
If Richland defeats Curtis for the State AAA high school football title Saturday, Curtis will share part of the blame.
Curtis coach Bob Lucey was a strong proponent of the state-qualifying round that began this year. Under the new format, the normal 16-team bracket increased to 32 teams.
Richland (11-2) was one team that benefited from the added berths.
In previous years, Richland’s third-place finish in the Big Nine Conference would have spelled the end of the season. Instead, the Bombers earned a qualifying game against the Greater Spokane League’s No. 2, Shadle Park, then moved on with wins over Kamiakin, Mead and South Kitsap - all unbeaten.
The AAA final, at 7:30 Saturday night, will complete Gridiron Classic II at the Tacoma Dome.
Curtis (12-1), the defending champion, previously won the title in ‘89 and ‘90. No AAA team has won four titles. Tumwater, Raymond and Colton have won four state titles, but all in more than one classification.
Richland won the state title in 1981 and finished second in ‘75.
Problem to tackle
Richland tackle Josh Johnston, the Big Nine’s defensive player of the year, is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. Johnston missed the second half of the semifinal after injuring an ankle.
Us vs. Them
Notice something about Curtis-Richland and the other Gridiron Classic matchups: Crescent vs. Odessa, B-8; DeSales vs. Willapa Valley, B-11; Royal vs. Toledo, A; and West Valley (Yakima) vs. Capital, AA? In each, an Eastern Washington team will play a team from the west. That hasn’t happened since 1987.
Admired from afar
Crescent’s 29-year coach Gary Kautz and Odessa’s 18-year coach Myron Kramer have built B-8 programs with the most appearances in state playoffs: 12 for Crescent and 13 for Odessa. But the two schools will meet for the first time in Friday’s 4 p.m. game.
“We’re kind of the old war horses,” said Kramer, whose Tigers won the title in 1993 and ‘89. Crescent has played and lost in four finals.
All in the family
Senior Kyle Wallace has rushed for 1,318 yards for Toledo, which is making its first state-title appearance.
Cousins Eric, D.J. and Kurt Wallace also are on the roster. Toledo won four mythical state titles under Ted Hippi, a charter member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame.
, DataTimes