B Playoff Possibilities Abound

B-11/B-8 football

One week remains in the local Class B-11 and B-8 regular seasons, but that doesn’t mean playoff matchups are firmly set.

After Friday’s games, playoff possibilities became slightly clearer but hardly nailed down.

Northeast B-11

League-leading and second-ranked Republic (8-0, 6-0) has clinched one of the league’s three playoff spots. The visiting Tigers took a 34-0 non-league win over ex-league member Sprague-Harrington (4-3). Senior Jason Baldwin completed 9 of 16 passes for 117 yards for Republic, which also rushed for 202. Republic finishes the season Friday at home against Ritzville.

Speaking of Ritzville, the 10th-ranked Broncos (5-2, 4-2) won the day’s top matchup, breaking Wilbur-Creston’s five-game winning streak with a 7-0 home victory. Jason Warriner rushed for 232 yards on 32 carries for Ritzville, which recorded three interceptions.

The Wildcats (5-3, 4-3), who have a bye next week, were eliminated from playoffs because Liberty and Reardan play next week and one will finish 5-2, which is also the worst fifth-ranked Davenport could finish. Davenport had a bye Friday and finishes at Almira/Coulee-Hartline.

Liberty (4-4, 4-2) put itself in line for the playoffs with a 46-12 road win over Selkirk (1-7, 0-6) at Ione. Should Liberty beat Reardan next week, and Ritzville lose to Republic, the Lancers are in. Ritzville owns the tiebreaker over Liberty because of an early-season win.

Travis Titchenal scored three first-half TDs as ninth-ranked Reardan (6-2, 4-2) improved its once-shaky playoff chances with a 34-8 win at Springdale (1-6, 1-5).

In a game with no playoff implications, Jason Pierce passed for 135 yards, and added nine solo tackles and two fumble recoveries on defense as visiting ACH (3-5, 2-4) beat Curlew 38-6. Topher Goodwin rushed for 95 yards for ACH. For the Cougars (2-6, 1-6), Elliott Edwards rushed for 67 and Spencer Nelson passed for 181.

Southeast B-11

Fourth-ranked DeSales (8-0, 4-0) clinched one of the league’s two playoff berths by beating visiting and sixth-ranked Asotin (6-1, 3-1) 43-17 at Walla Walla. DeSales closes its season against Waitsburg.

Garfield-Palouse (6-2, 3-1), after beating Tekoa-Oakesdale 26-6 at Palouse, needs one win to earn the league’s second berth. Gar-Pal completes league play at Asotin, winner to playoffs. Joe Hall rushed for 237 of the Vikings’ 300 yards. G-P’s Steve Tiegs had five solo tackles, four assists and four knocked-down passes. The Nighthawks, last year’s league kingpins, are 1-7, 0-4.

Host Waitsburg (5-2, 2-2) notched a 40-15 win over Pomeroy (1-6, 0-4).

Northeast B-8

Top-ranked Odessa (8-0, 5-0) landed one of league’s three playoff spots with a 52-6 win at Lind (0-6, 0-5). Lance Meise had three receptions - all TDs for 78 yards and Daniel Pitts rushed for 93 yards for the Tigers, who complete their season against Pateros.

If Pateros (5-2, 3-1) beats Cusick (4-3, 2-2) today, then tops Odessa, the league could have a three-way tie for first.

Lind’s Omar Montejano threw for 148 yards and Jamie Sheckells scored his first career TD.

Inchelium (5-2, 4-1) is also playoff-bound after a 56-7 win over visiting Wellpinit (1-7, 1-5). Even if Lind shocked Inchelium next week, the Hornets have beaten the other playoff hopefuls, Pateros and Cusick.

Wellpinit’s first three possessions resulted in turnovers and Hornet TDs. Inchelium’s Galen Desautel rushed for 191 yards on 15 carries.

Southeast B-8

Third-ranked Touchet (7-1, 4-0) and Colton (5-2, 4-0) both won to clinch two of the three playoff berths and set up next week’s game at Colton for the league title.

Jake Bussel rushed for 113 yards to lead Touchet to a 48-22 win over LaCrosse-Washtucna (3-4, 1-3) at LaCrosse. Greg Whitman passed for 300 yards for the Tigercats, who close out the season at Rosalia (3-4, 2-2). Rosalia advances to the playoffs with a win; an L-W win creates a three-way tie for third, including St. John-Endicott (3-4, 2-3).

Colton notched a 48-3 road win at Prescott (2-5, 0-5).

, DataTimes