Katzer, Chewelah In Perfect Position

With Cody Katzer in the backfield and Roy Albertson calling the shots, Chewelah’s football team has a 17-1 record.

Pre-Albertson, Katzer was a 5-foot-7, 165-pound sophomore nose guard.

Bulkier linemen have allowed second-year coach Albertson to keep his strongest (pound-for-pound) player right where he belongs - lined up behind third-year quarterback Dan Macrae.

Katzer, on the way to his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, started the year doubling at linebacker but now rests during defensive stands.

“The coaches just thought, why not have me do what I did last year - just run the ball,” said Katzer, whose fourth-ranked Cougars (6-0, 4-0) travel to Nine Mile on Friday to meet Lakeside (4-2, 4-0) in what should be the Northeast A League game of the season.

Chewelah, which has outscored rivals 233-57, beat Lakeside 42-0 last year on the way to the State A semifinals.

The emergence of fullback Luke Sheppard - the 1996 version of all-leaguer Greg Belzer - has eased pressure on Katzer. Albertson describes Katzer (5-8, 170) as someone who’s nearly impossible for the defense to keep in its sight.

“You can’t have a good running back without a good line,” Katzer said. “It’s the same way as last year. Our line’s a powerhouse.”

Kickoff classic

The world welcomed Bailey Hereford at 3:05 p.m. Oct. 11 at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Jim Hereford congratulated wife Michelle on their baby girl, jumped in his car at 5, and drove to Colton for Rosalia’s Southeast B-8 game at 7.

Hereford, Rosalia’s head coach, arrived in time for player introductions.

“It was an interesting day all around,” said Hereford, whose team scored 50 points but lost by 20.

On hold

No court date has been set to determine if Joe Ireland is eligible to play football at Lewis and Clark. Ireland transferred from Gonzaga Prep after football last year. He was ruled ineligible for varsity sports for a year but is playing for LC pending an appeal.

Meanwhile, Mead can clinch a tie for the Greater Spokane League title and the No. 1 seed to the playoffs with a win over LC on Friday at 8:30 at Albi Stadium. Central Valley can also clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win over Shadle Park at CV at 7:30.

Forest on fire

Pullman High slotback Forest Hurlbert is burning up Frontier League football.

That, in part, is why the Greyhounds are co-leaders after finishing last a year ago. Hurlbert last week caught nine passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns, including one of 84 yards. He has 29 catches for 463 yards and six touchdowns in four league games.

For the year, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior has 49 receptions for 754 yards. He has scored eight touchdowns, kicked 15 extra points and caught a two-point conversion for a team-high 65 points.

Picture this

Three weeks remain in the season and it wouldn’t take too much imagination to envision a five-team tie for the Frontier championship.

Pullman and East Valley are 3-1, Clarkston and Colville 2-1 and Cheney 2-2.

Before the season ends, EV must play Colville and Pullman. Pullman also must play Clarkston. Clarkston travels to Colville.

If earlier games are an indication, turnovers will be a determinant.

EV had seven giveaways and lost to Clarkston. Last weekend, Clarkston had five in a loss to Cheney.

Pullman parlayed five turnovers into a win against West Valley and returned two pass interceptions for scores last week in beating Colville.

Volleyball begins second phase

The Whitman County League gets a jump on other Class B leagues when its tournament starts Saturday at Rosalia.

Host St. John-Endicott and Tekoa-Oakesdale enter as favorites, having split their league encounters.

The Bi-County’s tournament begins next Thursday at Wilbur. Nov. 2 is the starting date for the Panorama’s tourney at Springdale.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo