Northeast B-11
In predicted order of finish:
DAVENPORT GORILLAS
1995 record: 12-1, second place, state champion
Coach: Skip Pauls
Years coaching and record: 16th, 13th at Davenport, 83-46
Top returners: Brian Goodman, 5-10, 210, sr., T; Luke Hammond, 6-1, 210, sr., TE/LB; Josh FitzPatrick, 6-0, 210, sr., FB/ LB; Matt Schneider, 5-11, 190, sr., OG/ DL; Travis Telecky, 5-10, 170, jr., RB/S.
Quick kicks: Except for a wakeup-call loss to Reardan, Davenport beat every league rival by at least 15 points last year.
Coach’s comment: “After last year our players are very excited about this year. … They feel that they have a good chance of getting back.”
Outlook: With FitzPatrick (1,617 yards) and Telecky (1,173) plowing ahead, Davenport can hope to be the first repeat B-11 champion since Columbia (1987-88).
REARDAN INDIANS
1995 record: 9-1, first place, lost to Manson 21-8 in first round of state playoffs
Coach: Dan Graham
Years coaching and record: Fourth, 29-5
Top returners: Scott Eller, 6-0, 210, sr., FB/TE/LB; Nate Graham, 6-0, 175, sr., QB/DB; Travis Titchenal, 6-0, 180, sr., RB/LB; Matt Clouse, 6-0, 165, sr., R/DB; James Kiger, 6-3, 175, jr., R/DB.
Quick kicks: Next year, Reardan takes its exploding population out of the B ranks.
Coach’s comment: “We’re going to have good balance all the way through (the league). Actually, we have fewer kids back than anybody, and we have to rebuild our line.”
Outlook: If Davenport isn’t the East’s representative to Gridiron Classic II, Reardan - league champ the last three years - could fill the bill.
REPUBLIC TIGERS
1995 record: 7-3, third place, lost to Tekoa-Oakesdale 30-27 in first round of state playoffs
Coach: Don Beazizo
Years coaching and record: Fourth, 15-13
Top returners: Mark Rickard, 6-1, 185, sr., R/DB; Jason Baldwin, 6-0, 175, sr., QB; David Hanks, 5-11, 175, sr., R/DB; Aaron Moores, 6-0, 180, sr., FB/LB; Lonnie Grimm, 6-1, 190, sr., OL/DL.
Quick kicks: Rickard has a school-record 2,738 receiving yards and 19 interceptions; Baldwin owns school records for TD passes (39) and passing yards (3,811).
Coach’s comment: “(We) made the football playoffs for the first time in school history last year (and) look forward to continuing that tradition this year. I think we can give (Davenport and Reardan) a run for their money.”
Outlook: The addition of seniors Danny (5-10, 185, RB/LB) and Denny (5-9, 170, RB/S) Hargrave will make a tough team tougher.
RITZVILLE BRONCOS
1995 record: 6-3, tied for fourth place
Coach: Mike Lynch
Years coaching and record: 23rd, 126-81-2
Top returners: Scott Galbreath, 6-3, 190, sr., OL/DL; Jason Warriner, 5-9, 155, sr., RB/DB; Kris Boness, 6-2, 180, sr., RB/LB; Nathan Wood, 5-9, 215, sr., OL/DL; Damon Roth, 6-2, 180, sr., OG/ DL.
Quick kicks: The five top returners played in the state semifinals two years ago.
Coach’s comment: “First of all, we believe we’re capable. We just have to be prepared to play - and play well - when we meet (the league elite).”
Outlook: Always near the top, Ritzville could throw a wrench into the playoff situation.
ALMIRA/COULEE-HARTLINE WARRIORS
1995 record: 3-6, tied for eighth place
Coach: Stuart Gloyn
Years coaching and record: Fifth, 16-19
Top returners: Cameron Carstensen, 5-10, 190, sr., RB/DE; Tofer Goodwin, 6-3, 180, sr., RB/DB/PK; Josh St. John, 5-9, 190, sr., RB/DE; Jake Winona, 5-10, 190, sr., C/DT; Jason Pierce, 5-10, 190, sr., QB/LB; Kevin Evers, 6-4, 205, sr., TE/DE.
Quick kicks: Pierce assumed QB duties six games into last season. Coach’s comment: “We’re kind of senior heavy, which is good. We’ll throw the ball more, and I think we’ll be quicker for the wing-T offense we’re running.”
Outlook: Look for ACH to hurt someone’s playoff chances.
LIBERTY LANCERS
1995 record: 3-5, seventh
Coach: Rod Fletcher
Years coaching and record: 16th, 97-46
Top returners: Tim Horlacher, 6-1, 170, sr., QB/S; Scott Degon, 5-10, 155, jr., RB/LB; Mike Pottratz, 5-10, 155, jr., RB/ LB; Barry Greenwalt, 5-11, 160, jr., DB; Chris Tee, 6-1, 200, sr., G/DE; Charlie Tellessen, 6-0, 190, sr., G.
Quick kicks: An injury last year limited Degon to 16 rushes for 48 yards. Degon rushed for 300 yards as a freshman.
Coach’s comment: “We’ll be in the mix somewhere. We have a favorable schedule in that we have Reardan, Ritzville and Republic at home (and don’t play Davenport).”
Outlook: The 1992 state champs appear to be rebounding after two subpar years. Senior Frank Martin, a senior transfer from Colfax, will help out at wide receiver.
WILBUR-CRESTON WILDCATS
1995 record: 3-6, tied for eighth place
Coach: Bill Grigsby
Years coaching and record: First
Top returners: Adam Sapier, 5-11, 210, sr., G/LB; Casey Kuchenbuch, 6-1, 200, sr., RB/DE; Pat Hayes, 5-9, 175, sr., QB/ S; Michael Bahr, 6-0, 180, sr., RB/LB; Ryan Lewis, 6-1, 205, sr., OG/DT; Dan Krause, 6-3, 245, sr., T; Sorrell Katich, 6-1, 165, jr., TE/LB; Mike Samuels, 5-11, 175, jr., R/LB; Joel Watters, 5-10, 160, sr., RB/DB.
Quick kicks: Grigsby, a three-year assistant, replaces George Olsen, who was 13-32 in five years. Grigsby was varsity coach at Tolt High for five years.
Coach’s comment: “With the experience we have, I don’t want to start all over and mess up. We have a lot of seniors here, and those kids were freshmen during my first season here.”
Outlook: The Wildcats would probably feel positive with a .500 record.
SPRINGDALE CHARGERS
1995 record: 5-4, tied for fourth place
Coach: Kevin Jacka
Years coaching and record: First
Top returners: Jasent Stricker, 5-10, 175, sr., RB/LB; Jeremy Montgomery, 5-11, 165, sr., RB/CB; Billy Harris, 6-1, 210, sr., G/LB; John Schmidt, 5-10, 160, sr., R/DB; Dan Zupan, 5-11, 205, sr., T.
Quick kicks: Jacka, who replaces Gerald Ely, moved Stricker out of the QB slot and Montgomery out of his receiver position.
Coach’s comment: “I guess we’ll adjust, but it’s a big change. We’ve just had to move guys around, and we have just 20 kids out.”
Outlook: The loss of twins Danny (1,138 yards last season) and Denny Hargrave was tough enough to overcome, but senior guard/linebacker Seth Hegel (5-11, 225) also transferred - to Chewelah.
SELKIRK RANGERS
1995 record: 1-8, 10th place
Coach: Eric Ellsworth
Years coaching and record: 10th, 42-57
Top returners: Zack Kinney, 5-10, 160, sr., RB; Ryan Krabbenhoft, 6-0, 230, jr., T.
Quick kicks: Turnouts of 25 or fewer have resulted in a 1-17 record the last two years.
Coach’s comment: “The last two seasons have been pretty rough. … Things are looking better for ‘96, but we still need more players to turn out.”
Outlook: Selkirk appeared to be on the rise, but top returners such as RB Tim Farris and linebacker Sheridan Pyeatt didn’t turn out.
CURLEW COUGARS
1995 record: 0-9, 11th place
Coach: Don Nelson
Years coaching and record: Third, 5-13
Top returners: Joe Brucklier, 5-9, 140, sr., RB/DB; Spencer Nelson, 5-9, 150, sr., QB/DB; Ben Miller, 5-10, 170, sr., OL/ LB.
Quick kicks: From a turnout of 31, 10 are freshmen and four are sophomores with no playing experience.
Coach’s comment: “We are still excited to play this year with our returning juniors and seniors. We may just surprise some people.”
Outlook: The small turnout would work better at the B-8 level.
, DataTimes MEMO: See related story under the headline: Battle of the B-11s