Gridiron Classic Spread Over Two Days

High school football fans who used to enjoy ending the season with a one-day feast are going to have to alter their plans.

Instead of having the championship games for the five football classifications played on one day, as in the past, this year’s Gridiron Classic II in the Tacoma Dome will feature two games on Friday, Dec. 6, and three on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The B-8 title game kicks off the weekend at 4 p.m. Friday with the AA finale at 7 p.m. B-11 starts the second day, beginning at 1 p.m. Class A goes at 4 p.m. with AAA at 7 p.m.

WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese said the two-day format will ease some of the stress of trying to squeeze five games into one day, with the first game beginning at 9 a.m. and the last at 8 p.m.

“Games are going longer because of a new (national high school federation) rule,” he said. “You don’t start the clock until the snap on a change of possession. That adds about 20 additional seconds each possession. We’re hearing from around the country games are going 10-15 minutes longer.”

The Eagle has landed

It was with great sadness we noted the passing of well-known local musician Don Eagle last week.

The obituary detailed his many accomplishments as a musician and actor. It also touched on his love for his alma mater, North Central, and how he did a little coaching there.

What was missed, however, was how he would always attend NC games, slipping into the press box to stay warm. He would bring apples for those of us up there and eat our peanuts, and then regale us with stories of his days in Hollywood. He and former Spokesman-Review staff writer Merle Derrick would also provide a fascinating history lesson when swapping stories of the players and schools in the Spokane area long before there was a GSL.

Best of the B’s

Toutle Lake senior Bucky Smith leads all B-11 running backs with 402 yards in two games. Smith, 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, ran for 310 yards on 51 carries last Friday in a double-overtime loss to Winlock.

Republic’s senior connection continues to pile up huge B-11 numbers. Jason Baldwin has connected on 37 of 50 passes for 782 yards and nine touchdowns. Mark Rickard is the target nearly half of the time: 16 catches for 363 yards.

Among B-8 teams, Odessa’s off to a 2-0 start after beating Pateros and Touchet - the state finalists the last two years. For the Tigers, Lance Meise has rushed for 285 yards and Sean Moon has seven receptions - both second-best marks in the state.

A week before losing to Odessa 8-6 in 8-man football, Touchet, state runner-up last year, opened with a 44-34 win over two-time defending Oregon champion Dufur. Of note, however, is Dufur freshman quarterback Luke Lindell. The 150-pounder, hit 28 of 51 passes for 505 yards. Seventeen of those completions went to Brandon Underhill for 400 yards.

In its Sept. 13 non-league B-8 football opener against Clallam Bay, Taholah led 24-20 and had the ball at the CB 10-yard line with 1 minute left.

Taholah fumbled a handoff and the Bruins’ Fran Michelena took the ball 90 yards for a 26-24 win.

Mary K. Knight’s football season was salvaged when six boys who had never played agreed to join the team.

The Owls of the B-8 Pacific League were down to nine players until the brave knights arrived.

Frontier League

Two weeks of non-league games have revealed plenty of offense but little consensus about the state of Frontier League football.

Six of the league’s seven teams began with wins that showed off skilled position players. Then last week four of those teams were beaten, a few in surprises.

Things will begin to shake out on Friday with the beginning of the league grind.

Two-time defending champion Cheney (2-0) is at title aspirant Colville (1-1) in one key game.

An overtime loss to Northeast A power Chewelah didn’t temper Colville coach Ken Emmil’s belief that his team belonged in company with the league’s best.

Colville dominated Chewelah offensively, missing a field goal when the kicker slipped, then fumbled at the 1-yard-line late in the game. Other early season choices as contenders, East Valley (1-1) and Clarkston (1-1) play at Central Valley following stunning losses.

Riverside (2-0) and Pullman (1-1), who between them are averaging 68 points a game will see if they belong.

Notable

Lakes, fresh off its season-opening romp, was blanked 7-0 by Rogers of Puyallup. Record-setting quarterback Drew Miller was just 12 of 30 for 133 yards and three interceptions…. There were six overtime games last Friday. The highlight was Kennedy beating Renton 36-35 when Eddie Gayles swept around end for the winning two-point conversion. Gayles rushed for 242 yards on 35 carries,including all 25 yards in OT. He also recovered three fumbles on defense and had an 80-yard punt return waved off by a penalty…. Nathan Hale, short on numbers to begin with, forfeited its game last Friday because four plays quit school after an incident on campus in which they were threatened with guns. … Auburn-Riverside has joined the South Puget Sound League, increasing the biggest AAA league to 17 teams. The league is broken into three divisions, Red, White and Blue. Two teams from each make the playoffs (Tuesday first-round games).

, DataTimes