Knights Favored In Slim Frontier

There are going to be advantages and disadvantages to the new Frontier League alignment.

Only four schools - Cheney, Clarkston, East Valley and West Valley - remain in the newly ordained 3A classification, down from seven following last year’s statewide enrollment realignment.

Scheduling options and state play-off opportunities are limited.

“It’s really too bad,” said West Valley coach Steve Kent. “The Frontier League has competed well over the years, all the kids work hard and it cuts down on their ability to get to state.”

Football teams find themselves playing each other twice.

“We’re kind of in uncharted waters,” admitted East Valley coach Jim Clements, whose Knights are the favorite among league coaches. “It’s always tough to beat a comparable team twice.”

Cheney coach Tom Oswald faced that situation three times when his teams met a league foe in the second round of the state playoffs.

“If games were close in the regular season it was no problem,” he said. “But if you beat someone badly, it’s tough the second time around.”

The double round-robin was the logical choice. None of the coaches wanted a one-time through, three-game schedule.

“Say you played Cheney with players hurt and you couldn’t play your best game. It wouldn’t be fair,” said Clarkston coach Dave Curtis. “If only one team goes to the playoffs and we play each other twice, I think the best team will come out of the mix.”

The reason East Valley is favored by coaches to win the league is because of its veteran line. Two three-year starters and two two-year starters return, joined by a couple of promising newcomers.

“I’ll tell you what. It’s nice to be thought of that highly but you’ve got to prove it,” said Clements. “Everyone of our backfield and receiving corps is new, which kind of balances the scales.”

Cheney, by contrast, is blessed at the skill positions but entered the season with few line veterans.

Blackhawk quarterback Pat Stiffler offers stability.

“He didn’t make many mistakes last year,” said Oswald. “Pat doesn’t make bad decisions.”

Like EV, Clarkston returns an experienced line that Curtis rates among his best.

“They lifted (weights) very, very hard and are as physical as any I’ve had,” he said.

The drawback is that the Bantams, like EV, are starting over at the skill positions.

West Valley is the team of the future. Only three or four seniors will see action and the Eagles are extremely thin in the line.

But the junior class is talented.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo