Fresh Start Rejuvenates Two Teams

A new season, a new beginning.

Few teams embraced that idea more than Newport and Kettle Falls.

Newport stumbled through the inaugural 2A Great Northern League season with an 0-9 record. Kettle Falls of the 1A Northeast A had to dip into the B-11 ranks for its only win of the past two seasons.

And both opened 1998 with wins, Kettle knocking off rival Colville 21-20 and Newport whipping Priest River 31-13.

Colville blocked a Kettle Falls punt and was set up inside the 10 with about 2 minutes to go. The defense stood firm, highlighted by a sack, and the Indians missed a field goal.

“So many kids came up big at the end of the game,” Bulldogs coach Tracy Flugel said. “Colville didn’t lose that game, we won that game.”

Only two Bulldogs seniors played in the game. Shawn Mackie rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and Jeremy Henderson had a big game at defensive back.

The Bulldogs are dominated by experienced juniors, which helps explain why Flugel’s two-year record is 1-17.

“They’ve just matured a ton,” he said. “We started nine freshmen my first year here. They started as sophomores last year. Everyone is ready to go.”

With confidence in the defense, the Bulldogs opened the second half with an onside kick. The trick failed, but the defense held, and Kettle outscored the Indians 14-0 in the third quarter.

“In three years, this is the first time anything went our way,” Flugel said. “We’re overlooked. The coaches acknowledge the talent on the team but until you go out and do it …”

The outlook has also improved at Newport.

“Basically, it’s the kids’ attitude,” Newport coach Jim Murphy said. “They put in a ton of time since the end of last season. It was just the whole idea we hit bottom last year, and it’s time to climb up.”

A three-week summer camp drew about two dozen players every night. A small group of seniors who suffered through all the losses took charge.

“We have some great leadership right now,” Murphy said. “We knew where we were last year and we knew we would struggle. We knew if we stuck with it and worked hard, things would progress.”

The seniors and a strong sophomore class got the Grizzlies off the mat.

Kyle Keihn had a touchdown run of 89 yards. Michael Hogg, a small tight end, turned a 10-yard pass into a 46-yard touchdown. Duane Kenobbie had a big game at wide receiver with a 35-yard scoring reception, and Randy Artz anchored the offensive and defensive lines. All are seniors.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Grizzlies ran off three consecutive 7-2 seasons. They were in the ‘94 playoffs.

“The kids are excited … they’ve dedicated themselves, they’re going to make things change,” Murphy said. “We’re quicker, we’re faster, we had five or six guys in on every tackle.”

Among the younger players who came through in the opener are junior quarterback Nick Evans, who hit on 5 of 8 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns; sophomore linebacker-fullback Chase Melendez, who had a 44-yard touchdown and an interception; and two-way sophomore lineman Adam Coulson.

Quick kicks

Anyone who believes in Friday night football should have been at Central Valley last week. The Bears’ game against the Saxons drew a standing-room crowd. That was quite a contrast to the 3 p.m. game at Albi Stadium, or even the lone Thursday night game… . The longest football losing streak in the state ended when Quilcene defeated first-year program Cascade Christian 22-6. The Rangers had lost 26 consecutive games. Camas now is the loss leader with 22 straight… . Renton fired football coach Chris Williams after one game, even though his record at the school is 26-15. Time for a change was the school’s official response. Renton lost to Selah 28-0… . A botched punt led to a safety, the only points in Liberty Bell’s 2-0 win over Pateros in a B-11 game.

The power of the Internet continues to astound. Newport couldn’t fill a second-week bye, so the opening was posted on the web. A San Diego team inquired and took the spot. Francis Parker, a private school of 350 students, is flying up 55 people this weekend, including 14 cheerleaders, for a Saturday afternoon game.

Murphy said he has been told the team has a Division I college prospect at running back.

For entertainment Friday night, the Californians will go to the GNL game at Deer Park, which plays Riverside. There will be a potluck and dance on Saturday at Newport.

“It’s going to be a good experience,” Murphy said. “It’s not about winning and losing.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: GAMES OF THE WEEK Pullman is at Chewelah at 7 p.m. Friday in a crucial GNL opener. Chewelah held on for a 36-33 win in Pullman last year, but the Greyhounds didn’t lose again until the 2A state championship game. The top Greater Spokane League matchup is Ferris vs. Mead at Albi at 8:45. Another game of interest is at Medical Lake, where B-11 DeSales tackles the 2A Cardinals. Irish QB Brian Lindgren can equalize the game as he bids to become the state’s all-time leading passer.